Asbestos Containing Material: The selected firm(s) will conduct asbestos surveys at assigned housing units or buildings to identify the presence of all accessible suspect asbestos containing material (ACM) in accordance with state and federal regulations. A state licensed asbestos building inspector will visually inspect accessible areas during the survey, touching suspect material to determine condition and friability. Friable means that material, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Inspections may include interior units, exteriors (including roofs), common areas, accessible basements, and crawl spaces. CHA will provide keyed access, but ladders and other safety equipment shall be provided by the inspector. The selected Bidder will be required to: • Collect samples according to applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asbestos regulations (Per 40 CFR Part 763). • Transmit all samples to a National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) certified laboratory under strict chain of custody. • Analyze all samples by Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), as PLM is the EPA and IDPH recognized method for determining bulk asbestos content. • If floor tiles and associated mastic screen negative for ACM by PLM, floor tile and associated mastic should be analyzed using the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) method. TEM is the recommended analytical method by EPA for non-friable flooring material that tested negative by PLM.
