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USGS, Geology, Geochemistry, and Geophysics Science Center (3G), Denver, CO has a requirement for an Airborne Electromagnetic and Magnetic Survey for Shallow Bedrock Mapping in Wisconsin. THIS IS A SO... USGS, Geology, Geochemistry, and Geophysics Science Center (3G), Denver, CO has a requirement for an Airborne Electromagnetic and Magnetic Survey for Shallow Bedrock Mapping in Wisconsin. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. NO FORMAL SOLICITATION IS BEING REQUESTED UNDER THIS NOTICE. This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes to identify interested firms for the potential requirement detailed below. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541360 (Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services) and the size standard is $15 million. The Government will review the information requested in this announcement to determine the type of set-aside (if any) for this requirement, should it come to fruition. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Geology, Geochemistry, and Geophysics Science Center (3G), Denver, CO has a requirement for an Airborne Electromagnetic and Magnetic Survey for Shallow Bedrock Mapping in the Upper Midwest. The USGS requests airborne geophysical data that encompasses the study area (see location map in Figure 1 and coordinates in Table 1 as Attachment 1) using electromagnetic and magnetic methods. This project is intended to be a multiple-year study, with plans for several phases of data collection over a period of up to 3 years. This contract will be awarded for the entire 3-year study; however, given annual funding uncertainties all but the first year will be considered `optional add-on¿ pending availability of funds. An electromagnetic and magnetic system is required that can image very shallow subsurface lithologic variations and structural controls on recharge and groundwater flow, as well as changes in water salinity. These data are intended for rigorous inversion, uncertainty quantification, and will be used in the development of updated depth-to-bedrock maps. Background: In the summer of 2018, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) established a Silurian bedrock performance standard that required all crop and livestock producers that mechanically apply manure directly or through contact to cropland or pasture areas to follow specific guidelines based on the depth of soils to the Silurian bedrock. The targeted performance standards set application restrictions based on those depths. Current depth to bedrock maps in the areas of the performance standard are based on limited data and professional judgement, often from over 40 years ago. The shortcomings of these maps affect those that are impacted by the standard as they must contest, document, and verify discrepancies. This puts an appreciable burden on private landowners to improve the existing data and to verify contested results. An additional disadvantage of the reliance on private landowners is that it also limits the public¿s access to that data once collected through private funding. Therefore, adjacent landowners may be reinventing the wheel with often costly data collection. The use of airborne electromagnetics (AEM) to define depth to bedrock features is an innovative use of airborne geophysical methods, especially at the relatively shallow depths required here. Given the differences in electrically resistive Silurian bedrock areas and overlying low-resistivity unconsolidated sediments, this evaluation is expected to determine constraints that could define its application to other bedrock mapping challenges nationally. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) seek to acquire airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic survey to map the interface between the uppermost dolomite bedrock and overlying unconsolidated Pleistocene glacial sediments within the Upper Midwest. The area of interest is in Northeastern Wisconsin where areas identified to have Silurian bedrock are subject to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources targeted performance standard. This performance standard effects all crop and livestock producers that mechanically apply manure directly or through contact to cropland or pasture areas to follow specific guidelines based on the depth of soils to the Silurian bedrock. Current depth-to-bedrock maps are based on limited data and professional judgement, often from over 40 years ago. Related interests for mapping of Quaternary glacial sediments overlying bedrock in northwest Michigan have been identified by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and is also included in this PWS given its proximity to the primary area of interest in Wisconsin. Flight Lines: The government has a definite requirement for and plans to award a minimum of 2,000-line kilometers (km). Optional ¿Add-On¿ line kilometers may also be awarded at the time of contract award, up to 6,000 additional line kilometers (km), in part or all, throughout the duration of this three (3) year contract period. The Government plans to make one contract award for the project area; however, data acquisition may occur in several phases as funds become available. More than one mobilization/demobilization per year may be required. Initial funding for 2,000 line-km will be limited to the core area of interest (Fig. 1) where no Federally recognized Tribal Lands have been identified. Optional ¿add-on¿ funding for flights will not occur directly over, or within 1km of, any Federally recognized Tribal Lands identified in the Michigan area of interest (Figure 1) without prior written consent. General Requirements: The Contractor shall furnish all travel, mobilization, labor, materials, aircraft and aircraft facilities, and demobilization, except as otherwise specified herein, required for conducting an airborne electromagnetic magnetic, and radiometric survey. The Contractor shall provide digitally recorded and processed airborne geophysical and ancillary data in accordance with the terms, conditions and specifications set forth in this contract. Performance Requirements: Electromagnetic data acquisition and processing The Contractor shall acquire and minimally process high-quality airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data to meet or exceed the following quality standards: a) Line spacing and direction. Flight lines shall have a general block-and-tie line configuration, with orientation of primary flight lines to be optimized based on local conditions. These planned lines may contain diverging paths, changes in orientation, and gaps to avoid areas of substantially dense infrastructure, roads and highways, or population centers. The final flight line configuration, including line spacing and orientation, is left to the discretion of the USGS and will be digitally provided by USGS to the Contractor prior to the beginning of production flying. The spacing between flight lines shall not exceed 125% of the specified line spacing for more than 800 meters along a given flight line, unless required by a safety or FAA regulation consideration. b) Flight speed. Neither helicopter air speed nor ground speed shall exceed 80 mph during the survey for more than 50 meters along the flight path. The nominal airspeed and data recording rate shall be specified in the proposal and discussed in terms of ground sampling interval. Nominal and maximum air speed for a fixed wing aircraft shall be specified by the Contractor. c) Data recording rate. A nominal data recording rate of 0.1 seconds (10 Hz) or greater frequency shall be used for all systems. d) Transit flights. All instruments shall be turned on and recording during transit between the base and survey area. Transit line data are to be delivered together with production data. e) Terrain clearance of AEM system. Ground clearance of the electromagnetic sensor shall be maintained as close to 100 feet (30 meters) as possible for production flights. Deviations from this standard shall be acceptable for safety, legal, and aircraft performance reasons only. The Contractor shall obtain clearance(s) required for low-altitude flights as necessary. f) GPS system. A real-time, dual-frequency-phase GPS system suitable for post-flight differential correction shall be used during flights for all areas. A GPS receiver shall be mounted in or on the system frame and the flight path of both the helicopter and system frame will be recorded. A local GPS base station shall be used. The horizontal accuracy shall be no worse than 1 meter with post processing and shall be reported to 0.00001 degrees. The coordinate system shall be NAD83 (HARN) WI Transverse Mercator (EPSG 3071) g) Altimeters. Barometric, laser, and radar altimeters shall be operated during all flights. A laser altimeter shall be mounted in or on the airframe for a towed system. Radar and laser altimeters shall be calibrated and accurate to within 0.5 meters. h) Sensor frame attitude. Measurements of system attitude (pitch and roll) shall be made using one or more inclinometers on the system frame. Attitude data shall be recorded by the data acquisition system every 0.1 second. i) Digital terrain models (DTMs). DTMs derived from survey data, or preexisting DTMs, shall be sampled no more coarsely than 1/3 (one third) the terrain clearance. j) Digital camera. A digital camera shall be used to record the terrain passing beneath the helicopter. Time and fiducial marks shall be superimposed on the digital images to allow direct correlation of the flight path with the digitally recorded GPS and geophysical data. In level flight, the viewing angle of the camera shall not be more than 2 degrees from vertical. k) Current Waveform. The current waveform will be sampled and recorded at no greater than 1-minute intervals while in flight. l) Test Line and System Noise Specifications. In advance, or immediately prior, to the survey, the system will be flown in both directions at typical production speeds at three (3) altitudes over a 5 km test line where prior ground geophysical data have been acquired by the USGS or cooperators. All costs associated with flying the test line are to be incorporated in Item 3 of Table 1 (mobilization) and will not count toward production flying. The test-line data will be evaluated by the Contractor and the Contracting COR or USGS-TL. The evaluation shall be done overnight in the field. To the extent possible, system parameters shall then be optimized before routine surveying is started. Where prior ground truth information has been obtained, the USGS reserves the right to utilize these data to validate the calibration of the airborne system on the test line. Layered-earth models from the ground truth data will be used by the USGS to generate the forward response at the specific flight altitude using the airborne system specifications. Full specifications for the airborne system will be supplied to the USGS at least 1 month in advance of the test flight (system specifications are to include: system geometry, time gates or frequency bands, current waveform, system filters). A comparison between measured data and the forward responses shall be made by the USGS within 24 hours and prior to initiation of the main survey. The measured data and forward responses must agree to within 25%, or another level to be mutually agreed upon, at early times (less than 100 ¿sec) or high frequencies (greater than 10 kHz) and 10% at late time (greater than 1 msec) or low frequencies (less than 10 kHz) before a ¿Notice To Proceed¿ will be issued by the COR or USGS-TL. A sample of measured high-altitude (system response) data collected with the system to be employed shall be provided to the USGS at least 1 month in advance of the test flight. These data will be used to define an empirical noise function for the system. This noise function will serve as a guideline in defining, through mutual agreement, a `maximum noise level¿ that is acceptable for the survey. This maximum noise level will become a contract specification and must not be exceeded during the survey. m) System response. The platform shall be periodically elevated until the earth response vanishes. The raw data shall be recorded during ascent, at altitude, and upon descent. Forward motion during ascent and descent should be the minimum required to keep the system oriented within normal operating specifications (i.e. level with the ground). Proposals must specify and discuss the frequency of high-altitude tests for the proposed system to monitor drift and provide consistent data. Spheric, power line, and general system noise shall be monitored, recorded, and included as part of the data deliverables. Static and in-flight system noise levels over a specified averaging time shall be specified in advance of the survey, assuming that spheric levels are typical for morning hours. Measurements of static noise levels and in-flight noise level at altitude shall be made before the survey, as well as at the beginning and end of each flight. The measured noise levels shall be at or below the ¿maximum noise level¿ to be mutually agreed upon before the start of the survey. n) Data synchronization. All data acquisition systems in the aircraft and on the ground must be synchronized in real time. Digital recordings of all measurements shall be made at all times during the survey. o) Raw flight data. AEM data are to be compiled at the end of each day and examined by the Contactor who will perform quality control. The data are to be delivered the following morning. The data shall be delivered in Geosoft database or Aarhus Workbench format with coordinates system NAD83 (HARN) WI Transverse Mercator (EPSG 3071). The COR or USGS-TL will perform independent quality assurance. Magnetic data acquisition and processing The Contractor shall acquire and process high-quality airborne magnetic data to meet or exceed the following quality standards a) Line spacing and direction. Line spacing and direction shall be governed by the specification put forth in Section 3.1 for the AEM data b) Terrain clearance of magnetometer system. Nominal terrain clearance shall be governed by the specification put forth in Section 3.1 for the AEM data. Deviations from this standard shall be acceptable for safety, legal, and aircraft performance reasons only. The Contractor shall obtain clearance(s) required for low-altitude flights as necessary. c) Data recording rate. A nominal data recording rate of 0.1 seconds (10 Hz) or greater frequency shall be used for all systems. d) Transit flights. All instruments shall be turned on and recording during transit between the base and survey area. Transit line data are to be delivered together with production data. e) GPS system. A real-time, dual-frequency-phase GPS system suitable for post-flight differential correction shall be used during flights for all areas. A GPS receiver shall be mounted in or on the system frame and the flight path of both the helicopter and system frame will be recorded. A local GPS base station shall be used. The horizontal accuracy shall be no worse than 1 meter with post processing and shall be reported to 0.00001 degrees. The coordinates system shall be NAD83 (HARN) WI Transverse Mercator (EPSG 3071) f) Altimeters. Barometric, laser, and radar altimeters shall be operated during all flights. A laser altimeter shall be mounted in or on the airframe for a towed system. Radar and laser altimeters shall be calibrated and accurate to within 0.5 meters for terrain clearances of 80 meters or more. g) Airborne magnetometer. Total intensity magnetometers used to perform the survey shall have a sensitivity of 0.1 nT or better. Values shall be obtained along flight lines at intervals no greater that 10 meters. The error envelope due to turbulence and the internal magnetometer noise shall not exceed 0.1 nT for more than 10% of any flight line. If mounted on or in the aircraft, the magnetometer shall be compensated for errors caused by the magnetic field of the aircraft such that maneuver noise shall not exceed 3 nT for pitches or rolls of 20 degrees and heading changes shall not cause a variation of more than 1 nT in the magnetic reading. If mounted in a bird or a stinger, the magnetometer shall be compensated for errors that may be caused by the magnetic field of the aircraft, and other possible sources of errors, such as bird swing. h) Base station magnetometer. One or more continuously recording ground magnetometers shall be located within 80 kilometers of all survey points. A total intensity magnetometer shall be used to monitor diurnal drift. A single location for each survey area shall be designated. The magnetometer shall have a resolution of 0.2 nT or better, have absolute control of 0.5 nT or better and a noise envelope of less than or equal to 0.1 nT. It shall be located so that sources of man-made noise such as vehicular traffic do not exceed 1 nT. It shall be sampled at less than or equal to 1 second intervals during airborne data acquisition. Digital recordings of the ground magnetometer made during times of airborne acquisition shall be available at all times during the survey. The digital data shall include the date, and absolute value of the magnetometer, and GPS time with accurate synchronization to the aircraft data acquisition system. i) Data synchronization. All data acquisition systems in the aircraft and on the ground must be synchronized in real time. Digital recordings of all measurements shall be made at all times during the survey. j) Magnetic storms. Magnetic survey data shall not be acceptable when gathered during magnetic storms or short-term disturbances of the magnetic activity at the ground station used that exceed the following: 1. Monotonic changes in the magnetic field of 5 nT in any 5-minute period. 2. Pulsations having periods of 5 minutes or less shall not exceed 2 nT. 3. Pulsations having periods between 5 and 10 minutes shall not exceed 4 nT. 4. Pulsations having periods between 10 and 20 minutes shall not exceed 8 nT. The period of a pulsation is defined as the time between adjacent peaks and troughs. The amplitude of a pulsation is one-half the sum of the positive and negative excursions from trough to trough or peak to peak. k) Diurnal correction. The total field airborne magnetometer shall be corrected for diurnal variation and instrument drift. l) Basic data processing. Lag, shift, and level corrections shall be applied to the magnetometer and navigation data as appropriate to properly determine outputs from each survey system and coordinates. Methods of determining and applying these corrections shall be clearly specified. m) Leveling. Tie-line leveling shall be applied to the diurnally corrected magnetometer data. Subsequent microleveling may be applied as necessary. n) IGRF removal. The International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) shall be removed from the leveled magnetic data. IGRF values shall be computed at precise XYZ positions of observed field measurements. At a minimum most leveling shall be completed prior to IGRF removal so that the IGRF can be replaced by the Definitive Geomagnetic Reference Field in future years without having to re-level the data. The correction shall be documented. A detailed scope of work will be provided with any solicitation that may be issued. All business concerns who believe they can responsibly provide this type of service should submit the following information to the Contracting Officer. 1. Tailored capability statement describing information in providing the services described above. Capability statement shall include the following: (a) RECENT (within the last three fiscal years) RELEVANT (similar projects to this requirement) performance history. (b) In what capacity (e.g., prime, subcontractor etc.) they performed the work; and (3) their SIZE STATUS. 2. The firm shall specify that they are either a: a. Small Business (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, etc.) or b. Other Than Small Business under the NAICS Code listed in the announcement. 3. The firm shall provide a point of contact name and e-mail information, and the firm¿s Cage Code, and D&B Number. NOTE: All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary - the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Materials submitted to the Government for review will not be returned. Respondents will NOT be notified of the results of the evaluation. This is NOT a request for quotations. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on responses received under this announcement. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION In order to be responsive to this Notice, a firm must provide the appropriate documentation for consideration no later than 2:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on May 11, 2020. Responses that do not comply with these procedures will NOT be considered. Inquiries will only be accepted by e-mail to Lisa Williams at ldwilliams@usgs.gov
Data sourced from SAM.gov.
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