Advance Contract Award Notice – Analysis of mercury in precipitation and ammonia in air at select Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network monitoring sites

Advance Contract Award Notice – Analysis of mercury in precipitation and ammonia in air at select Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network monitoring sites

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.

1. Definition of the requirement
    

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) intends on entering into a contract with the University of Wisconsin for Analysis of mercury in precipitation and ammonia in air at select Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) monitoring sites.

Background:

The Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) measures regionally representative non-urban air quality across Canada and currently operates monitoring sites in Canada and one in the United States. As part of that long term monitoring effort CAPMoN measures the concentration of mercury in precipitation at a sub-network of sites and has collaborated as a partner in the Mercury Deposition Network (MDN), under the auspices of the United States National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) to accomplish this portion of its mandate. In 2022-23, there are 5 sites collecting weekly integrated precipitation samples specifically for the purpose of determining regional scale mercury concentrations in precipitation.

In addition, CAPMoN is also interested in capturing regional, background levels of atmospheric ammonia at a subset of sites. CAPMoN has been collaborating with the NADP as part of its Ammonia Monitoring Network (AMoN) in this endeavor.

Objective:

One of the most critical measurements needed to understand the biogeochemical cycle of mercury, and to verify atmospheric models, is the rate of mercury wet-deposition. CAPMoN operates sites across Canada in collaboration with the North American Mercury Deposition Network (MDN). CAPMoN uses the same standard operating procedures, equipment and methods to provide a seamless North American database for mercury wet-deposition fluxes. The data is being used to develop information on spatial and seasonal trends in mercury deposited to surface waters, forested watersheds, and other sensitive receptors. This fully integrated collaborative approach is unique and has eliminated the uncertainties of integrating data across networks and international boundaries and provides a long-term, continental-scale database.

In addition, passive atmospheric ammonia sampling is required at 3 Canadian sites for three years using the National Atmospheric Deposition Program's Ammonia Monitoring Network (AMoN) network protocols. This work is part of an ongoing project to assess the suitability of using AMoN to acquire NH3 atmospheric concentrations at Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) sites and to have a better understanding of the contribution of ammonia to the sum of nitrogen compounds being deposited to the ecosystem across the country.

Scope of Work:

The scope of this contract is to ensure that all aspects associated with the sampling of precipitation for mercury and the passive sampling of air for ammonia are completed in a manner that meets and/or exceeds the minimum requirements of the MDN and AMoN networks. This work includes all aspects of sample collection up to analysis of samples and reporting of data, with the exception of specific responsibilities of Environment and Climate Change Canada, outlined later in this document.

Requirements (MDN):

1. The contractor is required to supply all sampling media to a maximum of seven CAPMoN monitoring sites in a timely fashion. The contractor shall ensure that there is sufficient sampling media at each measurement site to allow for potential delays in shipments. The contractor is responsible for determining the method of shipment and is responsible for all associated costs. Environment and Climate Change Canada reserves the right to have the method of shipment adjusted to meet on-site operational requirements.

• The sampling media must meet MDN specifications and the mercury sampling train will consist of a pre-cleaned 128-mm diameter, borosilicate glass funnel, an acid-cleaned, wide-bore (3 mm) capillary tube, and either a 1L or 2L PET or PETG bottle. The capillary tube will be connected to the funnel by a ground glass fitting designed to MDN specifications allowing the precipitation to drain into the sample bottle. Sample bottles will be pre-charged with 20.0 mL of dilute (0.12 M) hydrochloric acid
• The contractor shall provide all weekly supplies for the sampling of precipitation, documentation and shipping. This will include but not be limited to paper forms, gloves, dry side bags, lid seal pads, filter, and deionized water.

2) The contractor must support the on-site sampling instrumentation by ensuring that a technical expert will be available by phone during normal business hours to assist agents of Environment and Climate Change Canada (including on-site operators) and Environment and Climate Change Canada staff with technical issues. The contractor must make available training for Environment and Climate Change Canada staff or designated agents as required.

3) The contractor must support the on-site sampling equipment by maintaining a stock of replacement parts for:

• MDN Weighing-Bucket Total Precipitation Gauges

• MDN Wet Deposition Mercury Samplers

 4) The contractor must make replacement parts available (for instrumentation provided in 3) to Environment and Climate Change Canada without additional charge and guarantee shipment to the monitoring site within 3 working days of the initial request. The contractor will include the cost of shipping replacement parts to the monitoring site.

5) The contractor must be able to process electronic files from the MDN precipitation gauge as part of an automated process.

6) The contractor must receive and handle all samples in the laboratory in a clean air low-mercury (< 0.05 ng/ml) environment The contract must monitor the laboratory and all associated sample handling areas for potential mercury contamination in air on an ongoing basis and must conduct reagent water tests as well as conduct a sample bottle testing program.

7) The contractor must determine the concentration of total mercury in precipitation using cold vapour atomic fluorescence (EPA method 1631). The contract must use the amended EPA method 1631 (revision E) as required by MDN.

8) The contractor must have state of the art quality control and quality assurance protocols. The contractor must have a quality assurance plan which is reviewed and reported on annually. The quality assurance plan must be administered by a quality assurance officer. The quality assurance plan must be rigidly adhered to.

9) The quality assurance plan as outlined in 8) must meet or exceed the requirements as set out in the NADP document "Quality Assurance Plan Mercury Analytical Laboratory, 2006”. The contractor must have a Proficiency testing program which includes but is not limited to:

• Laboratory intercomparison studies
• Dedicated and well defined sample and measurement quality control program including field record keeping, preventative maintenance and corrective action
• Dedicated and well defined laboratory quality control program which addresses standards, certified reference materials, intra-laboratory control samples, control charting and blanks.
• A laboratory program which includes matrix duplicates, matrix spikes, blank spikes and method detection limit validation and tracking.

10) The contractor must have a data management plan which meets or exceeds that set out in NADP document "Quality Assurance Plan Mercury Analytical Laboratory, 2006”

11) The contractor is responsible for the creation of and for the maintenance of an electronic database which will include but not be limited to:

• Descriptive and historical information about each monitoring site
• Field data
• Laboratory data
• Quality assurance data
• Quality assurance documentation
• Site specific summaries and reports including the 5 databases listed in 11.

12) The contractor must document data completeness and provide corrective action recommendation where necessary on a site by site basis.

13) The contractor must provide data validation flags with supporting documentation for all data. Data must be validated at a rate meeting or exceeding the requirement of MDN.

14) Preliminary data must be reported by means of a monthly report.

15) Quality assured data is to be reported to Environment and Climate Change Canada electronically on a monthly basis no later than 120 days after sampling.

16) All sources of original data are to be archived by the contractor for a period of no less than seven years.

17) The contractor must have documented Standard Operating Procedures for:

• Sample receipt procedures
• Manual data entry
• Electronic data transfer
• Total mercury preservation
• Total mercury analysis
• Cleaning and preparation of sampling media
• Packing and shipping of sampling media
• Interpretation of rain gauge data
• Data review and validation
• Sample validation coding/flags

18) The contractor must have supplemental Standard Operating Procedures associated with Good Laboratory Practice, including but not limited to:

• Analytical balance calibration and maintenance
• Refrigeration and freezer calibration and maintenance
• Procurement quality documents
• Internal quality control and audits

Requirements (AMoN)

All methods and protocols must adhere to the NADP AMoN Standard Operating Procedures

1. Two week integrated passive NH3 sampling with blanks every other sample.
2. All sampling media for up to three (3) monitoring sites/year:

1. Radiello-brand passive sampler impregnated with phosphoric acid

1. Sampling shelters for three (3) monitoring sites:

1. Inverted weather/rain shield
2. Mounting Bracket

1. Shipping to up to three (3) monitoring sites/year:

1. Pinehouse Lake, SK
2. Flat Valley, SK
3. Kejlmkujik National Park, NS

1. Sample media extraction:

1. Under controlled laboratory conditions
2. Sonication in deionized water (≥18megohm)

1. Chemical analysis by Flow Injection Analysis (FIA).
2. Data QA/QC
3. Data reporting in electronic format:
4. Reports due with quarterly invoices

Site operators collect weekly precipitation samples to send to the contractor for mercury analysis. Site operators collect biweekly passive air samples to send to the contractor for ammonia analysis.

Deliverables

The contractor must provide quality-controlled, high quality datasets of mercury in precipitation data and ammonia in air data, from a subset of CAPMoN sites as described above.

Acceptance Criteria

The laboratory continues to meet performance standards as laid out by the NADP Quality Assurance Advisory Group (QAAG).

Schedule

• Weekly mercury analysis of samples collected on the identical sampling schedule as MDN.
• Bi-weekly ammonia analysis of samples collected on the identical sampling schedule as AMoN.

Crown input

ECCC is responsible for the following:

• Maintaining the infrastructure at each CAPMoN mercury in precipitation and ammonia in air monitoring site
• On-site maintenance of the precipitation collector and rain gauge (excluding parts which will be supplied by the contractor)
• On-site collection and handling of samples
• On-site data acquisition and completion of on-site sample documentation.
• Shipment of samples and supporting data from the CAPMoN sampling site to the contractor

​3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements):

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:
- A minimum of one year experience in the analysis both of collected mercury in precipitation and passive ammonia samples as part of a large monitoring network program;

 Demonstrated achievement of analysis if mercury in precipitation with a method detection limit of 0.1 ng/L.

- Demonstrated achievement of analysis of ammonia in passive air samples with a laboratory method detection limit of 0.016 mg/L.

- Fully developed standard Operating Procedures for the field sample collection and lab analysis for both mercury in precipitation and ammonia in air.

- Documented quality assurance and quality control protocols related to the sampling, analysis, and reporting of mercury in precipitation and atmospheric ammonia including reporting of travel blanks and lab blanks.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s) (insert the applicable trade agreements:

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP)

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

The National Atmospheric Deposition Program is a cooperative research program which measures, assesses and reports on the exposure of natural and cultural resources to atmospheric chemical deposition throughout North America. The NADP program office is located at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. It provides the coordination, provision of chemical analysis and data validation, site operator support and training, equipment repair, quality assurance, and management of NADP database and Web site (http://nadp.slh.wisc.edu).

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene is the sole provider of analytical laboratory services for samples collected under the auspices of the program. Mercury in precipitation and ammonia in air Samples collected by the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) contribute to the Mercury Deposition Network and the Ammonia Monitoring Network, two of five of the NADP networks. Use of standard operating procedures, equipment and methods as developed and monitoried by the NADP networks as well as continuity in the analytical laboratory is essential to the integrity of the long-term data trend in North America.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s):

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) –

"only one person is capable of performing the contract”

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the (section of the trade agreement(s) specified):

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513(a)

World Trade Organization - Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) – Article XV.1.(a)

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – Article 19.4(b)

8. Ownership of Intellectual Property

Canada intends to retain ownership of any Foreground Intellectual Property arising out of the proposed contract on the basis that the main purpose of the contract is to generate knowledge and information for public dissemination.

9. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

Initial Period:
The proposed contract is for the period of Contract award to March 31, 2024.

Option Periods:

The optional period is from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026.

The contract includes up to two one-year option periods as follows:

Option Period One – April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025

Option Period Two – April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026

10. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

Initial Period:

The estimated value of the firm requirement is $77,500.00, applicable taxes extra for 5 MDN sites and 3 AMoN sites.

The estimated value for the optional requirement is $25,000.00, applicable taxes extra for up to an additional 1 MDN site and up to an additional 3 AMoN sites.

Optional Period:

The estimated value for the optional periods is $220,700.00, applicable taxes extra.

The estimate value of the contract, including options is $323,200.00, applicable taxes extra.

11. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

University of Wisconsin System O/A Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

465 Henry Mall

Madison, WI 53706

United States

12. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

13. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is March 24, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

14. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities

Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Shawn Davis

Procurement and Contracting

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Email: shawn.davis@canada.ca