B--Organic & Inorganic Soil, Sediment & Water Labor

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (Amendment 0001) to Solicitation 140R2026Q0053, dated 06/09/2026, serves to provide Questions and Answers received as of 06/11/2026.

• The document includes a continuation sheet detailing the "SUPPLIES/SERVICES" for a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) covering laboratory analysis of soil, sediment, and water samples for inorganic and organic parameters. The scope includes tests stated in the Price Schedule and sample collection throughout California, Oregon, and Nevada.

• A section titled "Laboratory BPA Call Questions & Answers 6.11.2026" addresses specific vendor inquiries.

• The deadline for questions was Monday, June 29, 2026, by 4 pm.

• Bidders are permitted to propose alternative analytical methods if they meet reporting levels and requirements, provided they submit analytical SOPs, reporting levels, and MDL studies.

• Subcontracted items are permissible if they meet reporting levels and requirements, and bidders must provide details about the subcontractor, SOPs, and MDL studies.

• While Reclamation prefers labs in California, proposals from labs outside California will be considered.

• Bidders should quote for all services they can offer from the Price Schedule, even if they cannot report all compounds for a specific method.

• Reporting limits listed in Column C are required under the contract.

• Bidders may add reporting limits to a new column after column J.

• If proposing a different method, bidders must strike through the original method, add the new method below it, and indicate all changes in RED font.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services, specifically for laboratory analysis of inorganic and organic parameters in water, soil, and sediment. The Bureau of Reclamation intends to award up to five (5) Firm Fixed Price Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) for these services. This announcement serves as the only solicitation, and no separate written solicitation will be issued.

• Laboratory analysis of soil, sediment, and water samples for inorganic and organic parameters.

• Analysis must be performed in accordance with, but not limited to, the tests stated in the Price Schedule.

• Samples may be collected throughout California, Oregon, and Nevada.

• Laboratories must be certified by the State of California Water Resources Control Board or equivalent.

• Must pass an in-person Quality Assurance (QA) Laboratory Audit.

• Analysis must be conducted in-house; subcontracting requires approval.

• Must provide Level 1 certified bottles for sampling events upon request.

• Must participate in annual performance testing studies.

• Submit electronic data reports and electronic data deliverables (EDD) as specified.

• Turn-around times: Initial analysis (3 weeks), 1st re-analysis (2 weeks), 2nd re-analysis (1 week).

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs).

• Period of Performance: 5 years, from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2031.

• Maximum Dollar Value: $400,000.00 for the BPA.

• Order Limitations: $0.00 to $400,000.00 per year per order.

• Quotes are due no later than July 9, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT.

• Quotes must be submitted via electronic mail to sherry_heibeck@ios.doi.gov.

• Required documents for submission include: Completed Business Information (Page 3), completed Price Schedule, Laboratory Certification, Capability Statement, and SAM.gov registration.

• Evaluation Factors: Price, Approved Lab (QA Audit, certification), Location (preference for Interior Region 10, CA), and Past Performance (from CPARS, SAM.gov, etc.).

• Solicited as open market with no set-aside.

• The government intends to award up to five BPAs, with at least three awards contemplated for small businesses.

• Offerors must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

• Further instructions for quote submission are under Provision 52.212-1.

• Evaluation factors are detailed under 52.212-2.

• Contact: Sherry Heibeck (sherry_heibeck@ios.doi.gov).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-5631, Revision No. 26) for the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in California, specifically for the counties of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo.

• Lists numerous occupational codes and titles.
• Specifies the minimum hourly wage rate for each occupation.
• Indicates that "Fringe Benefits Required Follow the Occupational Listing."
• Includes notes on Executive Orders (EO) 13706 and 13658, detailing paid sick leave and minimum wage requirements for federal contractors.
• Outlines general benefits such as vacation and paid holidays.
• Provides information on the conformance process for unlisted classifications.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing the contract. It dictates the baseline wages and benefits that must be paid to employees working on the contract, directly impacting the cost proposal. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages meet or exceed these determined rates and comply with the specified fringe benefits and executive order requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a price schedule for laboratory testing services, specifically for organic and inorganic parameters in water and soil/sediment. It outlines the individual tests, their corresponding EPA or SM methods, units of issue, and provides columns for unit prices across five years.

• Lab Analysis for Inorganic Parameters in Water: Lists 49 line items covering a wide range of inorganic tests (e.g., Alkalinity, Aluminum, Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Selenium, Silver, Zinc) with associated EPA/SM methods and reporting limits.
• Lab Analysis for Organic Parameters in Water: Lists 232 line items covering various organic compounds, including pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), with associated EPA methods and reporting limits.
• Lab Analysis for Inorganic Parameters in Soil: Lists 27 line items for inorganic tests in soil, including metals, cyanide, mercury, percent moisture, and TOC, with associated EPA/SM methods.
• Lab Analysis for Organic Parameters in Soil: Lists 186 line items for organic tests in soil, including PCBs, DRO, GRO, motor oil, pesticides, VOCs, and SVOCs, with associated EPA methods.
• Pricing Structure: Includes columns for Unit Price for Year 1 through Year 5 for each listed test.

This price schedule is critical for bidders to understand the cost structure for various laboratory testing services. It details the specific tests and methods required, allowing vendors to calculate their proposed pricing for the opportunity over the five-year period. Bidders should use this document to formulate their price proposals accurately, ensuring they cover all specified analyses and their associated costs.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document specifies the technical format and data fields for the "Environmental Data Deliverable" (EDD) in a tab-delimited UTF-8 text file. It outlines the structure and content required for laboratory results reporting to the USBR.

• File Naming Convention: Files must be named using a specific format: "AAAAAAAA_BBBBBBBB.tsv", where AAAAAAAA is the lexicographically first SMPL_FIELD_NUM and BBBBBBBB is the LAB_REPORT_NUM.
• Header Row: The first line of the EDD must be a header containing field names in a specified order.
• Data Fields: Details over 30 fields, including:
  • UPDATE_FLAG: Reserved for USBR use.
  • LAB_ID: Contract Laboratory ID.
  • LAB_NAME: Contract Laboratory Name.
  • LAB_REPORT_NUM: Contract Laboratory results report number.
  • LAB_REPORT_DATE: Contract Laboratory report date (YYYY-MM-DD).
  • LAB_SMPL_NUM: Contract Laboratory sample identification code.
  • SMPL_FIELD_NUM: Sample identification number.
  • DATE_TIME_PREPARED, DATE_TIME_ANALYZED: Timestamps for sample preparation and analysis.
  • SAMPLE_RESULT_SYMBOL, SAMPLE_RESULT_VALUE, SAMPLE_RESULT_UNIT_NAME: Fields for reporting sample results.
  • ANALYTE_ID, METHOD_CODE_PREPARATION, METHOD_CODE_EXTRACTION, METHOD_CODE_ANALYSIS: Information on the analyte and analytical methods.
  • RESULT_RL, RESULT_MDL: Reporting Limit and Method Detection Limit.
  • Quality Control fields: LAB_QC_SMPL_NUM, LAB_QA_SUBTYPE_NAME, LAB_REPLICATE, UNSPIKED_RESULT_SYMBOL, UNSPIKED_RESULT_VALUE, SPIKE_VALUE, MEASURED_RESULT_VALUE, LAB_ACCURACY_RESULT, LAB_PRECISION_RESULT, LAB_CONTAMINATION_RESULT.
• Data Types and Constraints: Each field specifies its data type (e.g., text string, date/time, number), maximum length, allowed characters, and examples.
• Prohibited Characters: Certain characters (e.g., control characters, delete character) are prohibited within fields.

This document is crucial for any bidder involved in laboratory analysis or data reporting for this opportunity. It provides the precise technical specifications required for submitting laboratory data in the correct format. Understanding and adhering to these specifications is essential for successful data integration and compliance with contract requirements.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document outlines the process for conducting quality assurance (QA) audits on laboratories supporting Interior Region 10, California-Great Basin projects. The goal is to ensure laboratories are capable of performing quality analyses and adhere to established QA/QC practices.

• Background Review: Review of the laboratory's current QA manual and the last three years of approved round-robin performance study results.

• Performance Evaluation Samples: Submission of performance evaluation samples to assess the laboratory's ability to generate accurate data. Poor performance may result in the cancellation of the onsite audit. Reanalysis or submission of new samples may be required if initial results are not within acceptance criteria.

• Audit Agenda: Development and finalization of a detailed agenda for the onsite audit, covering initial meetings, method reviews, document review, and debrief.

• Onsite Audit: Assessment of the laboratory's expertise, capability for producing valid data, and integrity of QA/QC practices.

• Meet with Management: Initial meeting to discuss audit purpose, CGB-157 policies, performance sample results, and document requests.

• Analytical Method and Document Review: Questioning of personnel and review of documentation to verify understanding of methods and procedures, ensuring compliance with QA manual guidelines and relevant protocols (e.g., EPA, Standard Method).

• Debrief: Presentation of serious deviations as findings at the end of the audit.

• Audit Report: Documentation of findings (deviations from accepted protocols), good practices, and observations.

• Laboratory Audit Response and Final Approval Letter: Laboratory response to findings, auditor review of corrective actions, and issuance of a final approval letter.

• Laboratory performance on submitted evaluation samples must be within acceptance criteria, potentially requiring reanalysis or new samples.

• Audit findings and observations will be documented in the audit report.

• Final approval depends on the acceptability of corrective actions to audit findings.

• Audits are conducted for laboratories supporting Interior Region 10, California-Great Basin projects.

• Laboratories must follow QA/QC practices that meet or exceed Interior Region 10, California-Great Basin standards and protocols.

• Compliance with EPA method, Standard method, or other relevant method protocols is required.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment C - Condensed to One Page," appears to be a data report or a summary of laboratory analysis results. It contains detailed information regarding sample analysis, including laboratory identification, sample numbers, dates, and various result metrics.

• Laboratory Information: Includes Lab ID, Lab Name (ACME Chemical Analysis Company), Lab Report Number, and associated dates (Report Date, Preservation, Preparation, Analysis).
• Sample Details: Lists Sample Number, Field Number, QC Batch Number, and Dilution Factor.
• Analytical Results: Provides Analyte ID, Method Codes, Result Reporting Limit (RL) and Detection Limit (MDL) with units, and Sample Result Symbol/Value.
• Quality Control Data: Includes Unspiked and Measured Results, Spike Values, and Lab Accuracy/Precision Results with limits.
• Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Flags: Contains flags and descriptions, such as 'Sample Broken in Transit' and 'This sample was extracted outside of the EPA recommended holding time. Background 21.2 µg/L.'

This attachment provides specific data that may be relevant for bidders to understand the environmental conditions or testing parameters related to the opportunity. It details the results of laboratory analyses, which could inform technical approaches, risk assessments, or compliance verification for a potential contract. Bidders should review the analytical results and QA/QC information to assess its impact on their proposed solutions or understanding of the project requirements.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To provide laboratory analysis of inorganic or organic parameters in sediment, soil, or water samples collected within California, Oregon, and Nevada.

• Analyze sediment, soil, or water samples using approved EPA or other methods.

• Report analysis results to Reclamation.

• Samples will be collected by Reclamation and delivered to the contractor's facility.

• Contractor must analyze samples within specified holding times.

• Contractor must provide Level 1 certified bottles upon request.

• Contractor must participate in annual performance testing studies.

• Contractor must submit electronic data reports and Electronic Data Deliverables (EDD) conforming to specifications in Attachment B.

• Quality Assurance (QA): Laboratory must pass an in-person QA Laboratory Audit, submit a QA Manual, and perform acceptably on round-robin samples.

• Re-analysis: Follow USBR QA guidelines for re-analysis. If QC samples fail or results are historical outliers, re-analysis may be requested. Costs for re-analysis depend on whether the original result is confirmed.

• Turn-around Times:

  • Initial analysis: 3 weeks
  • 1st set of re-analysis: 2 weeks
  • 2nd set of re-analysis: 1 week
  • Re-analysis due to holding time failure: 1 week

• Reporting: Report results between MDL and RL ("J" flagged results) if specified.

• Period of Performance: August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2031 (Base Year + 4 Option Years).

• Place of Performance: Contractor's laboratory facility. Samples collected from California, Oregon, and Nevada.

• Location: Laboratory or satellite office should ideally be located within USBR's Interior Region 10, California-Great Basin (Sacramento, CA area) to accommodate sample delivery.

• In-house Analysis: All laboratory analysis must be conducted in-house; subcontracting requires approval.

• Quality Control: Incorporate blind external QC samples and evaluate results against historical data.

• Reporting Limits: Preference given to contractors providing analysis of analytes with listed "Maximum Reporting Limit" and lower Reporting Limits (RLs must be a minimum of 3 times the MRL).

• Pricing: Orders will be firm fixed price. Quotations must include all associated costs. Cost breakdown is for verification.

• Invoicing: Submit one itemized invoice monthly through IPP.gov.

• Maximum Value: $500,000 per year, totaling $2,500,000 over five years.

• Order Value: Each order must exceed $0.00 but not more than $500,000 per year.

• Ordering Offices: USBR Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Branch (CGB-157), Central California Area Office (CCAO), Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO), and USBR Acquisition Services Office (CGB-3800).

• Authorized Callers: Only designated personnel from specific USBR offices can place orders.

• No Guaranteed Work: The Government is only obligated to the extent of authorized purchases; no minimum dollar value is guaranteed.