In accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment Water Quality Laboratory, PO Box 427, Barnstable, MA 02630 to collect and analyze freshwater samples for nutrient concentrations on a weekly basis for a base period of 46 weeks. This is considered a sole source to the EPA because, to the best of the EPA's knowledge based on market research conducted, this service is only available from the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment (BCDHE) Water Quality Laboratory because they are a recognized expert for innovative water quality analysis. Due to COVID related delays, our EPA laboratory shutdown has created a backlog of samples. Our partner, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition is currently paying the Barnstable County Water Quality Laboratory to conduct the nutrient analyses. Changing laboratories in the middle of the project could negatively impact the research program. Therefore, to maintain data integrity and consistency and quality control and comparability to other data, it is important that we use the same entity to collect and analyze the data. Therefore, it is imperative that EPA award the BCDHE Water Quality Laboratory a contract to conduct these services and enable ORD to successfully conduct this Nutrients Solutions-Driven Research (SDR) Pilot Study. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to conduct competitive procurement. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 924110, Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs. All current and potential contractors shall use FedConnect which is available at https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/default.htm. There is no charge to use FedConnect. FedConnect is hosted by Compusearch, all related questions from vendors/contractors will be answered by Compusearch. If having issues with FedConnect or not registered in FedConnect at this time an exception is extended and alternate responses may be received by e-mail: [email protected]. This announcement constitutes the only synopsis for this requirement; and is issued for notification purposes only. No known potential alternate sources exist which could satisfy EPA's requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for quote/proposal. Any interested party that believes it is capable of meeting EPA's requirement described herein may identify themselves and must provide evidence of their capability to fulfill this requirement being requested by 11:59 PM CT on October 23, 2020. Responses must be submitted in writing to [email protected] no later than the time and date noted above. Telephone responses and requests will not be accepted.

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