A14__Sources_Sought_1.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting a MARKET SURVEY to determine the interest and capability of any firm eligible to compete under NAICS code 541380 with a Small Business Size Standard $19 million for an upcoming requirement to provide sample analysis services of geochronology for volcanic ash.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. ALL COST ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING

INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BY THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE SHALL BE THE

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR. Submission is voluntary.

Specifications:

1. Separation of zircon with unknown ages (hereafter, “unknowns”) from bulk tephra samples. Owing to the small sample sizes (beds are mms-cms thick from a core that is

2.25 inches in diameter), the mineral separation process must be oriented towards preserving any zircon and should yield 10s of zircons per sample at a minimum. The analyst must be able to document successful zircon recovery from tephra with a track record of peer-reviewed publications.

2. Initial geochronologic screening of grains by LA-ICP-MS; this is to identify the presence of any volcanic zircon that were either a) directly deposited within the stratigraphic section via airfall and settling through the water column, or else b) recycled into the stratigraphic section shortly after deposition as described above.

3. Follow-up high precision/accuracy geochronology by CA-ID-TIMS, with an analytical plan that is specifically informed by step 2 and vetted by ABPS staff. The analysts should assess the ages of at least four or five unknowns using both the 238U/206Pb and the 235U/207Pb systems. Analysis of paired isotopic systems is standard practice in the geochronology committee and facilitates understanding of the geochronologic system in the unknowns. Critically, the high-resolution mass spectrometry in step 3 must be able to reproduce ages of appropriate (e.g. Mesozoic-Cenozoic) geochronologic reference materials to within 104–105 yrs. The reproducibility of reference material ages should be demonstrably applicable to the analytical session in which the unknowns described above are analyzed. Analytical uncertainties on unknowns in step 3 must also be on the order of 104–105 yrs. Such high accuracy and precision is critical for a number of reasons, but we specifically stress here the need to correlate paired stable carbon isotope stratigraphies from the core to global reference records. Both chemical abrasion and isotope dilution methods are required to achieve these levels of accuracy and precision, and to ensure the highest data quality, isotope tracers used during the analytical process should be certified by an internationally recognized geochronological organization (e.g., EarthTime)

4. The levels of accuracy and precision described above are critical and the awardee must have a demonstrable track record of producing data of this quality in peer-reviewed literature. We also require the analysts to measure Th/U ratios in unknowns, and to assess common Pb inventories in unknowns. We require technical reports with measured U-Pb isotope ratios (and analytical uncertainties on them) that are adequate to assess concordance, we require reporting of a preferred age (and analytical uncertainties), we require documentation of paired analyses on geochronologic reference materials, and we require clear documentation of all analytical protocols. We require discussion with the lab analysts on the appropriate geological interpretation of the geochronological data.]

Responses to this announcement are requested from (1) Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (2) SBA certified Small Business HubZone firms; (3) Small Business firms certified by a Small Business Administration (SBA) district or regional office for participation in the 8(a) program; (4) Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small Business firms; (5) Small Businesses.

In response to this announcement, please indicate your firm's socioeconomic status (e.g. ISBEE, small business, service-disabled veteran-owned, women owned, HUBZone, etc.) This information will assist the Government in determining how small businesses can fit into the acquisition strategy.

A firm is considered small under NAICS code 541380 with a Small Business Size Standard $19 million. Any information submitted is voluntary. If sufficient interest and capability is not received from firms in categories (1) through (4) above, any solicitation may be issued as unrestricted without further consideration.

Interested small business firms shall submit (1) NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NUMBER OF THE FIRM (including SAM UEI NUMBER); (2) a CAPABILITY STATEMENT including (a) RECENT (within the last three fiscal years) RELEVANT (similar projects to this requirement) performance history (identify the name of the owner and their point(s) of contact with telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses; and (b) in what capacity (e.g., prime, subcontractor etc.) they performed the work; and (3) their SIZE STATUS.

Your company must have a SAM Unique Identifier number and be registered on-line at the System for Award Management (SAM).

All responses must be submitted NLT December 31st, 2024 at 5:00pm MST via e-mail to:

therberholz@usgs.gov.

This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB) and does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Responses to this sources sought notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Any solicitation that may be issued will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website and no paper copies will be provided.