Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 1

SECTION 1

PRICING

1.1 GENERAL INFORMATION

This acquisition is being conducted in accordance with Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services (https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-12). This requirement is a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside under

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541360 (Geophysical Surveying and Mapping

Services) and Product Service Code (PSC) B529 (Special Studies/Analysis - Scientific Data).

Under this Request for Quote (RFQ), the United States Department of the Interior, on behalf of the Bureau of

Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is issuing this combined presolicitation and solicitation for the project titled “Sand, Sediment and Critical Mineral Investigation in Federal Waters Offshore Southwest Florida.”

The purpose of this requirement is to support BOEM’s identification of offshore sand, sediment, and potential critical mineral resources along the Outer Continental Shelf located off Southwest Florida, including areas offshore Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties. The work includes investigation planning, geophysical and geological investigations, core collection, laboratory analysis, critical minerals analysis, data evaluation, reporting, and submission of data formatted for ingestion into the Marine Minerals Information System.

The Period of Performance for this requirement is two years from the date of contract award.

1.2 FIRM-FIXED-PRICE CONTRACT LINE ITEM/PRICING

WITH AMENDMENT #3, THIS SOLICITATION IS CHANGED TO A FIRM FIXED PRICE

CONTRACT

CLIN Description FIRM FIXED PRICE

00010 Task 1: Project Management

00020 Task 2: Mobilization, Notices, and Field Coordination

00030 Task 3: Geophysical Surveys

00040 Task 4: Core Collection and Sampling for Sediment Resources

00010

00050

Complete Task 5: Delineation, Descriptions, and Volumetrics of

Sand, and Sediment, and Critical Mineral Investigation

Resources

The contractor shall provide all necessary supplies, services and personnel necessary to complete all work required under Section 2.0, Statement of Work.

00060 Task 6: Critical Minerals Sampling and Analyses

00070 Reports and Data Deliverables

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1.2.1 TIME AND MATERIALS CLIN

• This contract is awarded on a Time-and-Materials basis as authorized by FAR 12.104. The following payment provisions apply:

o Hourly Rates – The Government shall pay the Contractor for labor performed at the fixed hourly rates specified in Section 1. These rates are inclusive of wages, overhead, G&A, and profit.

o Materials – The Government shall reimburse the Contractor for materials (including travel if authorized) at cost without markup. Materials must be approved in advance by the Contracting

Officer or COR.

o Payment Procedures – Payments shall be made in accordance with FAR 52.232-7, incorporated by reference.

o Ceiling Price – The total payment under this contract shall not exceed the ceiling price without prior written authorization from the Contracting Officer.

• CLIN 00010 is a Time and Materials (T&M) line item with a period of performance from the date of award through 21 months thereafter that includes all costs required for performance, including but not limited to all personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies, and services.

• The effort under CLIN 00010 shall be accomplished in accordance with the Statement of Work in

Section 2. This is a Not to Exceed (NTE) CLIN. The contractor exceeds at their own risk.

• To assist the Government in assuring that efficient methods and effective cost controls are being used, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in advance of significant changes (>10%) to labor hours, subcontracts, or material from its proposal, that arise during the performance of the contract.

1.3 AUTHORIZED BILLING RATES

The following table contains the authorized supplies and services that may be billed under the task order. All unit prices are fully-loaded (i.e., inclusive of all direct costs, indirect costs, and profit/fee).

Labor Category or Supply

Category

Unit of

Measure Year 1 Year 2

Project Manager Hour $TBD* $TBD*

Sr. Consultant Hour $TBD* $TBD*

Consultant Hour $TBD* $TBD*

Jr. Consultant Hour $TBD* $TBD*

These are SAMPLE labor categories. The offeror shall provide the labor categories and dollar amounts in the price quotation. The services and supplies contained in table above are for illustrative purposes only and will change based upon the labor categories and supplies quoted in the successful offeror’s quotation.

1.3 PARTIAL DELIVERY PAYMENT SCHEDULE

In its quotation, the Contractor may request partial payments based upon delivery and acceptance of tasks performed and agreed to by the Government, in accordance with FAR Clause 52.232-1. The payment arrangement should be based upon partial deliverables whereby payments are made for distinct portions of the work completed by the Contractor and accepted by the Government.

SAMPLE ONLY

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1.4 AFFORDABILITY STATEMENT

The Government estimates the value of these services to be between $1.2 million and $1.6 million, based on a comprehensive Independent Government Cost Estimate and available market research. Quoters are advised that proposed pricing significantly above this range should be clearly supported by a detailed explanation of the additional value, technical benefit, performance advantage, or risk reduction provided to the Government. The

Government will evaluate whether proposed pricing is reasonable and represents value to the Government in relation to the stated requirements.

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 4

SECTION 2.0

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

2.1 BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) wants to identify sand and sediment resources for coastal resilience and potential critical mineral deposits along the Outer Continental Shelf offshore Southwest Florida through geophysical and geological (G&G) investigations. The investigation will support the National Offshore

Sand Inventory (NOSI) and the National Offshore Critical Minerals Inventory (NOCMI). The area of interest includes federal waters offshore Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties, Florida (see Figures 1, 2, and 3 in

Attachment 1). BOEM will provide maps of the area of interest after evaluation of newly acquired bathymetric data.The figures in Attachment 1 identify the modeled shoals, the Submerged Lands Act Boundary, existing core sample locations and survey tracklines, and the Gulf Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) blocks with Significant

Sediment Resources. The focus is to target modeled shoals and other areas of interest within the planning area.

The overall effort includes development of G&G investigation plans, acquisition of data, identification and volumetric evaluation of resources, critical mineral analysis, and submission of reports and data formatted for ingestion into the Marine Minerals Information System (MMIS).

2.2 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this Firm-Fixed-Price contract are to identify, characterize, and document offshore sand, sediment, and potential critical mineral resources in federal waters offshore Southwest Florida through a task-based program of planning, geophysical surveying, core collection, laboratory testing, data evaluation, and reporting.

2.3. SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, management, vessels, equipment, materials, supplies, software, transportation, and incidentals necessary to perform the tasks described in this SOW. The required work includes, at a minimum: development of one investigation plan; acquisition of 300 line-miles of geophysical survey data; collection of 75 vibracore; analysis of 375 vibracore samples; delineation of potential sediment resource areas; preliminary volumetric evaluation; and collection of 75 samples for critical mineral analysis. The Contractor shall prepare a single final report for the standard geophysical and geotechnical results and the initial sand body volumetrics (see Attachment 2). The Contractor shall prepare an additional report for the critical mineral analysis (see Attachment 3). The digital data deliverables shall be submitted to BOEM in the required format outlined below.

The required work includes, at a minimum: development of one investigation plan; acquisition of approximately

300 line-miles of geophysical survey data; collection of 75 vibracore and/or rotary boring locations for geotechnical data; analysis of 75 vibracore samples for critical minerals; processing and interpretation of the collected data; delineation of potential borrow areas; preliminary volumetric evaluation; and preparation of final reports and digital data deliverables.

The Contractor shall perform the work in accordance with the current versions of all applicable federal, state, and industry standards and requirements identified in the contract. At a minimum, the work shall comply with the following, as applicable:

• BOEM Notice to Lessees (NTL) No. 2005-G07 for archaeological survey considerations.

• ISO 19901 requirements for marine soil investigation, as applicable to the work performed.

• FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) and ISO 19115 metadata standards, as appropriate for the dataset.

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• USGS Science Data Lifecycle Model, including planning, acquisition, preservation, and data delivery considerations.

• ASTM D5434-25 for core logging, ASTM D2487-17(R2025) for USCS classification, ASTM

D4648/D4648M-24a for Field Miniature Vane Shear testing, and ASTM D6913/D6913M-1717R25 for sieve analysis. The measurements obtained using a pocket shear vane/Torvane are acceptable when consistent with the applicable testing requirements in this SOW.

• BOEM naming conventions, and MMIS schema and data requirements, as provided by the Government.

2.4 TASKS

2.4.1 Task 1 Project Management

Provide overall project management, coordination, and administrative oversight necessary to support successful execution of the contract.

2.4.1.1 Project Management

a) The Contractor shall provide all project management, coordination, and planning necessary to perform the work under this contract.

b) The Contractor shall conducattend a kickoff meeting with the Government to confirm project objectives, schedule, deliverables, communication procedures, data standards, and roles and responsibilities.

c) The Contractor shall provide regular project status updates to the COR throughout contract performance and shall identify any actual or potential schedule delays, performance issues, or risks affecting successful performance.

d) The Contractor shall prepare and submit meeting minutes for the kickoff meeting and any subsequent meetings within 5 calendar days after each meeting.

2.4.1.2 Project Management Plan

a) The Contractor shall prepare and submit a Project Management Plan (PMP) for Government review and acceptance.

b) The PMP shall describe, at a minimum, the Contractor’s management approach, project organization, key personnel, communication procedures, quality control procedures, schedule management, risk management approach, subcontractor coordination, and procedures for tracking deliverables, issues, and corrective actions.

c) The PMP shall describe how the Contractor will coordinate with BOEM and maintain project records throughout contract performance.

Deliverables

1. Kickoff meeting agenda and presentation (PowerPoint format)

2. Kickoff meeting minutes and minutes for subsequent meetings (Word format)

1. Project Management Plan (PMP) (Word and PDF format)

2. Quarterly Status updates and coordination records, and issue tracking documentation, as requested by the COR

3. Weekly Updates during active field operations

2.4.2 Task 2Identify Investigation Area and Create Investigation Plan

Identify and refine the location of the investigation area on the Southwest Florida OCS and develop and submit one complete investigation plan covering geophysical surveys, vibracore/rotary boring activities, sample collection for laboratory testing, and critical mineral sample collection.

2.4.2.1 Identify Investigation Area

a) Identify sand and sediment sources on the Southwest Florida OCS.

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b) The Contractor shall coordinate with BOEM Gulf of America Region (GOAR), Office of Resource

Evaluation (RE) to refine the location of the investigation areas.

c) The Contractor shall provide meeting minutes within five (5) business days following each meeting.

d) The minutes shall be sent to the BOEM Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and to

MMUGulf@BOEM.GOV email box.

2.4.2.2 Develop Investigation Plan

a) The Contractor shall develop one (1) reconnaissance-level sand source investigation plan, in coordination with BOEM GOAR RE, for geophysical surveys, reconnaissance-level vibracore and collection of core samples for critical minerals and grain size analysis. The investigation plan shall be consistent with the “Plan” and “Acquire” phases of the USGS Science Data Lifecycle Model.

b) BOEM will provide naming conventions for investigation sites, potential borrow areas, coring locations, and samples for critical minerals, and the Contractor shall apply those naming conventions in the investigation plan and associated deliverables.

c) The Contractor shall identify the proposed investigation areas within the area of interest and submit those areas as GIS shape files.

d) The Contractor shall submit one (1) investigation plan electronically to BOEM’s GOAR RE Marine

Minerals Unit and Data Acquisition and Special Projects Unit. The submittal shall include all environmental information required for BOEM review and shall be provided no later than two (2) months prior to the start of surveying and core sampling activities. The required environmental review information shall also be submitted to ggpermitsgulf@boem.gov.

1. Presentations (pptx format)

2. Meeting Minutes (word document)

3. GIS shape files of proposed investigation areas.

4. One final investigation plan in PDF, plus editable native files.

2.4.3 Task 3 Mobilization, Notices, and Field Coordination

Complete all pre-field coordination, investigation plans, and mobilization actions required to perform the approved surveys and coring program.

Subtasks

2.4.32.1 Coordination with Maritime Authorities

The Contractor shall contact appropriate maritime authorities prior to field work to satisfy reporting and notice requirements. At a minimum, notice of pending activities shall be made through the U.S. Coast Guard Local

Notice to Mariners and the U.S. Department of War, no less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to commencement of all sand survey activities, unless a different authority requires more stringent notice.

mailto:MMUGulf@BOEM.GOV mailto:ggpermitsgulf@boem.gov

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2.4.32.2

The Contractor shall identify the survey vessel call sign and preferred communication channel in operational notices.

a) The Contractor shall meet with BOEM within forty-eight (48) hours of the start of data collection in person or virtually to review, align, and finalize all field investigation logistics, safety protocols, and operational procedures, and keep the COR informed of field work progress (Geophysical surveys and coring) via emails toMMUGulf@BOEM.gov MMUGulf@BOEM.gov and via virtual meetings as needed. If any collection issues arise, BOEM should be notified immediately to discuss a resolution.

b) The Contractor shall follow all BOEM, GOAR, DASPU, and Office of Environment (OE)-required mitigation protocols and procedures during field survey and sampling activities.

1. Copies of required notices or evidence of submission.

2. Field coordination records, emails, and meeting logs.

2.4.4 3 Task 4 3 Geophysical Surveys

Conduct geophysical surveys to acquire data sufficient to identify geomorphic and geologic features, support archaeological clearance for coring, and support interpretation of offshore sand, sediment, and potential critical mineral resources.

2.4.43.1

The contractor shall conduct a geophysical survey to include 300 line-miles of geophysical survey tracklines to identify geomorphic and geologic features within the area of interest.

a) Geophysical surveys shall be conducted as approved in the investigation plan. Project Management

Plan. The objective of the geophysical field surveys is to capture the base of the sand body. The geophysical field surveys shall concurrently collect seismic reflection profile CHIRP, Boomer or

Sparker (unless otherwise specified), bathymetric including the seafloor reflectivity data, magnetometer, and side scan sonar data. Note that a magnetometer or gradiometer is acceptable, provided the data are sufficient to clear proposed core locations and meet the RFQ data-delivery requirements. The extent of the geophysical survey shall be determined by BOEM in cooperation with the contractor.

2.4.43.2

The collected geophysical data shall be processed and interpreted to support the search, identification, and characterization of sand and sediment resources. Processed geophysical profiles and interpretations shall be incorporated into the respective geotechnical data report and shall meet the data requirements of the Marine

Minerals Information System (MMIS). The quality of the data collection shall include all means and methods necessary. to provide the following:

a) Data and information products must be of sufficient quality, whether geophysical or geological, to identify resource morphology, character, quantity, quality, and geologic setting. The quality of the collected data shall also meet the requirements for conducting an archaeological clearance survey to identify any potential archaeological resources along the geophysical survey tracklines (as noted in

BOEM Notice to Lessees (NTL) No. 2005-G07), and in accordance with the International

Standardization Organization’s (ISO) 19901 requirements for marine soil investigation and ISO 19115 metadata format.

mailto:MMUGulf@BOEM.gov mailto:MMUGulf@BOEM.gov

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 8

b) The preservation of the data shall ensure long-term viability and accessibility consistent with the USGS

Science Data Lifecycle Model. Any data collected for geophysical and geological vibracore sampling will be required to meet organization, formatting, documenting, and submittal requirements of digital data as described below.

c) The Contractor shall submit all spatial data referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

) and the Florida State Plane Coordinate System (East Zone for Collier County and West Zone for

Charlotte, Sarasota, and Lee Counties). Geospatial data can be submitted in a Geographic Coordinate

System or in projected Coordinate System if approved by BOEM for the data type and locality. Vertical data shall be reported relative to NAVD88.

d) The Contractor shall adhere to agreed upon file naming conventions for each data type being acquired and provide all collected geophysical survey data following the specifications below:

a. Navigation Data

The navigation post-plot of the surveyed area including survey lines, line numbers or other designations, navigational shot points or event markers, and other relevant attributes shall be submitted to the

Government in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)).

b. Survey Area Location and Proposed Project Elements

The survey area location and proposed project elements including relevant attributes shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file

(.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)).

c. Magnetometer or Gradiometer Data

The information used to create a table of magnetic anomalies and charting of magnetic anomalies shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)). The following attributes shall be included in the table of magnetic anomalies:

● Anomaly ID

● Survey Area/Block

● Survey line number

● Instrument

● Raw Magnetic Readings for each instrument, and indication of which instrument is reading from (peak signal strength (gammas))

● Reference field used (if reporting anomaly data)

● Gamma intensity of each identified anomaly (peak gradient amplitude)

● Duration (m)

● Characterization of the anomaly as a dipole, positive (+) or negative (-) monopole, or complex signature, based on the magnetic traces

● Sensor Altitude (for each instrument): instrument height above the seafloor

● Date in YYYY-MM-DD, in UTC Time, exact date the anomaly was recorded

● Time in hh:mm:ss, in UTC Time, exact time the anomaly was recorded

● Coordinate System

● Datum

● Horizontal position, Longitude (Easting) / Latitude (Northing), indicated as coordinates of the interpreted location of each unidentified anomaly in decimal degrees to 6 decimal places, based on magnetic traces and contoured data

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● Vertical position, indicated as estimated depth using half-width rule, Euler equation, or other means as described in the methodology section

● Association with side scan sonar contacts or sub-bottom (boomer, chirp, and sparker) profiler features

● Recommended avoidance distance, if applicable

Additionally, the complete, unprocessed magnetometer or gradiometer dataset shall also be submitted.

This shall include the unprocessed data for each individual total field magnetometer instrument in the gradiometer configuration, if applicable. These data shall be submitted in a tabular data format recognized by ArcGIS (i.e., Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile

(.shp)). At a minimum, the following items shall be included within the data table(s):

● Easting/Longitude

● Northing/Latitude

● Time, in UTC

● Raw Magnetic Readings for each instrument

● Gradiometer Altitude

● Survey Line Number/Name

Each of these components must occupy a single field within the table. For example, easting or longitude data must be within a single column in the data table. This would include a column for an easting amount, or longitude in decimal degrees, not a table with separate columns for degrees and another for decimal minutes.

d. Multibeam Sonar Bathymetric Data

Bathymetric data products shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., ESRI raster with (X, Y, and Z values), bathymetric grid (BAG), orand comma separated value (.csv) XYZ. Any submission of gridded bathymetric data must include an uncertainty layer quantifying the total propagated uncertainty (TPU) of each node. The horizontal data will be provided in the relevant State Plane

Coordinate system (North American Datum 1983). ) (Florida East Zone and Florida West Zone).

Vertical data will be provided in the NAVD88, U.S. survey feet, unless otherwise specified. The

Contractor must submit a methods section and results of the uncertainty analysis, field notes, and metadata to BOEM with the processed bathymetric data products. Raw, unprocessed sonar files as well as post-processed sonar files and ancillary data (e.g., sound velocity profiles data, sound velocity profile coordinates with date and time stamp) must also be submitted.

Bathymetric data shall be interpolated into bathymetric contours and digital elevation models if trackline spacing permits. All gridding and interpolation methods shall be described and fully documented. Minimum horizontal resolution of any digital elevation model shall be 3 feet (ft) or less (1 meter (m) or less) unless approved by BOEM. Final vertical resolution of derived bathymetric elevation models shall be determined based on the survey area in coordination with BOEM.

e. Side-Scan Sonar Data

Both raw and processed eXtended Triton Format (.xtf) line files or other formats approved by the

Government for the survey shall be submitted, as well as mosaics. Side scan sonar mosaics of the survey area shall be prepared as a geo-referenced Tagged Image Format (.tif) and output as 0.5 m resolution or better. A georeferenced Raster shall also be delivered in XYA format.

The information used to create the table of side scan sonar contacts and mapping of sonar contacts or habitat features shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format (e.g., Microsoft Excel (.xls), Comma separated value (.csv), Text file (.txt), Database (.dbf) or Shapefile (.shp)). The following attributes shall

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 10 be included:

● Side-scan sonar contact ID

● Survey Area/Block

● Survey line number

● Target length (ft, m)

● Target width (ft, m)

● Target height (ft, m)

● Target shadow (ft, m)

● Target description

● Associated magnetic anomalies

● NAD 83 coordinates of the target in decimal degrees to 5 decimal places

● Original source file name

● Recommended avoidance distance, if applicable

f. Sub-bottom Profiler Data

Sub-bottom profiler (boomer, chirp, and sparker) data shall be submitted in SEG-Y standard exchange format (.sgy). Digital information for the reflectors/horizons identified) with navigation included in the data also shall be provided. an industry standard format. Formatting may include image plots and fence diagrams showing the identified horizons or reflectors, XYZ data files, or CSF files compatible with software approved by the Government.

The contractor shall conduct the Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse (CHIRP) sub-bottom survey in the target area for the purpose of identifying acoustic reflectors that define stratigraphic changes within a minimum of the upper 3350 ft (1015 m) of shallow surface sediment and capable of resolving bedding of less than 0.66 ft (0.2 m). The expectation of the geophysical survey is to resolve the base of the sand bodies, provide a view of the internal structure of the sand bodies and provide sufficient data to clear core locations.

The contractor shall conduct the Boomer/Sparker) sub-bottom survey in the target area for the purpose of identifying acoustic reflectors that define stratigraphic changes within a minimum of the upper 150 ft

(45 m) of shallow surface sediment and capable of resolving bedding of less than 1 ft (0.3 m).

g. AUV/ASV Data

If applicable, all AUV/ASV navigational data shall be submitted in both raw and post-processed formats. Raw navigational data includes accepted USBL positions, AUV attitude record, and AUV

DVL navigational record. Specify all inputs and settings of AUV navigational kalman filter. Post-processed navigation shall include a description of the processed used in addition to the complete post-processed navigation track. All AUV/ASV geophysical data shall be submitted in a format specified by the sensor type in the previous sections.

h. GIS Data

All GIS submitted in a standard Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ESRI format, preferably an

ESRI geodatabase. Other spatial or GIS formats are also acceptable, provided they are interoperable with industry standard software.

Data used to illustrate the horizontal and vertical extent of geomorphic features, or geologic units, shall be submitted in an ArcGIS readable format.

BOEM recommends that, where applicable, geospatial data products are submitted in an ESRI

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 11 geodatabase that follows the current MMIS schema available for download at https://mmis.boem.gov/https://mmis.doi.gov/boemmmis/.

i. Metadata

For each dataset and data product submitted, the Contractor shall prepare and submit associated metadata in accordance with the appropriate FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

(CSDGM) or International Standardization Organization’s (ISO) 19115 metadata format (e.g. ISO

19115 metadata standard for imagery or gridded data, Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

(version 2.0), FGDC-STD-001-1998, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS), FGDC-STD-018-2012).

Metadata shall be included as a crucial component for any use or reuse of data. FGDC standards apply to and are mandatory for Federal agencies, as described in OMB Circulars A-16 and A-119 and

Executive Order 12906 - Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: The National Spatial

Data Infrastructure.

FGDC endorsed standards can be found at https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/list.

2.4.43.3

Preliminary interpretationsreview of the geophysical data shall be submitted to BOEM’s GOAR RE for review

90 days after completion of data collection. BOEM’s GOAR RE will review the preliminary geophysical draft products and provide comments to the contractor prior to vibracore selection process.

2.4.43.4

The contractor shall coordinate with BOEM to identify proposed vibracoring locations based on post-survey analysis to corroborate the geophysical survey interpretation. The determination of final vibracore locations will require coordination with the contractor’s archaeologist and BOEM’s GOAR OE archaeologist. Vibracore placement shall be along geophysical lines that have been cleared for archaeological resources by a qualified marine archaeologist, and where no known hardbottom resources exists. Based on the geophysical data and archaeological clearance, the final vibracore locations shall be determined and the investigation plans shall be finalized and submitted to the BOEM GOAR RE for final approval.

1. One (1) Final geological investigation plans (pdf format)

2. Meetings, emails, and logs with COR during field work.

3. Raw and processed geophysical datasets in the contractually required formats.

4. Navigation post-plots and survey area/project element GIS files.

5. Daily or periodic field updates during active survey operations.

2.4.5 4 Task 5 - 4 Core Collection and TestingSampling

Collect vibracore and/or rotary boring data sufficient to characterize sediment units, support laboratory testing, and validate geophysical interpretations.

Subtasks

2.4.54.1

Seventy-five (75) cores shall be collected utilizing an Alpine style, pneumatic vertical hammer,using vibracore drilling apparatus having a continuous 3020 foot (ft) core barrel that is advanced until a depth of 3020 ft is reached or refusal is encountered (30 foot cores are preferred). . The objective of the geotechnical survey is to https://mmis.boem.gov/ https://mmis.doi.gov/boemmmis/ https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/list

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 12 characterize the sediment body from surface to base. Refusal is defined as “no additional penetration of the vibracore within two minutes of additional effort applied to penetrate through the resistant layer. at maximum vibration.” Each vibracore shall have 80% recovery. The contractor must make at a minimum three attempts to achieve 80% recovery and keep the vibracore with the largest recovery. For longer cores >30 ft a rotary boring will be used to theContractor shall notify BOEM MMU contact in the event that 80% recovery is not possible due to reasons other than refusal.

depth agreed upon.

All boring locations (xyz) shall be surveyed using Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS in North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) and North American vertical Datum (NAVD88). Emphasis shall be placed on obtaining correct elevations of the boring locations. Corrected water depth measurements shall also be obtained, reported, and incorporated to ensure accurate determination of the true elevation at each boring location.

a) The vibracores shall be cut into five-footone-meter sections, photographed, placed into the standard cardboard or PVC core boxes. The core borings shall be logged according to Advancing Standards

Transforming Markets (ASTM) D 5434-25 at the contractor’s facility by a licensed geologist. The draft logs are to be electronically submitted to the COR and the MMUGulf@boem.gov email box for sample selection. Core boxes shall be labeled with project name, county, date, boring name, and depths interval on top and sides of the boxes.

b) Prior to disturbance via sampling, split vibracores shall be photographed with scale, against an 18% gray background, under indirect insolation in natural light. Photographs shall include the vibracore unique identifier.

c) Clay Testing - Field Miniature Vane Shear Test are to be conducted during vibracore logging in accordance with ASTM Standard Test Methods of Laboratory Miniature Vane Shear Test for Saturated

Fine-Grained Clayey Soil (D 4648/D 4648M-24a). For bidding purposes, a total of 450350 samples shall be selected and analyzed. The lab testing parameters are listed in Table 1. The measurements obtained using a pocket shear vane/Torvane are acceptable when consistent with the applicable testing requirements in this SOW.

d) Sand/Sediment Testing - One sample for each lithological change and one sample every 2-3 ft for presumed beach compatible sand layers shall be selected for lab analyses. The lab testing parameters are listed in Table 1.

e) Sand/Sediment Testing - All samples will be analyzed for either Laser Particle Siza Analysis

(LPSA),grain size using sieve analysis, visual shell % determination, and Munsell color determination

(wet, dry, washed). Carbonate Content analysis using the non-ASTM method (Twenhofel-Tyler method) shall be performed on 10% of the samples.

f) Contractor should use proper sampling protocols and standards to make core sampling decisions in real time.

Table 1. Summary of Proposed Laboratory TestsCore Sample Testing

Laboratory Testing

Number of

Tests

Sieve Analysis (Using Sieve Sizes No. 2 ½”, 1 ¼”, 3/4", 3/8", 3.5, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 25, 35, 45, 60, 80, 120, 170, 200, 230) - ASTM D 6913/D

6913M-17R25 450350

Visual Percent Shell17 450350

Field Miniature Vane Shear TestLPSA Analysis at ½ Phi intervals 450350 mailto:MMUGulf@boem.gov

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Visual Percent Shell 450350

Carbonate Content non-ASTM method (Twenhofel-Tyler) 4535

g) Draft and Final logs and laboratory testing results shall be entered into an appropriate sample database.

The logs shall be drafted using agreed upon software or outputs similar to USACE Form 1836 for each core.

h) Core description sheets and drilling logs for each core will be completed using the templates found in

Attachment 4. Alternatively, the Contractor may use its standard core description template in Appendix

A. if it includes the information required by the SOW and is accepted by BOEM (see Attachment 4 for an example of a BOEM-approved core description sheet and log).

i) Draft logs shall be finalized utilizing the laboratory testing results and submitted to the COR and the

MMUGulf@boem.gov email box for review.

j) Vibracores shall be stored after the logs are finalized. Core delivery and storage shall be coordinated with the BOEM’s GOAR RE

2.4.5.2

A sub-set of up to 75 samples will be analyzed for critical mineral analysis. This analysis will be to identify

Which following critical minerals are foundsampling outlined in the sample and the percentage of those minerals in each sample. These will Task 2.4.6.

include XRF, XRD, SEM/QEM or SEM/TIMA.

All collected critical mineral samples are to be run through grain size analysis using a Laser Particle Size

Analysis (LPSA).

All samples should be analyzed with an exploration style analysis to determine the elements in each sample.

The analysis should be conducted on the relevant critical minerals in the Gulf of America from the final 2025

List of Critical Minerals, published to the Federal Register (Federal Register : Final 2025 List of Critical

Minerals), which includes the following 60 minerals: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barite, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, erbium, europium, fluorspar, gadolinium, gallium, germanium, graphite, hafnium, holmium, indium, iridium, lanthanum, lead, lithium, lutetium, magnesium, manganese, metallurgical coal, neodymium, nickel, niobium, palladium, phosphate, platinum, potash, praseodymium, rhenium, rhodium, rubidium, ruthenium, samarium, scandium, silicon, silver, tantalum, tellurium, terbium, thulium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.

After elemental analysis is completed, the need for additional testing will be discussed with BOEM. These include XRF, XRD, SEM/QEM or SEM/TIMA. Specified samples should be analyzed to separate out the heavy minerals, calculate their distribution and mass, and determine their provenance, composition, and recoverability. (List of commonly found heavy minerals in coastal sands found in Appendix 2)

Deliverables:

• Draft core and sample logs for review (pdf)

• Final core and sample logs including laboratory testing results (pdf and database file)

• Draft and final reports for vibracore collection and sample analyses (pdf and editable file)

• Meetings, emails, and logs with COR during field work.

mailto:MMUGulf@boem.gov https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/07/2025-19813/final-2025-list-of-critical-minerals

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 14

2.4.6 5 Task 6 - Data Evaluation5 Delineation, Descriptions, and ReportingVolumetrics of Sand and

Sediment Resources

Based on the geophysical and geological results, potential borrow areas shall be delineated for both sand and sediment resources.

2.4.65.1

A summary report of the delineated sand bodies shall be submitted. as part of the final report. The report shall include maps, boring logs, lab results, geophysical and geological profiles, summary tables, a preliminary borrow sediment resource area with depth of resource map wwith contours and a preliminary analysis of volumetrics.

2.4.65.2

The final report shall be submitted electronically. The electronic submittals shall include the report in pdf format and all files in their original format, such as for example Word, Excel, GIS, AutoCAD.

1. One (1) final report (pdf and word format).

2. Supporting appendices, tables, figures, GIS, and other source files used to produce the report.

3. GIS Shapefiles of Sediment Resources

4. Table of volumetrics for Sediment Resources

2.4.6 Task 6 Critical Minerals Sampling and Analyses

A set of 75 samples from cores collected in Task 4 will be analyzed for critical minerals. This analysis will be to identify which critical minerals are found in the sample and the percentage of those minerals in each sample.

After core descriptions are completed, a critical minerals sampling plan will be developed by the Contractor and

BOEM. Critical Mineral sampling plan should be based on contractor capabilities and expertise. Table 2 provides a list of potential tests to be run, final plan to be suggested by contractor and agreed upon by BOEM) and reported in half phi intervals.

Table 2. Summary of Critical Mineral Sample Testing

Laboratory Testing

Number of

Tests

LPSA Analysis at ½ Phi intervals 75

Qualitative Whole Rock Analysis 75

Elemental Analysis (Subset of USGS list agreed upon by BOEM) 75

Mineralogical Analysis (Subset of Minerals listed in attachment 6 and agreed upon by BOEM) 75

Heavy Mineral Separation 15

SEM/QEM or SEM/TIMA Full Analysis 5

All collected critical minerals samples should be run for qualitative whole rock geochemical analysis.

ICP-AES and/or ICP-MS, or comparable system, to determine the elements in each sample. The final number of elements will be agreed upon by the Contractor and BOEM, but should include at least 50 of the elements listed in the following sentence. The analysis should be conducted on the relevant critical minerals in the Gulf

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 15 of America from the final 2025 List of Critical Minerals, published to the Federal Register (Federal Register:

Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals), which includes 60 minerals in Attachment 5 below. The list of common critical mineral elements commonly found in sand are in Attachment 6 below. BOEM and the Contractor will select a subset of these critical mineral elements for analysis.

Upon completion of the previous analyses, a group of specified samples agreed upon by BOEM and the

Contractor will undergo heavy liquid separation. The Contractor shall use fifteen samples for bid purposes.

Contractors should include pricing to potentially run five samples using either SEM/QEM or SEM/TIMA, or similar analyses to provide grain size data, particle maps, and the liberation and association of target minerals.

Contractors are encouraged to and may propose alternative methods of analyzing samples for critical minerals but must include pricing and provide samples of test outputs.

For an example of critical minerals data sheet, see Attachment 7 below.

Deliverables:

• Draft and final reports for critical minerals sampling and analyses (pdf and word file) (see

Attachment 3 below)

• Draft and final excel spreadsheet of results (excel file)

• Meetings, emails, and logs with COR during field work.

2.5 MEETINGS, REPORTS, AND DELIVERABLES

The contractor shall participate in meetings, submit recurring reports, and provide all deliverables necessary to support successful planning, execution, review, and completion of the work. Meetings will be conducted virtually. All draft deliverables are subject to Government review and comment, and all final deliverables are subject to Government acceptance. Unless otherwise specified, the Government will have 30 calendar days to review draft submittals. The contractor shall address Government comments and submit final deliverables in accordance with the approved schedule.

2.5.1 Meetings

The contractor shall participate in the meetings and coordination activities listed below, and any additional meetings reasonably necessary to perform the work. The contractor shall prepare and submit meeting minutes within 5 calendar days following each meeting, unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer

Representative (COR).

Meeting /

Coordination

Activity

Purpose Participants Timing / Frequency Required Documentation

Kickoff Meeting Review project objectives, scope, schedule, roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, and initial planning requirements.

Contractor, COR, BOEM technical representatives, and other

Government personnel as needed.

After award and prior to commencement of substantive planning activities.

Meeting minutes submitted within 5 calendar days following the meeting.

Quarterly Progress

Review Meetings

Review project status, work completed during the quarter, planned work for the next quarter, schedule status, Contractor, COR, BOEM technical representatives, and other

Government

Quarterly throughout the period of performance, unless otherwise directed by the COR.

Quarterly progress report and meeting minutes submitted within 5 calendar days following each meeting.

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 16

Meeting /

Coordination

Activity

Purpose Participants Timing / Frequency Required Documentation deliverable status, risks, issues, field work progress, data processing status, and any

Government action items needed to support continued performance.

personnel as needed.

Pre-Field Work

Coordination

Meeting

Confirm field work schedule, vessel information, communication protocols, reporting requirements, mitigation procedures, and readiness to begin survey or sampling activities.

Contractor, COR, BOEM technical representatives, and field operations personnel as needed.

Prior to commencement of field data collection activities.

Meeting minutes and/or coordination records.

Field Work

Progress Meetings

Discuss field work progress, data quality, collection issues, schedule impacts, and any needed Government coordination or decisions.

Contractor, COR, BOEM technical representatives, and field team representatives as needed.

Weekly meetings

(Monday morning), and additional meetings as required by BOEM. Within 24 hours of the start of data collection and as needed during field work.

Emails, meeting notes, field logs, or other coordination records.

Geophysical Data

Review /

Vibracore

Location

Coordination

Meeting

Review preliminary geophysical interpretations and coordinate proposed vibracore locations based on survey results, archaeological clearance, and BOEM input.

Contractor, COR, contractor’s archaeologist, BOEM GOAR

Resource

Evaluation, BOEM archaeologist, and other technical personnel as needed.

After preliminary geophysical interpretation and prior to final vibracore location selection.

Meeting minutes, updated location information, and any revised planning documentation.

Final Deliverable /

Closeout Meeting

Confirm completion of required work, final deliverables, data submissions, report files, and any remaining closeout items.

Contractor, COR, BOEM technical representatives, and other

Government personnel as needed.

Prior to final acceptance or at project closeout, if requested by the

Government.

Meeting minutes and closeout action item list, as applicable.

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 17

2.5.2 Reports

The contractor shall submit reports necessary to document project status, data collection, analysis, findings, and completion of the work. Reports shall be submitted electronically to the COR and other Government personnel identified by the COR.

Report Purpose Timing /

Frequency

Required Content Submission

Requirements

Quarterly

Progress Report

Provide the Government with a recurring status update on project progress, schedule, deliverables, field work, data processing, risks, and upcoming activities.

Quarterly throughout the period of performance, beginning after contract award.

Work completed during the reporting period; work planned for the next reporting period; schedule status;

deliverable status; field work/data collection status; data processing and analysis status;

issues, risks, or delays;

corrective actions; and

Government action items, if any.

Submit electronically to the COR and other

Government personnel identified by the COR.

Draft Summary

Report

Provide BOEM with the draft results of the investigation for

Government review and comment.

In accordance with the approved schedule;

suggested milestone is 550 calendar days after kickoff.

Maps, boring logs, laboratory results, geophysical and geological profiles, summary tables, preliminary borrow area delineation, depth-of-resource map with contours, and preliminary volumetric analysis.

Submit electronically in

PDF and Word format.

Final Summary

Report

Provide the final investigation results, including all revisions required to address

Government comments.

In accordance with the approved schedule;

suggested milestone is 700 calendar days after kickoff.

Final report, final maps, final boring logs, laboratory results, geophysical and geological profiles, summary tables, final interpretations, data products, and supporting files.

Submit electronically in

PDF format and provide all original/native files, such as Word, Excel, GIS, AutoCAD, and other applicable formats.

2.5.3 Deliverables

The following table summarizes required deliverables, associated task areas, required formats, and anticipated submission timing. All deliverables shall be submitted in accordance with the requirements of this Statement of

Work and are subject to Government review, comment, and acceptance.

The schedule above may be refined through the approved investigation plan and project schedule. The contractor may complete tasks before the listed milestone dates. Meeting minutes shall be finalized within 5 calendar days after the Government comment review period has ended, unless otherwise directed by the COR.

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 18

Task /

Section

Deliverable Format Due Date / Timing Submission Requirements

2.1 -

Identifying

Investigation

Areas

Proposed investigation plan presentation

PowerPoint (.pptx) As required during investigation planning and coordination with

BOEM.

Submit to the COR and

BOEM Marine Minerals Unit for review and coordination.

2.1 - Identifying

Investigation

Areas

Meeting minutes Word document Within 5 calendar days following each meeting.

Submit to the COR and

MMUGulf@BOEM.gov.

2.2 -

Investigation

Plans2.4.3 -

Geophysical

Surveys

GIS shapefiles ofFinal investigation areasplan.

GIS shapefile formatWord and

PDF

As part of investigation planning.Prior to geophysical survey work and updated as necessary.

Submit electronically to

BOEM GOAR Resource

Evaluation Marine

Minerals Unit and Data

Acquisition and Special

Projects Unitfor final approval.

2.2 -

Investigation

Plans

Final investigation plan

PDF Two months prior to surveying and core sampling activities.

Submit electronically, including all environmental information needed for review, to ggpermitsgulf@boem.gov.

2.4.3.0 - -

Geophysical

Survey

Investigations

Field work coordination records

Emails, meeting records, and logs

During field work.

Keep the COR updated on field work progress and data quality. Notify

BOEM immediately of field collection issues.

3.1 -

Geophysical

Surveys

Final investigation plan, updated as necessary following geophysical analysis and vibracore location coordination

PDF Prior to vibracore/core sampling activities and following

BOEM

coordination.

Submit to BOEM GOAR

Resource Evaluation for final approval.

2.4.3.1 -

Geophysical

Surveys

Geophysical survey data

Required data formats identified in the SOW, including ArcGIS-readable formats, SEG-Y with navigation data incorporated, XTF, geodatabase, TIFF, After completion and processing of geophysical survey activities.

Submit all raw, processed, interpreted, spatial, and metadata files in the formats required by the

SOW.

Request for Quote 140M0126Q0031 Amendment #3 19

CSV, DBF, shapefile, and other applicable formats.

2.4.3.1 -

Geophysical

Surveys

Preliminary review of geophysical data interpretations

Electronic data products and supporting files

90 calendar days after completion of data collection.

Submit to BOEM GOAR

Resource Evaluation for review prior to the vibracore selection process.

2.4.3.1 -

Geophysical

Surveys

Metadata for each dataset and data product

FGDC CSDGM or ISO 19115 metadata format, as applicable

With each applicable dataset or data product.

Metadata shall accompany each dataset and data product submitted.

2.4.4 – Core

Collection

Core

Collection Plan

Word and…