Analysis of Ultra-trace Contaminants

The Pacific Freshwater Quality Monitoring and Surveillance group of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will be conducting year-round environmental monitoring for contaminants in freshwater tributaries to the Georgia Basin on the West Coast of Canada. Contaminants of interest include persistent organic pollutants (POPs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), pesticides and other emerging contaminants.

The Contractor will provide analyses of ultra-trace levels of organic parameters in various matrices for contaminants of concern, on an as and when requested basis, to support ECCC’s Freshwater Quality Monitoring and Surveillance program for the duration of the Contract period.

The period of the Contract is from date of Contract to March 31, 2020 inclusive with the option to extend the term of the Contract by up to 3 additional one-year periods under the same conditions

Anticipated sample matrices will include water and sediments, but could also include biota, soil, precipitation, passive samplers and resin columns. 

There will be up to 150 samples per year to be analysed, for the duration of the Contract. These numbers may increase or decrease, depending upon field conditions or study design refinements. Each sample may be analysed for one, some or all of the suites listed in the Technical Proposal.

Over 80% of the samples are expected to be water samples, approximately 10% sediments, and <10% other matrices.

Primary contaminants of interest (most frequent analyses) will be POPs, followed by pesticides, and then other analyte groups.

Expected sample proportions and matrices may change as the study evolves.