This Information for Bid (IFB) is for the identification and enumeration of approximately 175 aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate samples collected from streams and rivers throughout Pennsylvania that are representative of DEP's water quality monitoring program sampling and related tasks. Examples of 1 benthic macroinvertebrate sample types are those collected using DEP sampling methods described in the Biological Data Collection Protocols section of Water Quality Monitoring Protocols for Surface Waters, 2023. In addition, up to 20 previously identified DEP samples may be submitted for water quality program QA/QC purposes. These tasks are described in more detail in Section III and are summarized, as follows: Receive, inve nto ry a nd mai ntain bent hic ma cro inve rteb rate samples, Process, sort and sub-sample received samples, Identify and enumerate the sorted sub -samples, Identify and enumerate the DEP QA/QC sub-samples (as needed by DEP), Maintain proper identification bench sheets, Submit periodic status reports and bench sheets, Perform accepted quality assurance procedures, and Retain and return empty field sample jars, sorted and identified subsamples and any DEP QA/QC sub-samples.
