B08 Attachment 1_PWS GEMSC Laboratory Services IDIQ.docx

PERFORMANCE-BASED WORK STATEMENT

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Introduction. The USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center (GEMSC) has an ongoing requirement for mineral separation, fission track, and U-Pb geochronologic analysis of apatites and zircons as a part of the Alaska Petroleum Geology Project, the Gulf of Mexico Petroleum Geology project, and possibly other projects conducted by the USGS GEMSC including the Carbon Storage and Utilization and Thermal Indices projects.

B. Background. Fission track and U-Pb geochronologic measurements are routine elements of basin analysis studies, and USGS scientists are in the midst of ongoing research efforts that are designed, in part, to exploit these analytical tools. In particular, these measurements have been collected over the past ~10 fiscal years for the Alaska and Gulf Coast projects, and they will continue to be an integral component of USGS work over the next several fiscal years (3-5 yrs). The exact number of samples varies from year to year, and largely depends on sample accessibility during field campaigns in remote regions and will be determined by quantities, funding, period of performance, and any other variables in separate task orders. Generally, we anticipate collecting approximately 5 - 20 fission track samples per year, and 5 - 10 U-Pb samples per year, and each sample requires mineral separation work prior to analytical work. For some subset of samples, both fission track and U-Pb geochronologic analysis is performed, a technique known as “double dating” of single zircon grains. Purchases made through this contract will support USGS efforts to characterize the framework geology of Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, and other regions that are prospective for mineral and/or oil and gas resource discovery.

Fission track analysis provides a tool for evaluating the thermal history of plutonic or sedimentary rocks. This type of analysis provides insight into key elements of petroleum systems, including the duration of burial for key source rocks and the evolution of hydrocarbon drainage pathways/structural traps. Additionally, U-Pb geochronologic analysis of detrital minerals can be a powerful tool for evaluating sediment dispersal pathways and the topographic evolution of hinterland sediment source regions.

C. Definitions/Applicable Documents. Publications documenting analytical methods used in fission track and U-Pb dating of apatite and/or zircon by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

1. Bernet, M., and Garver, J.I., 2005, Fission-track analysis of detrital zircon: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58, p. 205–237.

2. Donelick, R.A., O’Sullivan, P.B., and Ketcham, R.A., 2005, Apatite fission-track analysis: Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, v. 58, p. 49–94.

3. Dumitru, T.A., 2000, Fission-track geochronology, in Quaternary geochronology; methods and applications: AGU Reference Shelf, v. 4, p. 131–155.

4. Gehrels, G., 2011, Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology: Current methods and new opportunities, in Busby, C., and Azor, A., eds., Recent Advances in Tectonics of Sedimentary Basins: Hoboken, New Jersey, Blackwell Publishing, p. 45-62, doi: 10.1002/9781444347166.ch2

D. Scope. The contractor’s responsibility will be limited to sample preparation, laboratory analysis of prepared samples to collect AFT and detrital Zircon U/Pb data (hereafter, DZ), preliminary analysis of the AFT and DZ data to interpret the temperature history of each sample through geologic time, and delivery of AFT and DZ data tables and plots in a summary report. More complete analysis will be conducted by USGS scientists during integration of the new AFT and DZ data with existing data from other types of analysis.

II. WORK REQUIREMENTS

A. Technical Requirements

1. The Contractor shall maintain a facility dedicated to mineral separation with a trained technical staff experienced in dealing with mineral separation, fission track, and U-Pb geochronologic analysis of apatites and zircons as well as “double dating” of single zircon grains.

1. Specific work tasks to be performed by the contractor include:

a. separation of zircon and apatite grains from bulk rock samples provided by the USGS; the vendor should be willing to separate up to 2 kg of rock and to total records of the material provided, processed, and separated;

b. fission track analysis for apatite and/or zircon from a sample, including chemical etching and 252Cf-derived fission fragment irradiation of grains to reveal spontaneous fission tracks, microscopic measurement of the density of spontaneous fission tracks observed in apatite grains, microscopic measurement of the length and crystallographic orientation of spontaneous fission tracks, and determination of 238U concentration for track-counting targets using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) or external detector methods;

c. measurements of kinetic parameter Dpar for all fission track samples;

d. a method to calibrate track length and Dpar measurements against length measurements underpinning common fission track annealing models;

e. U/Pb crystallization age analysis for a set of samples (this may or may not include single zircon grains that are also to be fission track targets) using LA-ICP-MS of Uranium and Lead isotope concentrations;

f. preliminary analysis of combined zircon ZFT and U/Pb ages; and

g. return of unused portion of sample and zircon and apatite separates to USGS.

h. Upon request, the contractor should also be able to return grain mounts with maps of laser spots for follow up analysis by USGS.

i. The contractor should also be able to provide information about measurements of primary and secondary geochronological and thermochronological standards upon request. The exact number of target samples will vary on an annual basis and will largely depend on the outcome of field campaigns.

2. Performance Requirements.

1. Contractor’s compliance will be based on:

a. demonstrable adherence to current state-of-the-art methods for each work task, as summarized in published literature cited above in Section I, C. Definitions/Applicable Documents;

b. timely delivery of preliminary and final digital data; and

c. results of analysis of the AFT and/or DZ, including a digital report file summarizing the interpretation of ages.

B. Deliverables

1. Deliverables stated in each task order include:

1. return to the USGS unused portion of bulk samples and zircon and apatite concentrations separated from bulk sample;

2. preliminary data from AFT and/or DZ analyses of samples in digital tabular format; and

3. final data from AFT and/or and DZ analyses in digital tabular format.

III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION

A. Place of performance: Contractor’s Facility

1. Apatite AFT, and Zircon U/Pb analyses will be performed in laboratory facilities that are to be determined.

B. Period of Performance: 5 years from award date C. Government Furnished Property (GFP): None.

D. Special Considerations.

1. Collection of primary data will be conducted by an analyst that is to be determined.

2. Contractor retains copyright to final report because of proprietary information and methodology; USGS retains right to release report in part or in its entirety and to publish all data delivered by contractor.

3. Security/Privacy issues: None.