B08_140G0219R0008_Attch_1_PWS.docx

Solicitation: 140G0219R0008 Attachment 1

PERFORMANCE-BASED WORK STATEMENT

PERFORMANCE-BASED WORK STATEMENT

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. The Department of the Interior (DOI) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Eastern Energy Resources Science Center (EERSC) has an ongoing requirement for mineral separation, fission track, and U-Pb geochronologic analysis of apatites and zircons as a part of the Alaska Petroleum Systems Project (hereafter, Alaska Project), the Gulf Coast Petroleum Systems project (hereafter, Gulf Coast Project), and possibly other projects conducted by the USGS EERSC. Fission track and U-Pb geochronologic measurements are routine elements of basin analysis studies, and USGS scientists are in the midst of ongoing research efforts that are designed, in part, to exploit these analytical tools. In particular, these measurements have been collected over the past 3-5 fiscal years for the Alaska Project, and the measurements will continue to be an integral component of Alaska Project work over the next several fiscal years (3-5 yrs). The exact number of samples varies from year to year, and largely depends on sample accessibility during field campaigns in remote regions and will be determined by quantities, funding, period of performance, and any other variables in separate task orders. Generally, we anticipate collecting approximately 5 - 20 fission track samples per year, and 5 - 10 U-Pb samples per year, and each sample requires mineral separation work prior to analytical work. For some subset of samples, both fission track and U-Pb geochronologic analysis is performed, a technique known as “double dating” of single zircon grains. The attached pricelist provides a guideline for the cost of individual analyses.

B. For both types of analysis (fission track and U-Pb), U, Th, and Pb isotope ratio measurements shall be made using a laser-ablation, inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS), capable of yielding zircon U-Pb ages with precision and accuracy of 1-2% or better, as indicated by replicate analysis of geochronological standards. Multi-collector instruments are preferred, but not required. The laser ablation system should be capable of measuring U, Th, and Pb isotopes with spot sizes of 40 µm, or smaller. Fission tracks shall be counted by an analyst using an optical microscope.

C. Purchases made through this Blanket Purchase Agreement will support USGS efforts to characterize the framework geology of Alaska, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico region, and other regions that are prospective for mineral and/or oil and gas resource discovery.

Fission track analysis provides a tool for evaluating the thermal history of plutonic or sedimentary rocks. This type of analysis provides insight into key elements of petroleum systems, including the duration of burial for key source rocks and the evolution of hydrocarbon drainage pathways/structural traps. Additionally, U-Pb geochronologic analysis of detrital minerals can be a powerful tool for evaluating sediment dispersal pathways and the erosion of hinterland sediment source regions.

D. The contractor’s responsibility shall be limited to sample preparation, laboratory analysis of prepared samples to collect fission track and u-Pb data for apatite and zircon, preliminary analysis of the data, including preliminary interpretation the temperature history of each sample through geologic time, and delivery of the data tables and plots in a summary report. Additional analysis will be conducted by USGS scientists during integration of the new data with existing data from other types of analysis.

E. Below is a summary of the historical use of a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for only the Alaska Project. This new BPA will also include services required for the Gulf Coast Project; no historical data is available for the Gulf Coast Project. No quantities are guaranteed with this new BPA.

Historical Data ONLY (do not quote to these quantities) Alaska Project Required Services from 2015 to 2018

*There was an unusual increase in need and funding for Mineral Separations and Zircon Fission Track (ZFT) & UPb (4x) in 2018.

F. Applicable documents: Publications documenting analytical methods used in fission track and U-Pb dating of apatite and/or zircon by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

Bernet, M., and Garver, J.I., 2005, Fission-track analysis of detrital zircon: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58, p. 205–237.

Donelick, R.A., O’Sullivan, P.B., and Ketcham, R.A., 2005, Apatite fission-track analysis: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58, p. 49–94.

Dumitru, T.A., 2000, Fission-track geochronology, in Quaternary geochronology; methods and applications: AGU Reference Shelf, v. 4, p. 131–155.

Gehrels, G., 2011, Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology: Current methods and new opportunities, in Busby, C., and Azor, A., eds., Recent Advances in Tectonics of Sedimentary Basins: Hoboken, New Jersey, Blackwell Publishing, p. 45-62, doi: 10.1002/9781444347166.ch2 USGS scientists will send samples to the contractor bulk rock samples, generally about 2 kg in mass Smaller samples (e.g. from well cores, cuttings, or thin-bedded tephras) may be shipped to the contractor based on the sampling conditions encountered in the field.

II. WORK REQUIREMENTS

A. Technical Requirements

Specific work tasks to be performed by the contractor include

1. (a) The contractor shall separate zircon and apatite grains from bulk rock samples provided by the USGS. Rock samples may include, but are not limited to, sandstone, granite, tephra or bentonite. The vendor shall separate up to 2 kg of rock and provide total records of the material provided, processed, and separated. The mineral separation shall be conducted within 6 months of the initial receipt of the samples;

(b) The contractor shall conduct fission track analysis for apatite and/or zircon from a sample, including appropriate chemical etching and appropriate 252Cf-derived fission fragment irradiation of grains to reveal spontaneous fission tracks, microscopic measurement of the density of spontaneous fission tracks observed in the target mineral, microscopic measurement of the length and crystallographic orientation of spontaneous fission tracks (for apatites), and determination of 238U concentration for track-counting targets using LA-ICP-MS). Using the isotope ratio measurements that derive from the LA-ICP-MS-work, the contractor shall analyze the U-Pb age of target minerals. The contractor should strive to provide n=40 (for apatite, n = 20 for zircon) single grain age measurements, although this may not always be possible for samples with low mineral yields. The contractor shall complete all analytical work within 12 months of the initial receipt of the raw sample material;

(c) The contractor shall record the measurements of kinetic parameter Dpar for all fission track length and grain age measurements, as part of the work, and within the timeframe, described in item (b);

(d) For fission track samples, the contractor shall provide data tables at a minimum must include spontaneous fission track counts, counting area measurements, information regarding U isotope abundance, measurements of Dpar for each analysis spot, the zeta calibration factor, and uncertainty on the zeta calibration factor. For samples where track length measurement is appropriate (e.g. apatite grains), the contractor shall provide data tables with spontaneous fission track lengths, crystallographic orientations, and kinetic parameter Dpar. The reports shall also contain any comments pertaining to the quality of data for any individual grain.

(e) The contractor shall conduct U/Pb crystallization age analysis for a set of samples using LA-ICP-MS of uranium and lead isotope concentrations; The contractor should strive to provide isotope ratio measurements on at least n=25 grains (for igneous rock samples, n=11- for sedimentary rock samples), although this may not be possible for samples with low mineral yields. The contractor shall complete all analytical work within 12 months of the initial receipt of the samples;

(f) For U-Pb samples, the contractor shall provide tables with, at a minimum, measured and calculated U/Pb isotope ratios, error correlations, and calculated U-Pb ages. The contractor shall provide any information relevant to a recommend technique for discordance and/or uncertainty filtering. The reports shall also contain any comments pertaining to the quality of data for any individual grain.

(e) The contractor shall conduct a preliminary summary of data; For fission track samples, this requirement shall be satisfied by provision of pooled fission track ages, mean track lengths (if applicable), associated uncertainties, and by provision of HeFTy .age and .len files by the contractor to the USGS, with an optional, short written summary (e.g. a few sentences, not to exceed ½ page); For zircon U-Pb samples from igneous rocks, this requirement shall be satisfied by provision of mean crystallization ages, associated uncertainties, concordia plots with an optional, simple written summary of results (e.g. a few sentences, not to exceed ½ page); For zircon U-Pb samples from sedimentary rocks, this requirement shall be satisfied by provision of relatively age frequency plots with an optional, simple written summary of the results (e.g. a few sentences, not to exceed ½ page); For samples specifically intended for fission track + U-Pb double dating, this requirement shall be satisfied by provision of a fission track age vs. crystallization age cross plot;

(f) The contractor shall provide descriptions of all mineral separation and analytical procedures upon request;

(g) The contractor shall provide analytical data for all reference apatite and zircons upon request; and

(h) The contractor shall return unused portion of sample and zircon and apatite separates to USGS in vials. The exact number of target samples will vary on an annual basis and will largely depend on the outcome of field campaigns.The contractor is responsible for sample shipment, however USGS may provide account information or shipping labels for USPS or FedEx shipping. The return of the unused minerals shall occur within the timeframes described in items (a), (b), and/or (d), whichever is appropriate.

2. Contractor’s compliance to the terms of this requisition will be based on (a) demonstrable adherence to current state-of-the-art methods for each work task, as summarized in published literature cited above in section I D. In general, this shall be verified by review of data tables provided by the contractor to the USGS. Data quality may be periodically verified by review of geochronological standards measurements interspersed with unknown target minerals as part of the contractor’s routine procedures. Data quality may also be verified by periodic submission of blind duplicates and/or blind geochronological standards; (b) timely delivery of digital data based on the work requirements described above; and (c) preliminary summary of the data which can be satisfied by provision of information described above

B. Deliverables

1. Deliverables stated in each BPA Call/Order; may include (a) return to the USGS unused portion of bulk samples and zircon and apatite concentrations separated from bulk sample; (b) analytical data in digital tabular format; and (c) the preliminary summary of data described above.

III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION

A. Apatite AFT, and Zircon U/Pb analyses shall be performed in laboratory facilities that are to be determined based on the results of an open bid process.

B. Period of Performance: 5 years from award date C. Government Furnished Property (GFP): None.

D. Special Considerations.

1. Collection of primary data will be conducted by an analyst that is to be determined.

2. Contractor retains copyright to final report because of proprietary information and methodology; USGS retains right to release report in part or in its entirety and to publish all data delivered by contractor.

3. Security/Privacy issues: All data sent from the contractor shall be free of malicious firmware and software.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

The contractor shall be responsible for quality control if goods/services delivered/performed. The contractor shall complete its quality control measures before delivering results to the Government’s Technical Liaison (TL), Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), or Task Order Manager (TOM).

The Government will be responsible for quality assurance. The TL, COTR, or TOM will randomly include blind samples. If the blind sample results do not meet or exceed the quality standards, then the contractor shall conduct quality control measures, re-analyze all batch samples and submit results at no additional cost to the Government.