Water Systems Testing for the White Mountain National Forest

Amendment / Modification

This amendment serves to provide a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document related to the solicitation. It also extends the offer due date.

• The Q&A document is provided as an attachment.

• The offer due date has been changed.

• The proposal offer due date has been extended to January 29, 2026, by 5:00 PM EST.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Schedule of Items, a pricing sheet that requires vendors to provide unit prices for various water testing services. Bidders must fill out specific blocks, including Vendor Name, Vendor SAM.GOV UEI, Vendor Signature, and Date of Signature. Failure to complete these fields may result in proposal rejection.

• Base Year (Period of Performance: Date of award – 12/14/2026): Details specific drinking water and monitoring well testing services required at various locations (WMNF Administrative Complex, WMNF Androscoggin Ranger Station, Lincoln Woods, Crocker Pond, Dolly Copp Picnic Area, Albany Landfill Monitoring Wells, East Central Lagoon Monitoring Wells). Quantities for each test are listed.
• Option Year 1 (Period of Performance: 12/15/2026 – 12/14/2027): Outlines a similar set of drinking water and monitoring well testing services, with some variations in test types and quantities compared to the base year. Notably, Option Year 1 includes VOC's, Drinking Water Metals, and PFAS testing for the East Central Lagoon Monitoring Wells.
• Notes: Specific contaminants for "Primary Contaminants*" and "Secondary Contaminants*" are detailed in Appendix B of Attachment 3 (SOW). These are not NHDES required tests.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the scope of testing services required for both the base year and the option year. Bidders must use this sheet to calculate their proposed pricing by entering unit prices for each item. Accurate completion is mandatory for proposal acceptance.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Wage Determination issued under the Service Contract Act, establishing minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for various occupations in specific counties within New Hampshire. It serves as a reference for contractors to ensure compliance with labor laws when performing contract work in these locations.

• Applicable Locations: Carroll, Coos, and Grafton Counties in New Hampshire.
• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of job classifications with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Outlines required fringe benefits, including Health & Welfare ($5.55/hour) and Vacation (1 week after 1 year, 2 weeks after 2 years, 3 weeks after 10 years).
• Holidays: Mandates a minimum of eleven paid holidays per year.
• Executive Orders: References Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage), outlining their applicability and requirements.
• Special Pay Differentials: Details hazardous pay differentials (8% for high hazard, 4% for low hazard) and night/Sunday pay for Air Traffic Controllers and Weather Observers.
• Uniform Allowance: Specifies requirements for providing and maintaining uniforms.
• Conformance Process: Outlines the procedure for requesting additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination.

Bidders must review this document to understand the minimum labor costs associated with performing services in the specified New Hampshire counties. This includes minimum wage rates for all listed occupations and required fringe benefits. Failure to comply with these wage and benefit requirements can lead to contract non-compliance. The document also provides guidance on how to handle classifications not explicitly listed.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-6075, Revision No. 2) issued under the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations performing work in Grafton County, New Hampshire. This wage determination is crucial for contractors to understand the labor costs associated with the opportunity.

• Geographic Scope: Applies to specific cities and towns within Grafton County, New Hampshire.
• Occupational Classifications: Lists numerous occupations with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and footnotes.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and are listed separately from the wage rates.
• Executive Orders: References Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage), outlining their applicability and requirements for federal contractors.
• Conformance Process: Details the procedure for requesting additional classifications and wage rates if an occupation is not listed in the determination.

Bidders must review this document to accurately calculate labor costs for their proposals. The listed wage rates and fringe benefits are the minimums that must be paid to employees performing work under the contract. Failure to comply with this wage determination can result in penalties. Bidders should pay close attention to the specific occupations relevant to the opportunity and ensure their proposed labor rates meet or exceed these requirements.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment (0001) is to re-solicit the requirement for WMF Drinking Water Testing base and one option year on SAM.GOV.

• The solicitation is being re-solicited.

• The purpose of this amendment is to re-solicit the requirement on SAM.GOV, implying a potential change in submission process or deadline, though specific details are not provided in this amendment document itself.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items for WMF Drinking Water Testing, Solicitation Number 12444326Q0002. The acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. The North American Industry Classification Standard Code is 541380 - Testing Laboratories and Services, with a small business size standard of $19.0 million.

• White Mountain National Forest Water Systems Testing.

• Specific requirements and scope of work are detailed in Attachment 3 Statement of Work.

• Delivery of all items is required by the period of performance dates in Attachment 2 Schedule of Items. Early deliveries will not be accepted.

• Offerors must meet qualification requirements detailed in Attachment 3 Statement of Work.

• Anticipated award of a firm-fixed price contract with one option year.

• The Government will evaluate offers by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement.

• Offers must include a technical proposal and a price proposal.

• Technical Proposal: Must address evaluation factors in 52.212-2, including Past Performance and Relevant Experience, and Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel. Government Provided Technical Proposal Forms are a separate attachment.

• Price Proposal: Must include the completed Schedule of Items and acknowledgement of any amendments.

• Questions are due no later than January 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST and should be emailed to Keith.Reichard@usda.gov.

• Offers must be held firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.

• Evaluation will be based on best-value principles, with a strong emphasis on technical capabilities.

• This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• SAM registration must be current at the time of submission.

• Attachment 1: Solicitation Terms and Conditions (includes clauses, instructions, and evaluation criteria).

• Attachment 2: Schedule of Items.

• Attachment 3: Statement of Work.

• Amendment 0001 must be acknowledged in the quote.

• The Government may exercise the option under FAR 52.217-8 to extend performance for up to six months, using the same rates and terms.

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

This document outlines the requirements for water testing services for the U.S. Forest Service (FS) Public Drinking Water Systems and Groundwater Discharge Permits in New Hampshire.

• The contractor will perform laboratory tests on water samples collected by FS personnel for various contaminant categories, including Microbiological, Radiological, Inorganics, Organics, Secondaries, Lead and Copper, Disinfection residuals, Filtration, and Groundwater monitoring.

• For monitoring wells at Albany Landfill and East Central Lagoon, the contractor will collect samples and perform testing according to Groundwater Discharge Permit requirements.

• The contractor must provide all necessary laboratory expertise, labor, supervision, services, equipment, tools, supplies, and incidentals.

• The contractor will also provide materials for FS personnel to collect and ship samples, including coolers and pre-paid shipping labels, and will be responsible for shipping coolers back to FS project locations.

• All monitoring results must be submitted to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) as required.

• Laboratories must be accredited by the New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program.

• Laboratory methods, detection limits, and sample collection protocols must comply with 40 CFR 141, 142, and 143.

• The contract period is structured with a Base Year (October 2025 - October 2026) and an Option Year 1 (October 2026 - October 2027).

• Testing will be conducted at multiple locations including:

  • White Mountain Administrative Complex – Campton, NH
  • Androscoggin Ranger Station – Gorham, NH
  • Lincoln Woods Water System – Town of Lincoln, NH
  • Crocker Pond Campground – Maine
  • Dolly Copp Picnic Water System – Gorham, NH
  • Albany Landfill Monitoring Wells – Albany, NH
  • East Central Lagoon Monitoring Wells – Bartlett, NH

• Water testing must be in accordance with NHDES rule Env-Dw707.

• Laboratories must be accredited by the New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program.

• Work must be completed in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document contains forms that bidders must complete and submit as part of their proposal. It includes sections for "Past Performance & Experience," "Offeror's Name," and "Personnel."

• Past Performance & Experience: Requires bidders to list and describe projects completed in the last 5 years that are similar to the solicited requirement. Details should include project title, location, year completed, project owner, point of contact, and a brief description of the scope, size, cost, and relevance.
• Offeror's Name: A field for the name of the bidding entity.
• Personnel: Requires a list of personnel assigned to the project, including their name, position, years of experience, and background/experience/skills.

Bidders must carefully complete these forms to provide the required information about their past performance, experience, and proposed personnel. Accurate and thorough completion is crucial for proposal evaluation.