RFQ 140G0321Q0057 Amendment 0001_QandA document_0001.docx

RFQ 140G0321Q0057 Amendment 0001 Question and Answer document

1)What material will be received by the contractor? The Statement of Work discusses both “prepared graphite” and also the return of the “unused fecal pellets.” Our services can be employed for the chemical pre-treatment of the pellets as described in Miller et al 2014 (Organic radiocarbon dating service, which includes pretreatment, graphite preparation, and measurement) OR for just the measurement of the prepared graphite (Graphite – loose or pressed – radiocarbon dating service). The material/sample type is vital to preparing the correct quotation.

Response from Customer: The contractor will receive pressed graphite samples (="prepared graphite" = "graphitized samples").

2) Would you like the quote for n = 150 or n = 200? The Request for Quotation states “QTY. 150 SAMPLES,” which again appears in the Introduction of the Statement of Work. However, the Scope of that document says “for 200 samples of pika fecal pellets in the base year (FY21).”

Response from Customer: Quote for 150 samples, please.

3) Will the date of collection be provided by USGS-NOROCK? In addition to the collection location, the date of collection will be required to provide the Δ14C measurement as requested in 4.3/5.0 of the Statement of Work, if in fact the “Change in Carbon-14 amount” is the Δ14C expression discussed by Stuiver, M., & Polach, H. (1977). Discussion: Reporting of 14C Data. Radiocarbon, 19, 355-363.

Response from Customer: Yes, date of collection will be provided by USGS-NOROCK, for each sample.

4) What documents will fulfill the requirements of Evaluation per 52.212-2? We are particularly concerned about the Past Performance documentation, as it is our policy to maintain submitter confidentiality. We do not release data reports to non-affiliated parties without the express consent of the submitter. It would be possible to provide reports of internal research or potentially heavily redacted data-sets without any individual sample identifiers. Alternatively, are there other metrics by which we might fulfill this requirement, such as providing the number and average precision of data with Fm > 0.99 within the last X years? This could also be limited to externally-prepared-graphite-only or organic-only samples (depending on the answer to question #1) to more precisely apply to the request.

Ultimately, we will require for something akin to references, and proof that the vendor has successfully completed work in the past. The USGS understands the vendor's reticence and professional consideration about disclosing other information from past clients. Vendors should thus feel free to redact any information that they feel that they need to redact and the USGS will evaluate proposals based on information provided.