Inactive
Notice ID:140G0323Q0002
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to determine the availability of qualified businesses capable of providing chemical analyses of rock samples as described in the attach...
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to determine the availability of qualified businesses capable of providing chemical analyses of rock samples as described in the attached Statement of Work. This sources sought announcement is not a request for quote or proposal and the Government is not committed to award of a purchase order or contract pursuant to this announcement. The information resulting from this market research is simply for planning purposes to assist the Government in determining its acquisition strategy. The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this notice. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code - 541380 Testing Laboratories and associated size standard $16.5M apply to this announcement. All responsible sources may submit a capabilities statement detailing the ability of their service to meet the Statement of Work included in this announcement along with their SAM registration UEI number. Responses to this announcement shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to dallan-loucks@usgs.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than 11/01/2022 1500 ED. Responses submitted by hardcopy shall not be accepted or considered. U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Science Center Statement of Work I. GENERAL INFORMATION A. Introduction. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) requires a laboratory vendor to provide geochemical analytical services. The vendor will provide major and trace-element rock sample geochemical analyses via two methodologies: the X-ray fluorescence method (XRF with the option of LOI) and the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer method (ICP-MS). Both will be done according to established USGS sample processing protocols. Additionally, the vendor is to provide the USGS with data that is consistent with Volcano Science Center's legacy data. B. Background. The geochemical data provided under contract for X-ray fluorescence and Inductively Coupled plasma-mass S analyses are essential to the work done by Volcano Science Center (VSC) geologists and has been relied upon for decades to fulfill our mission work. These analyses provide data on the composition of rock samples that are critical in making geologic maps and in constructing eruptive histories of volcanoes. These data are used by VSC geologists to assess potential hazards posed by particular volcanoes, including eruption frequencies, types of eruptions, eruption durations and more. All of this information is fundamental to the many types of publications produced by the Volcano Science Center that inform emergency response planning and the general public about volcanoes and the hazards they pose. Continuity of our data as we change analytical providers has long been a challenge, as VSCs mission goal requires our current data to be consistent with legacy data. Processing of samples must be consistent with USGS requirements to maintain the high quality, accuracy, and precision of our chemical database (or provide improvement), and to provide consistency with prior analyses. C. Scope. 1. The laboratory will provide chemical analyses of rock samples by the X-ray fluorescence method for USGS Volcano Science Center (VSC) scientists. Each sample analysis will determine and report the weight concentrations of at least 29 major and trace elements (Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Sc, V, Ni, Cr, Ba, Sr, Zr, Y, Rb, Nb, Ga, Cu, Zn, Pb, La, Ce, Th, Nd, U). Major element concentrations will be reported as oxides: SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, total Fe as either FeO or Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5. Concentrations of the remaining elements are to be reported as weight parts per million (ppm). 2. The laboratory will also provide inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) chemical analyses of the weight concentrations of 27 elements for selected rock samples, as requested by VSC scientists. Elements to be measured and reported include the 14 rare earth elements (REE: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) and Ba, Th, Nb, Y, Hf, Ta, U, Pb, Rb, Cs, Sr, Sc, Zr. 3. As requested, samples will be analyzed for loss on ignition (LOI: percent weight change upon heating above about 950° C, for sufficient time for sample weight to stabilize), with LOI results included along with major element concentrations. 4. Samples can be submitted as hand samples, picked chips, or ground powders for no difference in price and will be ground by contract lab personnel (if necessary). Lab must be able to process sample sizes as small as 1.5 grams, additional charge for processing small sample sizes is acceptable. The lab will provide the following options of types of grinding equipment used to process rock samples: agate, tungsten carbide, hardened steel, or alumina (99.5 weight %) to be specified by the requestor. Processing methodologies must not fractionate the samples, and equipment and environment must be cleaned thoroughly between samples to ensure no cross-contamination. Excess sample will be returned for no extra charge. II. WORK REQUIREMENTS A. Technical Requirements. 1. Samples will be sent to vendor by any delivery service (US mail, UPS, FedEx, etc.). Samples received as rock or powder are prepared for analysis by chipping, grinding to a very fine powder, weighing with di-lithium tetraborate flux, fusing at 1000° C in a muffle oven, and cooling to glass; the glass bead is then reground, refused, and polished to provide a non-contaminated, smooth flat analysis surface. 2. Samples are analyzed for major and trace element concentrations by an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer yielding consistent research-grade precision and accuracy (precision of ca. 1% relative for major oxides, ca. 5-10% relative for trace elements), and/or by an ICP-MS quadrupole mass spectrometer that provides data precision from ppm (parts-per-million) to ppb (parts-per-billion). 3. The laboratory will maintain records of standardization results establishing analytical accuracy and precision, including international rock standards analyzed as unknowns, and will provide tabular summaries of such results to the USGS annually. B. Criteria for acceptance of service. Contractor's service will be measured by the following criteria: 1. Analytical data of rock samples by XRF and ICPMS methods must remain at stated level of accuracy and precision. 2. Sample processing must be free of cross-contamination and fractionation effects. 3. Processing must be consistent with USGS requirements to maintain consistency (or provide improvement) on the accuracy and precision of prior analyses. 4. Pricing must be maintained as specified in the contract. 5. Turn-around time of analytical results should stay within the contract parameters 6. Results should be delivered to individual scientists in an excel spreadsheet. C. Deliverables. 1. Results will be reported in an Excel spreadsheet via email to individual USGS requestors upon completion of each batch of submitted samples. A reasonable turnaround time is expected, (typically 3-8 weeks for a batch of 50 samples). 2. Rush analyses will be available upon request with short turnaround time (<2 weeks) III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION A. Place of Performance. Contractor's facility B. Period of Performance. Date of award and five years thereafter
