A14_-_140M0126Q0018_RFI_1.pdf

SPECIAL NOTICE - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/ SOURCES SOUGHT

1. Purpose

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on behalf of the Bureau of Energy Management (BOEM) is issuing this request for information (RFI) to:

1. Identify interested small businesses capable of performing geophysical survey, geological sampling, and laboratory analysis work in support of BOEM’s mission.

2. Collect industry feedback on the Draft Statement of Work (SOW) for the Sand, Sediment, and Critical Mineral Investigation in Federal Waters Offshore Louisiana (Ship Shoal).

This RFI is for market research only and is not a solicitation for proposals. No contract will be awarded from this announcement.

2. Background

BOEM intends to expand the National Offshore Sand Inventory (NOSI) and the National Offshore Critical Minerals Inventory (NOCMI) through the acquisition and analysis of offshore geological and geophysical data. The area of interest is located in federal waters offshore Louisiana, in the Ship Shoal region.

The planned effort includes integrated geophysical surveys, vibracore sampling, deeper coring, laboratory analysis, and data interpretation to characterize offshore sand resources and identify potential critical mineral-bearing sediments.

The NAICS code is 541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services.

3. Summary of Draft Scope of Work

The project is expected to include, at a minimum, the following components:

Geophysical Survey

• Collection of 365 line miles of geophysical survey data (with adjustments as necessary)

• Required instrumentation:

o Bathymetry o Sub-bottom profiling (CHIRP) o Boomer or sparker system o Magnetometer o Side-scan sonar

• Use of geophysical results to clear proposed sampling locations

Vibracore and Deep Core Sampling

• 30 vibracores (~30 ft total penetration)

• 10 deeper cores (~50 ft total penetration), reaching:

o The base of the sand package o Termination in underlying fine-grained sediments

• Final coring quantities may be updated based on geophysical results

Laboratory Analysis

• Grain size analysis: ~4 samples per core

• Critical minerals analysis: ~2 samples per vibracore

• Final sample counts may be adjusted based on the physical core review

The full draft Statement of work can be reviewed as attachment – 140M0126Q0018 Draft SOW.

4. Requested Information

A. Company Information

• Organization name, address, and UEI

• Small business category (if applicable)

• Point of contact information

B. Demonstrated Capabilities Please describe your firm’s experience and qualifications in the following areas:

• Offshore geophysical surveys (CHIRP, boomer, sparker, magnetometer, side-scan sonar, bathymetry)

• Offshore coring operations, including deep coring in unconsolidated sediments

• Marine logistics and vessel operations relevant to federal waters

• Laboratory analysis of:

o Grain size distributions o Critical mineral content

• Data processing, interpretation, and reporting consistent with BOEM or comparable federal requirements

C. Past Performance

• Up to three relevant projects completed within the past ten years

• Include scope, location, technical methods, results, and customer references

D. Capacity and Availability

• Ability to mobilize and complete required offshore operations

• Staffing, equipment access, and vessel readiness

• Estimated scheduling considerations or constraints

5. Feedback Requested on the Draft Statement of Work

BOEM invites comments to improve clarity, feasibility, and efficiency of the draft SOW. Please provide feedback on the following topics:

A. Technical Requirements

• Are the geophysical instrument requirements appropriate?

• Are the line-mile requirements reasonable and well-defined?

• Are the core depth and quantity requirements realistic for the region?

• Should additional survey methods or analyses be considered?

B. Data Standards and Deliverables

• Is additional guidance needed on data formatting, metadata, or interpretation?

• Are any deliverable timelines unclear or unrealistic?

C. Operational Feasibility

• Are there offshore conditions or regulatory factors that BOEM should account for?

• Are there logistical considerations (vessels, weather, personnel, etc.) that may impact performance?

D. Cost and Schedule Considerations

• Which elements of the SOW drive the most cost or longest lead times?

• Any suggestions to improve efficiency without reducing scientific rigor?

6. Response Instructions

Responses to this RFI should:

• Be submitted electronically in PDF or Word format, 12-point font.

• Not exceed 10 pages

• Be emailed to the point of contact provided in the official posting

• Reference the RFI title and number in the subject line

No proprietary or classified information should be submitted.

7. Disclaimer

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not obligate BOEM to issue a solicitation or award a contract, nor does it commit the government to any particular acquisition strategy.