Requests for Proposals

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1. Development of a Comprehensive Dispersant Monitoring Protocol -- This RFP is now closed.

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1. Development of a Comprehensive Dispersant Monitoring Protocol

RFP Number: 962.12.01

For a printer friendly version of this RFP, please download the full Request for Proposals:
Development of a Comprehensive Dispersant Monitoring Protocol (PDF/445KB)

Submittal Deadline: January 10, 2012
Award Announcement: Mid-January, 2012

Submit Proposals to:

Joe Banta PWSRCAC Project Manager
Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council
3709 Spenard Road Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
or
via email at the following address:
banta@pwsrcac.org

To verify receipt of proposal, proposer must contact Joe Banta before the submittal deadline.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) is inviting proposals for a project to review current dispersant monitoring information and prepare a comprehensive monitoring protocol for evaluating dispersants effectiveness and potential impacts.  The final work product of this effort is a report that will summarize identified gaps in the current dispersant monitoring programs and provide a protocol that PWSRCAC can use for sampling prior to dispersant application as well as during and after application.  PWSRCAC has up to $50,000 available for this project.  

1.  PROJECT

INTRODUCTION

It has been the general consensus of PWSRCAC that the current dispersant monitoring programs are missing some critical aspects; therefore the goal of this project will be to create a review of these monitoring programs and relative information, as well as an all-encompassing protocol to use for dispersant monitoring. 

PWSRCAC is interested in consolidating and evaluating the reviews of the current Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies (SMART) monitoring process, as well as other dispersant testing protocols and available information. A goal of this part of this project is to summarize the beneficial and the disadvantageous parts of the current dispersant monitoring systems, and to identify gaps in the monitoring process.  This review would also include recommendations of what the best technology is for determining dispersants effectiveness as well as adverse effects to the biota and ecosystems. This would serve as background knowledge for the next step, creating a protocol that PWSRCAC could use in the event of a spill.

GOALS and DELIVERABLES

This project has two phases that each require two separate methodologies:  those used for testing an area of a spill before dispersants are applied as well as those methods for testing the effectiveness and potential impacts after they are applied.  These two methodologies should be included and discussed in the following two phases of the project.  The first phase is a literature review on current dispersant monitoring methods and knowledge, and the second phase is creating a monitoring protocol that can be used through the process of dispersant use in a potential oil spill in the Prince William Sound region. 

Part one of this project will consist of a literature review that will consolidate information available on monitoring for dispersant use before they are applied as well as monitoring for their effectiveness and side effects after they are applied. 
This review should build on the 2003 report “Review of Monitoring Protocols for Dispersant Effectiveness” that was prepared by Merv Fingas for PWSRCAC, as well as other reports or reviews of the SMART protocol, other protocols and other monitoring methods.  Using current information and any other applicable sources, this review will help identify the most important aspects to focus on when monitoring, the gaps in the existing knowledge base, the current best technologies available for monitoring and other important material on dispersant monitoring. 

Phase two of this project will be to create a monitoring protocol.  This monitoring protocol would include monitoring that is done before dispersants are applied in a spill as well as monitoring for effectiveness and impact during and after a spill.  A component of this monitoring protocol should be designed to aid in determining whether dispersant use is beneficial for the location, considering the biota and ecosystem and potential nondispersant and dispersant effects. A protocol that associated potential side effects with biota and ecosystem functions from non-dispersed, physically, and chemically dispersed oil, would be a beneficial tool to have available in the event of a spill.  Any other pre monitoring aspects that could be advantageous in making a better educated decision on the best approach for dispersant application would also be beneficial to this project.

In regards to monitoring for effectiveness and side effects during a spill best technology and methods should be identified in the literature review to aid in this protocol.  Current concerns include: the lack of monitoring for biota in the SMART monitoring system, the limited monitoring focus of SMART system (“are dispersants effective in dispersing the oil” rather than “are dispersants serving to protect human or natural resources?”) and the questionable validity of data collected from fluorometers that are the bases of data collection in the current monitoring system.

DESCRIPTION of REQUESTED WORK

Scope of Work. The scope of work shall include, but is not limited to the following:

1. The first phase will be a literature review of available information on dispersant monitoring including pre and post application aspects. 

This report will include and identify:

• Current information about monitoring dispersants
• Gaps and strengths in the current monitoring protocols and procedures
• Important aspects to monitor and the timing for these aspects in dispersant applications
• Pre-application factors that can help decide whether to apply dispersants
• How biota should be part of the monitoring process, and how best to monitor this aspect
• Current information on the effectiveness of common dispersants in conditions found in the Prince William Sound
• Other information relevant in the review and improvement of dispersant monitoring. 

2. The second phase of this project is to create a monitoring protocol that PWSRCAC can use to provide useful information on when, if and how it is most beneficial to apply dispersants and then how to monitor their effectiveness after they have been applied.  This field monitoring protocol should take into account both pre-dispersant application and post application monitoring criteria, to create a monitoring protocol for the whole dispersant application process.

Pre-Dispersant Application Monitoring Criteria to consider:

• Weather/wave action in the area (are conditions acceptable for dispersant application and effectiveness)
• Salinity and water temperatures (are they in a range where a dispersant maybe effective)
• Assessment of biota in area (testing for plankton as well as assessment for birds, mammals and fish)
• Aspects that are important to consider for the Prince William Sound

Post Application criteria to monitor effectiveness and side effects

• Best method for monitoring the effectiveness of dispersants that have been applied
• Assess the biota, and how they are being affected by the dispersant and dispersant oil mixtures
• Aspects that are important to consider for the Prince William Sound

Schedule and Completion Date

Award Announcement: Mid-January, 2012
The final report due date: May 1, 2012

For complete information on this RFP, including complete instructions on how to submit a proposal and evaluation criteria, download the full Request for Proposals: Development of a Comprehensive Dispersant Monitoring Protocol (PDF/445KB)

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Experts Wanted

Experts Wanted: The citizens' council routinely retains expert professionals to assist us in carrying out research, commenting on contingency plans, peer-reviewing reports, and other tasks related to our mission of promoting safe oil transportation. Visit our Experts Wanted page for details or to access our survey form.

Thanks for your interest in PWSRCAC.

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