B01_Redacted_Sole_Source_UT_Austin_Redacted_2.pdf

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION UNDER THE

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological

Survey, plans to contract on a sole source basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. The USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

(GEMSC) has a requirement for a new contract with UT Austin, Department of Geological

Sciences. A five-year Indefinite-Delivery-Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract where firm-fixed price delivery orders will be issued to perform contract lithium and strontium isotope analyses on powdered and homogenized rock and mineral, brine, and solution samples.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. The USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science

Center (GEMSC) has an on-going requirement for lithium and strontium isotope analyses in support of research for the Energy and Minerals Resources Program funded projects including the Oil and Gas Waters Projects and the Granite and Lacustrine Lithium Assessment Project. The data will facilitate the understanding of the sources of lithium in subsurface brines associated with petroleum reservoirs, provide insights into basinal fluid flow, and enhance the understanding of lithium behavior in surface mineral systems and deposits.

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – only one source reasonably available.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5.

The University of Texas, Austin, Department of Geology, has academic isotope geochemistry laboratories, including the Radiogenic Isotope Clean Laboratory, and TIMS/MC-ICPMS laboratories. The Oil and Gas Waters Project, an Energy Resources Program (ERP) funded project within the USGS, has completed lithium and strontium isotope analyses of geologic materials derived from cores archived by the Arkansas Geological Survey, and has future plans for isotope analyses of brines derived from extraction of waters associated with oil and gas production in northern Louisiana and core materials sampled in concert with the Louisiana

Geological Survey. It is essential that the lithium and strontium isotope analyses data is consistent in terms of both quality and precision with the analyses already completed. Given that the analyses are complex, with assessment of trace concentrations of elements in high salinity brines and chemical sediments, they require the analyst to have a Ph.D. in geochemistry, and expertise operating a TIMS and MC-ICPMS to successfully perform the analyses. For the Oil and Gas Waters project, that is beginning a new five-year project cycle and is actively completing work from field and geologic core sampling campaigns, it is essential for newly acquired data to be consistent with those already acquired in the laboratories at the University of

Texas, Austin. Any inconsistencies in the data quality and precision by submission to another vendor would interrupt research and potentially require a substantial time investment from project personnel to rectify data inconsistencies.

7. Other Information. NA

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

The end user has investigated academic and industry publications and contacted potential laboratories to identify vendors willing to perform lithium and strontium isotope analyses on high salinity brines and chemical sediments derived from geologic core. To date, there is no other vendor willing to perform these analyses on a routine basis sufficient for the throughput demand of Energy and Minerals Resource Program funded projects including the Oil and Gas

Waters Project.

A sources sought notice, 140G124Q0188, was posted on SAM.gov from June 4, 2024 to June 11, 2024. There were no capable contractors that submitted a response to this sources sought notice.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition.

Future requirements for the same or similar items will be competed to the maximum extent practical.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited source basis. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification, that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer:

a. The anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on previous procurement history of same/similar items.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals