F107--Asbestos Baseline Surveys

This Sources Sought notice is issued for informational and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a solicitation and does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation in the future. The purpose of this notice is to conduct market research and identify qualified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). This is not a request for quotes, bids, offers, or proposals. Responses will assist the Government in determining an appropriate acquisition strategy, including whether a SDVOSB set aside is feasible. If insufficient SDVOSB responses are received, the requirement may be solicited as a VOSB or Small Business set aside. The expected NAICS code for this requirement is 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services) with a Small Business size standard of $19.0 million. The VA Black Hills Healthcare System requires a comprehensive asbestos survey and asbestos inventory of building materials for the Fort Meade VAMC, 113 Comanche Drive, Fort Meade, SD, and the Hot Springs VAMC, 500 N. Fifth Street, Hot Springs, SD, in accordance with the draft Statement of Work (SOW) below. This notice seeks vendors capable of performing these services strictly for market research purposes. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. Vendors capable of providing the services described in the SOW at competitive pricing should submit their contact information and a capability statement to [email protected] no later than June 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM MST. Only emailed responses will be accepted. Please also complete the questions in the table below; failure to provide this information may affect the acquisition strategy. Question #  Questions  Vendor Responses  1.  Identify your organization's socio-economic category.    2.  State whether any of the requested services may be ordered against a government contract awarded to your organization (e.g Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), General Services Administration (GSA), etc.).    3.  State if subcontracting is contemplated for this requirement, what percentage of the work will be subcontracted and for what tasks.    *If applicable, VAAR 852.219-75 VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting Certificate of Compliance for Services and Construction, will apply to the potential solicitation if set-aside for Veteran Owned Small-Businesses or Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small-Businesses.*  *If applicable, FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting, will apply to the potential solicitation if set-aside for Small-Businesses.*  SCOPE OF WORK: Facility Asbestos Inspection VA Black Hills Health Care System Fort Meade VAMC, Fort Meade, SD and Hot Springs VAMC, Hot Springs, SD 1. Scope of Work: A. The service provider will complete a comprehensive asbestos survey and asbestos inventory of building materials for the Fort Meade VAMC, 113 Commanche Drive, Fort Meade, SD and Hot Springs VAMC, 500 N. Fifth Street, Hot Springs, SD. The inspection and survey for asbestos will be conducted by accredited and licensed SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (SD DANR) asbestos building inspector(s) who will locate and identify homogeneous areas (HAs), identify asbestos content of HAs, quantify asbestos HAs, document location of asbestos HAs on floor plan drawings, assess the condition of HAs, assess the friability and risk of occupant exposure to existing asbestos materials, and provide cost estimates and priorities for damaged or compromised asbestos discovered during the inspections. Furthermore, the service provider will follow Class IV OSHA procedures (29CFR 1926.1101) and label all existing, exposed, accessible asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) with labels conforming to that shown in Attachment A, every 6 feet of accessible thermal system insulation (TSI) containing asbestos, and other surfacing asbestos containing material. Labels must be of such quality that they can be expected to remain adhered or legible for 20 years. B. The survey and inventory for asbestos will be conducted in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal codes, rules, and regulations including the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), OSHA, title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 29(CFR) 1910.1001, 29 CFR 1926.1101, and the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA). Laboratories employed for identification of asbestos in bulk samples must participate in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Voluntary Accreditation Program (NVLAP) and prove current proficiency for asbestos identification by polarized light microscopy. Note for the purposes of this contract, any asbestos identified in a bulk sample equal to or above trace quantities shall be reported as Positive- Asbestos Containing Material . C. Personnel conducting this asbestos survey will be AHERA-certified asbestos building inspectors and possess a current SD DANR state license. Contractor will furnish all services, materials, labor, insurance, personal protective equipment, training, tools and equipment for the inspection and assessment. Contractor will properly dispose of asbestos waste generated during the contract services, to include the laboratory work. Waste disposal records must be provided to the VA Medical Center Contracting Officer Representative. D. The survey will assess all locations to include, but not limited to caulks, tile and mastics (all layers), rooms, basement, overhead spaces; pipe, ducts, chases, vaults, above suspended ceilings, etc. The survey report and inventory will detail the findings of all surveyed and sampled building material and HAs categorized by locations, asbestos content, quantity of asbestos HAs, location of asbestos HAs exhibited on floor plan drawings, condition of HAs, friability and risk of occupant exposure to existing asbestos materials, and cost estimates and priorities for damaged or compromised asbestos and suspect debris. The report will include recommendations for ACBM cleanup, repair and management to minimize risk to occupants. The deliverables to the VAMC include one electronic version of editable drawings indicating bulk sample locations and 2 sets of hard copy binders, with each containing the following information for each building (building section): Building identity and description/age Inspector names, company, address, and contact information Copies of inspector Asbestos Building Inspector training Certificate and applicable licenses Asbestos sampling forms Lab identity, contact information, and results Spreadsheet with HA descriptions and information (Quantity, description and color (i.e. mastic, black), location such as Building and Room Number, condition, friability) Risk assessment forms Cost estimates and priority for abatement Floor plans Each floor and location of samples with sample #s, showing negative (-) or positives (+), photos are each area sample area taken. E. Required bulk samples shall be taken by the contractor as defined below. For the purpose of this inspection, all building materials shall be suspect. The contractor will attach asbestos danger labels to accessible ACBM as indicated above using Class IV asbestos procedures, since labeling will have potential for incidental asbestos exposure. Comply with OSHA 26 CFR 1910.1001 Class IV procedures during application of asbestos labels. TSI must be cleaned with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums prior to warning label application. Sample locations must be clearly identified with a sample number. F. The contractor will provide two (2) hard copies of the completed inventory binders (one binder (or set of binders) per campus) per above, along with one (1) electronic copy as an editable excel workbook, including photos and drawings, with each floor having its own Excel worksheet. Drawing of each Building s floor plan showing sample locations and homogenous areas shall be provided in the final report. All sampled homogeneous areas shall be photographed. Color photos will be incorporated into the finished survey including the Excel spreadsheets. Photos shall be labeled as to homogenous area (by sample number), location, and type of material. Sample number shall be readable when viewed from photograph and sample location. All work shall be completed within 120 calendar days of the award. 2. Contracting Officer s Technical Representative (COTR): The VA s COR shall answer questions, arrange escort, and provide construction details, building schematics, past asbestos surveys*, inspections, and related files as needed for reference. The COR will provide access to all building areas, as necessary. The VAMC Industrial Hygienists will ensure contract compliance through routine reviews of the contractor s work, work products, and will field verify labeling meets the intent of the contract. Past Asbestos Surveys: Baseline Asbestos Survey Report for Fort Meade VAMC, 1988 Asbestos Management Plan 2009, with supplemental information and limited surveys from 2014 the present. Note: Any existing asbestos surveys provided are shall be used FOR REFERENCE ONLY and shall not be a part of this new Inventory/Survey. If use for incorporation in a complete asbestos building survey is warranted, this should be in accordance with industry practice. 3. Submittal and Notices After award but prior to field work, the contractor will meet with the COR and/or the VAMC Asbestos Program Coordinators and at that time submit the following: 1) Provide a copy of State of SD DANR license cards for all employees who will perform work on this project. Specific and current credentials for asbestos building inspectors must be provided. 2) Asbestos hazard prevention plan documenting training, PPE, procedures, and controls to ensure field work (sampling and labeling) does not create an asbestos hazard. This plan is subject to the approval of the COR prior to initiating the field work. Note: Emissions, releases, or spills of asbestos created by the contractor during this work shall be remedied and resourced by the contractor and mitigated in accordance with federal and state asbestos regulations. 4. Inspection/Sampling/Evaluation Procedure The contractor will: 1) Attend a pre-survey meeting prior to start of inspection/assessment to discuss/review the scope of work and performance criteria related to the scope of work including a site visit. 2) Inspect all areas to locate and identify suspected asbestos containing building materials and categorize the homogeneous areas. Collect photos as described above for inclusion in the final deliverables. Attempt to achieve access through the COR on all sampling missions. Note any areas that could not be inspected in the final report. 3) Determine the condition (friability) of suspected ACBM. Add appropriate signage to ACBM as discussed above using OSHA Class IV compliance/procedures. 4) Record the assessment of friable material into categories of damaged, significantly damaged, or no damage as defined by Federal Register 40 CFR 763.83. 5) Identify the appropriate management action to protect the health and safety of the building occupants. 6) Report the ACBM location, quantity, and status as well as requirements for labeling and training to comply with OSHA. 7) Comply with all other requirements of field work and deliverables described herein. 8) Ensuring a periodic surveillance survey (damage assessment) is performed every 6 months, as part of the Facility Asbestos O&M Plan, on ACM classifications designated in the survey as friable or with the potential for damage. B. Bulk samples shall be taken and recorded by as follows: 1) For each suspect homogeneous area, collect bulk samples for analysis in accordance with 40 CFR 763.83 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1001. Inventory the locations of the homogeneous areas where samples were collected indicating the exact sample location. Narrative description and photographic evidence of each asbestos HA is required. 2) Sample costs shall be quoted on a per sample basis. The number of samples required will be based on the number of homogeneous areas, contractor experience and the representative contractor will consult with contractual representative on number and type of samples taken. Some materials may be presumed to contain asbestos in accordance with AHERA/ASHARA. 3) Sample analysis shall be done by an NVLAP accredited laboratory. 4) Affix appropriate labels to all confirmed ACM, proximity to where sample was collected. 5. Equipment and Materials A. All equipment or materials needed to complete the project will be supplied by the contractor, including ladders and PPE. 6. Decontamination of Contaminated Areas A. The contractor will be responsible for the cost of decontamination of any areas that become contaminated as a direct result of their activity as described above. Disputed circumstances will be resolved by the contracting officer. 7. Asbestos Waste Disposal A. The contractor will be responsible for disposal of any asbestos waste generated during the project. B. Only an authorized disposal site shall be used in accordance with regulatory requirements of NESHAP and IEPA, if needed. A waste manifest will be submitted with closure documents when required. C. The contractor will provide transportation and disposal manifest documentation to provide a chain of custody record of asbestos containing waste from the project site to the disposal site, when required. Attachment A: Asbestos warning label required per OSHA 29CFR 1910.1001(j),(4),(i) to be placed on existing asbestos materials (if asbestos containing materials are already identified, assuring these labels are in good condition). Size: 4 inches by 4 inches