Sol_140G0225Q0068.pdf

140G0225Q0068

1. REQUEST NO.

5a. ISSUED BY

NAME

a. NAME

c. STREET ADDRESS

d. CITY

10. PLEASE FURNISH QUOTATIONS TO

THE ISSUING OFFICE IN BLOCK 5a ON

OR BEFORE CLOSE OF BUSINESS (Date)

2. DATE ISSUED 3. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NO. 4. CERT. FOR NAT. DEF.

UNDER BDSA REG. 2

AND/OR DMS REG.1

RATING

6. DELIVERY BY (Date)

7. DELIVERY

9. DESTINATION

a. NAME OF CONSIGNEE

b. STREET ADDRESS

PAGE OF PAGES

5b. FOR INFORMATION CALL: (No collect calls)

TELEPHONE NUMBER

AREA CODE NUMBER

8. TO:

b. COMPANY

e. STATE f. ZIP CODE

c. CITY

d. STATE e. ZIP CODE

IMPORTANT: This is a request for information, and quotations furnished are not offers. If you are unable to quote, please so indicate on this form and return it to the address in Block 5a. This request does not commit the Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the submission of this quotation or to contract for supplies or services. Supplies are of domestic origin unless otherwise indicated by quoter. Any representations and/or certifications attached to this Request for Quotations must be completed by the quoter.

11. SCHEDULE (Include applicable Federal, State and local taxes)

THIS RFQ

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

(THIS IS NOT AN ORDER)

IS IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET ASIDEX

07/15/2025 0044010979

1 37

PO BOX 25046

204 DENVER FEDERAL CENTER

DENVER CO 80225-0046

USGS OAG DENVER ACQUISITION BRANCH

USGS LASD NWQL

1 Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 95 Entrance E3

Denver

CO 80225

303 236-9332Yvette Sornberger

07/22/2025 1430 MD

FOB DESTINATION

OTHER

(See Schedule)X

ITEM NO.

(a)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(b)

QUANTITY

(c)

UNIT

(d)

UNIT PRICE

(e)

AMOUNT

(f)

1. This is a Combined/Synopsis Solicitation issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ). Submit written quotations in response to RFQ Number 140G0225Q0068. This solicitation will utilize the policies in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, and in conjunction with the policies and procedures for evaluation, and award prescribed in FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, as appropriate for this acquisition.

2. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2025-04.

Continued ...

12. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

a. 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) b. 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) c. 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) d. CALENDAR DAYS

NUMBER PERCENTAGE

NOTE: Additional provisions and representations

13. NAME AND ADDRESS OF QUOTER

b. STREET ADDRESS

c. COUNTY

d. CITY e. STATE f. ZIP CODE

14. SIGNATURE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO

SIGN QUOTATION

16. SIGNER

a. NAME (Type or print)

c. TITLE (Type or print)

a. NAME OF QUOTER

AREA CODE

NUMBER

15. DATE OF QUOTATION

b. TELEPHONE are are not attached

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition not usable

STANDARD FORM 18 (REV. 6-95)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.215-1(a)

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

2 37

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

140G0225Q0068

3. The solicitation is a Small Business

Set-Aside. The North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380

(Analytical testing services) and the size standard is $19 million.

4. Vendors are required to be registered and active in System for Award Management (SAM) when submitting an offer or quotation. Register at https://www.sam.gov/index.html prior to submitting your quotation. See FAR provision

52.204-7

Period of Performance: 08/04/2025 to 08/03/2026

00010 Base Year

Carbon dating - see attached Performance Work

Statement

C-14 by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)

(aqueous sample) with C-13 reported Quantity

500 EA

C-14 by AMS (rock carbonate) with C-13 reported

Quantity 5 EA

C-14 by AMS (organic carbon in solid sample) with C-13 reported Quantity 5 EA

Prep (as required for unusual samples) Quantity

20 EA

5 EA

Product/Service Code: R499

Product/Service Description: SUPPORT-

PROFESSIONAL: OTHER

00020 Option Year One

Carbon dating - see attached Performance Work

Statement

C-14 by AMS (aqueous sample) with C-13 reported

500 EA

C-14 by AMS (rock carbonate) with C-13 reported

5 EA

C-14 by AMS (organic carbon in solid sample) with

C-13 reported 5 EA

Continued ...

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

3 37

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

140G0225Q0068

Prep (as required for unusual samples) 20 EA

(Option Line Item)

Anticipated Exercise Date 08/03/2026

Product/Service Code: R499

Product/Service Description: SUPPORT-

PROFESSIONAL: OTHER

Period of Performance: 08/04/2026 to 08/03/2027

THE GOVERNMENT'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS SHALL

PREVAIL OVER ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

AND/OR AGREEMENT (IF ANY).

Anticipated Award Type: Firm-fixed price.

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

RFQ 140G0225Q0068

Table of Contents

Performance-Based Statement of Work DOI ELECTRONIC INVOICING Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) (April 2013) GS0231 Technical Liaison -Technical Direction (JUL 2018) GS1131 Unilateral Deobligation of Unexpended Funds. (MAY 2013) GS1338 Notice to the Government of Delays (JUL 2001) GS1364 Nonpersonal Services and Supervision of Contractor’s Employees (SEP 2017) GS1406 Confidentiality of Data (OCT 2005) 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Products and Commercial Services. (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 1998) GS2101 Inquiries (FEB 2007) 52.204-20 Predecessor of Offeror. (AUG 2020) 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (NOV 2021) 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation. (OCT 2020) 52.209-11 Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law. (FEB 2016) 52.219-1 Small Business Program Representations. (FEB 2024) 52.222-22 Previous Contracts and Compliance Reports. (FEB 1999) 52.222-25 Affirmative Action Compliance. (APR 1984) 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 1998) Evaluation Factors Basis for Award – Best Value Quotation Instructions Questions - Cutoff

Performance-Based Statement of Work

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Mission Area (WMA), through the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL), conducts various types of scientific projects and has an obligation to provide Carbon-14 (with Carbon-13/Carbon-12) analysis of environmental samples. These services will involve the analysis of water, sediment, and other contracted sample types for dating purposes. The majority of the samples to be analyzed for USGS projects are aqueous samples collected from ground water monitoring wells and surface-water sites. However, some projects will require analysis of soil, bed-sediment, plant, and various other types of materials. Some samples may be collected and submitted from areas of hydrofracking and/or oil exploration. Some samples may contain high dissolved solids and/or hydrogen sulfide (H2S). However, samples containing elevated levels of radiocarbon or samples with radiocarbon contamination from waste sites will not be submitted under this contract. The Contractor and subcontractors must provide analytical services, supplies and deliverables for Carbon-14 (with Carbon- 13/Carbon-12) analyses of environmental samples collected for USGS projects. The analytical results from these samples will be used by the USGS in support of scientific and regulatory investigations and monitoring of project sites located throughout the United States. The purpose of this contract is to obtain services as described in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) for:

(1) analysis of Carbon-14 (with Carbon-13/Carbon-12) of samples collected from ground water monitoring wells, surface-water sites, soil, bed-sediment, plant, and various other types of materials.

(2) establish requirements to meet USGS data-quality objectives.

(3) documentation, data, metadata, and technical support for data users. The contract will specify the analytical services with analytes, methods, schedules, and metrics to be used to evaluate successful performance.

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor must provide all supervision, labor, materials, equipment, and facilities in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications set forth herein that are required for the chemical analyses.

SUBCONTRACTING OF ANALYTICAL WORK MUST NOT BE ALLOWED UNDER THIS

CONTRACT.

All required instruments and/or equipment must be purchased, set-up, verified and approved for performance for the requested analyses, and on-line prior to award of contract or prior to the analysis of environmental samples from the USGS under this contract. If the Government determines at any time during the contract performance that property or services must be provided, such Government furnished property, or services must be provided and documented by issuance of a contract modification.

The Offeror is to comply with the 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) requirements, the USGS Interpreting and Reporting Radiological Water Quality Data TM5-B6_508.pdf (usgs.gov) including the Multi–Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols Manual. (MARLAP - -http://www.USEPA.gov/radiation/marlap/manual.html) and, preferably, maintain a successful accreditation with NELAC and/or ISO/IEC 17025 (general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories).

3.0 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

Provided herein are the performance objectives and requirements for the contract. The Contractor must be evaluated for these performance requirements as described in Section 5.0 “Performance Assessment Plan”.

Some of the performance requirements are considered as “major” performance requirements and are identified in this section.by bold text.

3.1 Performance Objective: Sample Security, Identification and Processing Order

3.1.1 General Security: The Contractor must if required, provide chain-of-custody for samples submitted by the USGS. The Contractor must establish a system of security and safeguarding that must prevent analytical data, which will be government property, from being released to unauthorized persons.

Data, both preliminary and final, must be reported to the Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR).

3.1.2 Samples – Identification and Processing Order

3.1.2.1 Samples for Carbon-14 (C-14) analysis, obtained by the USGS for study, will be shipped directly by USGS field personnel to the Contractor’s laboratory where the analyses are to be performed. Coolers must be disposed of unless they arrive with prepaid shipping labels for return.

Sample delivery will be variable throughout the year and will be the highest during the summer months. Sample load will also vary from year to year. Each sample will be accompanied by an Analytical Services Request (ASR) Form (Appendix 1). This form will identify the lab codes/ schedules associated with the analyses to be performed on the sample. A list of these lab codes/schedules will be supplied to the Contractor upon award of the contract.

3.1.2.2 The collector will list any KNOWN potential hazard or complicating factor on the ASR Form. If there is a known hazard or complicating factor the collector will provide all available information on the ASR Form. Examples of these hazards are hydrogen sulfide, fracking fluids, and/or radioactive isotopes in the samples. If there are no KNOWN hazards or complicating factors, the collector will note this specifically on the ASR Form.

3.1.2.3 Each sample must have a Julian date (date sample received at contract lab) NWQL login identification number assigned to it by the Contractor. This number must be retained and used on all records pertaining to the sample. This will not prevent the Contractor from assigning their own accession or laboratory number to the samples.

3.1.2.4 Assignment of NWQL login numbers must be as follows:

3.1.2.4.1 The year 2025, followed by the Julian date that the sample is received at the contract lab (e.g., May 1st would be 121), followed by the sequence in which the sample is logged starting with 8701. Therefore, a sample received May 1, 2025 would have a log-in number of 20251218701. The series 8701 through 8799 are to be used exclusively by the Contractor for carbon samples.

3.1.2.4.2 The log-in number must be put on each appropriate bottle and in the space provided on the ASR (upper right hand).

3.1.2.4.3 Samples may be received Monday through Friday (Federal Holidays excepted).

3.1.2.4.4 The Contractor must check the Analytical Services Request (ASR) Form against the information on the bottles (station ID number and name, date and time of collection.)

3.1.2.4.5 The Contractor must check the analyses requested on the ASR Form against the type of sample received and notify the USGS COR or designee of discrepancies or damaged bottles.

3.1.2.4.6 If there are discrepancies with the samples, the Contractor must notify the COR or other designee at the NWQL. The specific problems with the sample must be indicated on the transmittal sheet. The COR will research the problem and contact district personnel if needed and respond directly to the Contractor.

3.1.2.4.7 Samples received Monday through Friday can be batched for analysis. However, project batches (samples submitted together from one project or scientist) must not be split.

3.1.2.4.8 The day after sample receipt, the Contract Program Manager must e-mail the COR, and any designated personnel at the NWQL, scanned copies of the ASRs of the samples received. The only exception is at the end of a NWQL Water Year (cut-off date is usually the 1st or 2nd Friday in September). The final sample log-in electronic file must be sent to the COR, and any designated personnel at the NWQL, by the end of that business day (Friday).

The date will be supplied to the Contractor each year.

3.1.2.4.9 The turn-around time clock will start on the date the ASR Forms are received at the NWQL. Delivery of analytical results must be within 3 months (90 calendar days) for C- 14.

3.1.2.5 The COR or any designee must be contacted if any analyses not listed in the contract are requested. These samples must not be logged in until instructed in writing by the COR.

3.1.2.6 Samples sent to the Contractor’s lab must be analyzed in order of receipt (i.e., first in, first out) unless alternate instructions (as so designated by the COR) are received by phone and/or in writing from the COR. The COR must be notified of any samples from chemically unusual environments that would require additional time.

3.2 Performance Objective: Sample Preparation

3.2.1 Aqueous samples for carbon analysis must be submitted filtered and with no preservation unless prior arrangements have been made and agreed to, in writing, between the COR and the contract lab. The samples must be shipped chilled and must be refrigerated upon arrival at the lab.

Notify COR or designee at NWQL if samples are not chilled upon receipt.

3.2.2 Alkalinities and pH values for all samples must be provided. These values must be stated on the ASR Forms.

3.2.3 Occasionally solid samples are submitted which may require drying, grinding, and homogenization. The cost of the prep must be included in the prices quoted for line items 2 and 3.

3.2.4 Solid samples will normally be carbonate rocks or solid organic material such as wood.

3.2.5 Sample preparation must be performed as outlined in the Contractor’s quote and approved by the USGS.

3.3 Performance Objective: Samples – Analysis

3.3.1 The USGS will allow performance-based methodologies. Copies of all methods to be used for the analyses listed in the contract are to be included with the Contractor’s quote. Any relevant references are also to be furnished. If the Contractor is NOT going to use published methods for the analyses listed in the contract, appropriate documentation for the prove-out of the methods must be provided.

The USGS will evaluate the documentation. These methods must not be used until USGS approval is received. No deviations from these methods must be allowed without the written approval of the CO and COR. A full description of any proposed changes must be sent to the CO and COR in writing for approval prior to any change.

3.3.2 Copies of any methods used in the analysis of USGS samples may, through the COR, be made available to the scientists in the USGS Water Science Centers (WSCs). These methods may be included in USGS method manuals or USGS publications. Any Contractor proprietary information must be addressed before the award of the contract.

3.3.3 Carbon-14

3.3.3.1 Carbon-14 by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS).

3.3.3.1.1 Each sample must contain a minimum of 3 mg of carbon and may be solid samples that could require isotope analysis of forms of carbon.

3.3.3.1.2 The sample, if aqueous, must, in most cases, be submitted in a 250 ml or 1 liter plastic-coated glass bottle with a polyseal (cone) cap. Other samples, depending on size and form, must be submitted in suitable closed containers.

3.3.3.1.3 An aliquot of the sample must be analyzed for carbon-13/12 ratio.

3.3.3.1.4 Reporting

The carbon-14 must be reported according to recommendations of Stuiver and Polach, Radiocarbon 19:355-363 (1977), specifically, the values --∆14C (in ‰), absolute percent modern carbon relative to the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) I oxalic acid standard, normalized for 13C fractionation, and corrected for decay since 1950 (pM), and Conventional Radiocarbon Age (5568 year half-life), in years before 1950. In addition, the contract lab must report percent modern carbon (pMC) relative to the NBS I oxalic acid standard, corrected for decay since 1950, normalized for 13C fractionation.

The carbon-13 must be reported in per mil (o/oo) relative to Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite VPDB, such that the value of NBS 19 carbonate is + 1.95 per mil.

3.3.3.1.5 Precision and uncertainty

The carbon-14 must be accompanied by a one-sigma error value, in +/-per mil for ∆14C and in +/- percent for values in pMC, and +/- years for the Conventional Radiocarbon Age. Reporting precision (as +/- sigma) must vary with 14C activity of the sample. As a guide, samples containing less than 1 percent Modern (pMC), 14C must be reported with an uncertainty of less than 10 percent of the reported value. Values in the range of 1-5% (pMC) must have a one-sigma uncertainty of less than 3% of the reported value. For values in the range of 5-10% (pMC), the reported uncertainty must be less than 2% of the reported value. For values greater than 10% (pMC), the reported uncertainty must be equal to or less than 1% of the reported value. See section 3.7.1.

The carbon-13 must be reported with a one sigma uncertainty of ± 0.3 ‰ (per mil).

3.3.3.1.6 Spreadsheets

An electronic spreadsheet with all the data points listed above for all samples received along with batch QC must be furnished by the Contractor. See section

3.5 for additional information.

3.4 Performance Objective: Contract Quality Assurance/Quality Control Requirements

3.4.1 Proficiency Testing Studies

3.4.1.1 If available, the Contractor must participate in external Proficiency Testing (PT) studies for C-13 and/or C-14. All results, as received, must be furnished in writing to the COR.

3.4.2 Internal Quality Control (QC)

3.4.2.1 The Contractor must analyze QC samples including a laboratory control sample and a C-13 duplicate with every analytical batch of twenty (20) samples. These QC results must be furnished with batch results.

3.4.3 External Quality Assurance

3.4.3.1 Technical liaison, inspection, and evaluation of the analytical services and deliverables will be managed under the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory.

3.4.3.2 Approximately five percent of samples delivered to the Contractor may be USGS quality assurance samples (duplicates).

3.4.3.3 The results of the analyses of the standards and replicate samples will be closely monitored by the USGS.

3.4.3.4 When unacceptable data are reported to the USGS, the Contractor must be notified, in writing, to halt the flow of samples through the part of the system that yielded the erroneous values. The Contractor must then determine the cause of the unacceptable data.

3.4.3.5 Further analyses, after the Contractor’s receipt of a notice from USGS to halt further testing for quality assurances purposes, must be resumed by the Contractor only with written approval of the Contracting Officer. Samples analyzed after the last acceptable sample and before the shutdown must be re-analyzed at no additional cost to the USGS.

3.4.3.6 The USGS may request reruns on as much as 10% of samples submitted. These reruns must be performed at no cost to the USGS. If the rerun requests exceed 10% of the yearly sample load, the Contractor must not charge for the rerun if the new value is outside of the 2-sigma uncertainty of the first value and USGS will pay for the rerun if the rerun value lies within the 2-sigma uncertainty of the first value. If the two values do not check and a third analysis required to determine the true value, the Contractor must not charge for this third analysis.

3.4.3.7 From time-to-time during the performance of the contract, the USGS may visit the Contractor’s facility. On site visits must be at the discretion of the Government.

3.5 Performance Objective: Reporting Results

3.5.1 Results must be reported electronically as an Electronic Data Deliverable (EDD) in a format to be furnished by the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, an electronic spreadsheet listing all data points must be sent to the COR as defined in section 3.3.1.6. QC results must be included on the Electronic Spreadsheet but not on the EDD.

3.5.2 Results for carbon must be in two written tabular forms: an Excel spreadsheet and the EDD tab delimited format. The following information must be included:

Excel Spreadsheet:

Receipt number NWQL number Project Chief (listed on ASR) Year of Sample Collection Date received Date analyzed Fraction Modern, F (Normalized)

Error 1s Fraction Modern, F (Normalized)

�13C (‰) VPDB

�CO2 (mmol/kg) Calc. Radiocarbon Age (Normalized) Radiocarbon Age Error 1s (Normalized) pMC (Normalized) Error 1s pMC (Normalized) � 14C ‰ Error 1s � 14C ‰ � 14C ‰ corr. for decay Error 1s � 14C ‰ corr. for decay Comment

The EDD file:

Lab Identification Date_analyzed pMC �13C

A. Carbon-14 by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Results must be reported as (Stuiver and Polach, 1977) -- ∆14Co/oo -- Absolute percent modern carbon relative to the NBS I oxalic acid standard, normalized for

13C fractionation, and corrected for decay since 1950 (pMC) -- Percent modern carbon (pMC) relative to NBS I oxalic acid standard, corrected for decay since 1950, and both normalized and not normalized for C-13.

-- Conventional Radiocarbon Age (5568 year half-life), years before 1950 --� 13C (VPDB) in per mil used to normalize pMC

One sigma error value for each C-14 result

B. Carbon-13 Results must be reported in o/oo (per mil) relative to VPDB, such that the value of NBS 19 carbonate is +1.95 per mil.

3.5.3 Reports and EDDs of analytical results must be sent by email to the COR. Reports must be sent on a weekly basis as the analyses and reports for samples are completed. If the quality of the results are found to be unacceptable, the problem will be communicated by the COR immediately upon recognition.

3.5.4 The Contractor must maintain all raw data for all analytical reports submitted to the USGS. The file must be maintained for the life of the contract. Prior to completion of the contract, the Contractor must request from the USGS instructions as to the disposal of these records. Any records requested by the USGS must be shipped at Contractor expense to the address given.

3.5.5 During the login process, the Contractor must check the condition of the shipment and compare the ASR forms against the samples. If samples are missing, damaged or incomplete or if there are discrepancies between sample bottles and entries on the ASRs, the COR or designee must be notified immediately.

3.5.6 Results of all internal QC samples are to be reported with the field sample results.

3.5.7 The COR and other representatives from the USGS may meet with the Contractor and appropriate staff of the Contractor’s Lab annually, or sooner if needed to review status of samples, and to resolve questions about sample results and administration of contract activities. An on-site audit may be conducted at this time.

3.6 Performance Objective: Provide Analytical Results of Environmental Sample Analyses and Data Deliverables within Specified Time Schedules

3.6.1 Carbon

3.6.1.1 Carbon-14 by AMS

Delivery of analytical results must be within 90 calendar days (exclusive of Federal holidays) from date of receipt of sample by the Contractor. The C-13 results must be included in the report for the C-14.

3.6.1 2 The Contractor must complete the required analyses within the specified times. Timing must begin on the day after the samples are received and logged-in at the contract lab. The ASRs must be emailed to the NWQL the following day. A delay in emailing the ASRs to the NWQL must not result in a delay of the start time.

3.6.1.3 These expected turnaround times assume normal flow/processing in the lab. At the discretion of the Contracting Officer’s Representative, the Contractor may request in writing and possibly obtain a waiver for altering reporting times for unforeseen conditions in the laboratory such as equipment failure, laboratory down time, power outages, etc.

3.6.2 The Government occasionally may require turnaround times that are shorter than those described above. The requirement for faster turnaround times must not exceed 30 samples per calendar month of the total number of samples submitted. Requests for expedited analyses must be communicated by the COR.

3.6.3 For some USGS projects, preliminary (before final review by the Contractor) results may be requested by the COR to be provided by email. There must be no additional cost to the Government for these reports.

3.6.4 If the Contractor knows in advance that the standard or requested accelerated TAT and delivery requirements will not be completed within specified time schedules for individual Sample Delivery Groups (SDGs), the Contractor must formally notify the COR by email of anticipated delays in the delivery of the data deliverables.

3.6.5 Sample materials not consumed by analysis must be retained by the contract lab for 90 days.

DISPOSAL OF ALL REMAINING SAMPLE MATERIALS MUST BE AT

CONTRACTOR’S EXPENSE.

3.7 Performance Objective: QA/QC Acceptance Criteria

3.7.1 For Carbon Analyses

C-14 The Carbon-14 must be accompanied by a one sigma error, in +/- per mil for Δ14 C, in +/- percent for values in pMC, and in +/- years for the Conventional Radiocarbon Age. Reporting precision must vary with 14 C activity of the sample. The Contractor’s lab must meet the following levels of precision –

Sample Activity, pMC Acceptable Range of Precision

<0.5 pMC +/-50% of reported value

0.5-1.0 pMC +/-10% of reported value 1.0-5.0 pMC +/3% of reported value 5.0-10.0 pMC +/-2% of reported value

>10.0 pMC +/-1% of reported value

C-13 The carbon-13 is to be reported with a one sigma uncertainty of +/-0.3% (per mil)

4.0 CONTRACTOR KEY PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES

4.1 The Contractor must provide the following key personnel –

Project Manager - The Project Manager is the primary Contractor Representative and is a professional who has considerable experience in analytical environmental chemistry and sample analysis. The Project Manager will be assigned by the Contractor and must have full authority to act for the Contractor on contract matters that relate to the daily operations of the contract. The Project Manager must be the primary point of contact for the COR and any designated NWQL personnel for the Technical and Functional services specified in the contract. This person must monitor and keep the USGS informed on the status of the analyses and data deliverables requested for individual SDGs and advise the USGS on the availability, capability, and limitations of analytical methods and associated QC requirements needed to meet regulatory or project-specific requirements. This person must conduct final review and approval of the data deliverables for completeness and compliance with contract and analytical-method requirements and contact the COR or designee if there are any delays or problems with the sample analyses.

Laboratory Quality Assurance (QA) Manager - An experienced laboratory staff member who is responsible for implementing and managing the quality system and Laboratory Quality Manager (LQM) used in the Contractor laboratory facility. The LQM must serve as the primary point of contact for all QA policies and QC issues, review corrective actions and recommend resolutions for recurring nonconformance within the Contractor’s laboratory, and monitor and evaluate data-quality measures to verify that the laboratory is continually meeting documented quality goals. This person must have the final authority to accept or reject specific analytical results and to stop work in progress if the procedures or techniques compromise the validity, integrity, or quality of the analytical data.

Technical Director - An experienced laboratory staff member who exercises actual day-to-day supervision and technical oversight of laboratory operations. This person's duties include coordinating the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), interfacing with management on technical needs and solving day-to-day technical issues, monitoring standards of performance in quality-control, and monitoring validity of analyses performed and data generated to assure reliable and technically correct analytical results.

5.0 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT PLAN

5.1 According to the “Inspection of Services – Fixed Price” and provisions specified in this Performance Assessment Plan, the Government must perform a formal assessment to determine the extent the Contractor has met the performance requirements specified under the contract. All the performance requirements contained in the contract will be evaluated and assessed by the Government. The performance requirements identified with bold text in Section 3.0 and listed in Attachment A - Table 1 are identified as the major performance requirements, consisting of the more important or critical analytical services and deliverables specified in the contract.

Specific performance standards, performance assessment methods, and payment criteria have been established for the major performance requirements and are identified in detail in Attachment A - Table 1.

5.2 The COR will perform the assessment of the Contractor and prepare the formal performance assessment reports and documentation. The Contracting Officer (CO) will be directly involved in all aspects of the performance assessment and will review all formal performance assessment reports. USGS project representatives or USGS water-quality specialist representatives may provide technical input on the quality, timeliness, and completeness of the analytical results after reviewing the data deliverables provided by the Contractor.

5.3 Performance assessment methods used by the USGS will be standard inspection and evaluation procedures and must include (1) inspection and evaluation of the quality and timeliness of the data deliverables, (2) periodic review of analytical services performed and associated business relations, and (3) compilation of customer comments received from the USGS project representatives using the analytical services, analytical results, and data deliverables. The primary performance assessment methods that will be used to evaluate the major performance requirements are included in Attachment A - table 1.

5.4 An annual Performance Assessment (PA) report will be prepared by the COR in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). The annual PA report will include: (1) summary of the number and type of environmental samples by sample delivery group (SDG) that were sent to the Contractor, (2) number of SDGs and associated deliverables that were completed and delivered to the USGS, (3) documentation of the performance standards achieved or not achieved for the major performance requirements, (4) documentation of any non-routine issues or delays that occurred during the three months, and (5) compilation of comments from USGS project representatives about the analytical services and data deliverables. The annual PA report will be submitted to the CO for approval within 60 days before the expiration date of the contract year. After approval by the CO, a copy of the report will be sent to the Contractor.

5.5 An annual Contractor Performance Report will be prepared by the COR and CO. This Contractor Performance Report will contain ratings that summarize the Contractor performance on quality and timeliness of the service and deliverables if provided, business relations, and customer satisfaction. Evaluation ratings consist of excellent, good, fair, poor, and unsatisfactory. Documentation and performance assessment ratings included in the annual PA reports will be used extensively to determine if the contract will be extended to another option year. Contractor Performance Reports will be made available to other Government departments and agencies seeking past performance and source selection information.

6.0 CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA

6.1 The Contractor recognizes that Contractor employees in performing this contract may have access to data, either provided by the Government or first generated during contract performance, of a sensitive nature which should not be released to the public without U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) approval. Therefore, the Contractor agrees to obtain confidentiality agreements from all its employees working on requirements under this contract. Such agreements must contain provisions which stipulate that each employee agrees that the employee will not disclose, either in whole or in part, to any entity external to USGS any information or data (as defined in FAR Section 27.401) first generated by the Contractor under this contract, without first obtaining the written permission of the USGS Contracting Officer. Such agreements must be effective for the life of the contract and for a period of three (3) years after completion of the contract. Copies of these agreements must be provided to the USGS Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer’s Representative.

6.2 In order to protect data that has been generated under this contract, the Contractor must institute the necessary system security controls to eliminate any chance of unauthorized release of data to the public. These system security controls must be established for all Contractor-owned and operated systems used to provide services under this contract. All information submitted to the USGS by the Contractor must be free of malicious code such as viruses, Trojan horse programs, worms, spyware, etc.

Clauses:

DOI ELECTRONIC INVOICING Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) (April 2013)

Payment requests must be submitted electronically through the U. S. Department of the Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform System (IPP).

'Payment request' means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the Contractor.

To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP website address is:

https://www.ipp.gov.

Under this contract, the following documents are required to be submitted as an attachment to the IPP invoice: A copy of the Contractor’s internally generated invoice.

The Contractor must use the IPP website to register access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment. The Contractor Government Business Point of Contact (as listed in SAM) will receive enrollment instructions via email from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRBSTL) within 3 - 5 business days of the contract award date. Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by contacting the IPP Production Helpdesk via email IPPCustomerSupport@fiscal.treasury.gov or phone (866) 973-3131.

If the Contractor is unable to comply with the requirement to use IPP for submitting invoices for payment, the Contractor must submit a waiver request in writing to the Contracting Officer with its proposal or quotation.

GS0231 Technical Liaison -Technical Direction (JUL 2018)

a) The performance required herein shall be subject to the technical direction of the Technical Liaison (TL) as identified below. As used herein, "technical direction" is defined as direction to the contractor that fills in details, suggests possible lines of approach, or otherwise supplements the scope of the work set forth herein and shall not constitute a new assignment, and does not supersede or modify any article or clause of this contract.

(b) The Technical Liaison is not authorized to perform, formally or informally, any of the following actions:

(1) Promise, award, agree to award, or execute any contract, contract modification, or notice of intent that changes or may change this contract;

(2) Waive or agree to modification of the delivery schedule;

(3) Make any final decision on any contract matter subject to the Disputes Clause;

(4) Terminate, for any reason, the contractor's right to proceed;

(5) Obligate in any way, the payment of money by the Government. Only a warranted Contracting Officer is authorized to obligate funds on this or any other contract action.

(c) The contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer in writing if the Technical Liaison has taken an action (or fails to take action) or issues direction (written or oral) that the contractor considers to exceed the above limitations.

(d) The Technical Liaison assigned for this contract is: (The Technical Liaison will be added at the time of award)

Telephone: [xxx] Email: [xxx]

U.S. Geological Survey Address and MS: [xxx]

(e) Only the Contracting Officer may designate a new Technical Liaison.

GS1131 Unilateral Deobligation of Unexpended Funds. (MAY 2013)

The contractor shall submit all invoices under the award no later than 90 calendar days after the period of performance has expired, unless a request for extension has been submitted to the Contracting Officer.

After 120 days has passed since the expiration of the performance period, the government reserves the right to issue a unilateral modification deobligating any unexpended funds, and to initiate closeout procedures.

GS1338 Notice to the Government of Delays (JUL 2001)

In the event the contractor encounters difficulty in meeting performance requirements, or when it anticipates difficulty in complying with the contract delivery schedule or date, or whenever the contractor has knowledge that any actual or potential situation is delaying or threatens to delay the timely performance of this contract, the contractor shall immediately notify the contracting officer and the COR (if one has been designated), in writing, giving pertinent details. This data shall be informational only in character.

Notice under this provision shall not be construed as a waiver by the Government of any delivery schedule or date or of any rights or remedies provided by law or under this contract.

GS1364 Nonpersonal Services and Supervision of Contractor’s Employees (SEP 2017)

a. This contract is a “nonpersonal services contract” as defined in FAR 37.101. It is therefore, understood and agreed that the contractor and/or the contractor’s employees:

1. shall perform the services specified herein as independent contractors, not as employees of the government.

2. shall request clarification in writing from the Contracting Officer if the Contractor finds it necessary with respect to the scope of services to be performed or the way the services are to be performed hereunder.

3. shall be responsible for their own management and administration of the work required and bear sole responsibility for complying with all technical, schedule, or financial requirements or constraints attendant to the performance of this contract.

4. shall be free from supervision, direction or control by any government employee with respect to the manner or method of performance of the services specified; but

5. shall comply with such general direction of the Contracting Officer (or duly authorized representative) pursuant to the government’s right and obligation to inspect, accept or reject the work as is necessary to ensure accomplishment of the contract objectives.

6. shall not be at any time during the contract period employees of the U.S. Government.

b. The contractor's employees and subcontractors must make clear, in dealings with the public, federal employees, or other contractors that they are not federal employees. To minimize possible confusion, while performing work under this contract, contractor employees are required to identify themselves as such when attending meetings, in email and other correspondence, in documents or reports produced, and when working in situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties. Further, contractors and subcontractors are not permitted to wear clothing or other items (apart from official identity credential) bearing the name, logo, or seal of the U.S. Geological Survey while performing work under this contract.

GS1406 Confidentiality of Data (OCT 2005)

(a) The work under this contract requires access to proprietary, business confidential, or financial data of other companies and/or USGS internal scientific, planning or procurement sensitive/source selection data, which, if released to third parties may give unfair business, technical, or competitive advantages. As long as such data remains proprietary or confidential, the Contractor shall protect such data from unauthorized use and disclosure and agrees not to use it to compete with such companies or for any purpose other than performance of this contract.

(b) This data may be in various forms, such as documents, raw photographic films, magnetic or digital media, photographic prints, computer system data, or it may be interpretative results derived from analysis, investigative, or study effort. Regardless of the form of this data, the Contractor agrees that neither it nor any of its employees will disclose to third parties any such data, or derivatives thereof, except as may be required in the performance of this contract. Further, the Contractor will not copy any of this data, or derivatives thereof, other than as necessary for the performance of this contract.

(c) The Contractor will establish policies and procedures to implement the substance of this clause at the individual employee level which will assure that affected employees are made aware of the contract provision and the Contractor's implementing policies and procedures. Particular attention will be given to keeping employees advised of statutes and regulations applicable to the handling of third party confidential or financial data.

(d) This clause does not preclude the Contractor and/or its employees from independently acquiring and using data from legitimate sources outside of this contract, or from performing and using independent analysis of data so acquired, provided that the Contractor and/or its employees fully document the source of such data, and the independence of any such analysis.

(e) The Contractor shall immediately notify, in writing, the Contracting Officer in the event that the Contractor determines or has reason to suspect a breach of this requirement.

(f) The Contractor will insert the substance of this clause in each subcontract hereunder (other than for purchase of supplies or equipment) unless the Contracting Officer has waived this requirement, in writing, as to particular subcontracts or classes of subcontracts.

(g) Any unauthorized disclosure of information may result in termination of this contract for cause.

52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Products and Commercial Services. (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025)

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services:

(1) 52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-19#FAR_52_203_19

(2) 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab Covered Entities (DEC 2023) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91).

(3) 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. (NOV 2021) (Section 889(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 115-232).

(4) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (NOV 2015).

(5) 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (MAR 2023) ( 31 U.S.C. 3903 and 10 U.S.C. 3801).

(6) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(7) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77 and 108-78 ( 19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services:

__ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (JUN 2020), with Alternate I (NOV 2021) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 4655).

__ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (NOV 2021) (41 U.S.C. 3509)).

__ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (JUN 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub. L. 111-5). (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

X__ (4) 52.203-17, Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights (NOV 2023) ( 41 U.S.C. 4712);

this clause does not apply to contracts of DoD, NASA, the Coast Guard, or applicable elements of the intelligence community—see FAR 3.900(a).

X__ (5) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (JUN 2020) (Pub. L. 109-282) ( 31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

__ (6) [Reserved].

__ (7) 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (OCT 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

__ (8) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (OCT 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).

X__ (9) 52.204-27, Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application (JUN 2023) (Section 102 of Division R of Pub. L. 117-328).

__ (10) 52.204-28, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders—Federal Supply Schedules, Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, and Multi-Agency Contracts. (DEC 2023) ( Pub. L.

115–390, title II).

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-23#FAR_52_204_23 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-25#FAR_52_204_25 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.209-10#FAR_52_209_10 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.232-40#FAR_52_232_40 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3903&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section3801&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.233-3#FAR_52_233_3 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.233-4#FAR_52_233_4 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-6#FAR_52_203_6 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section4655&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-13#FAR_52_203_13 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-15#FAR_52_203_15 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.203-17#FAR_52_203_17 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title41-section4712&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/3.900#FAR_3_900 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-10#FAR_52_204_10 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section6101&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-14#FAR_52_204_14 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-15#FAR_52_204_15 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-27#FAR_52_204_27 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-28#FAR_52_204_28 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/390 https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/115/public/390

X__ (11) (i) 52.204-30, Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act Orders— Prohibition. (DEC 2023) ( Pub. L. 115–390, title II).

__ (ii) Alternate I (DEC 2023) of 52.204-30.

__ (12) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting With Contractors Debarred, Suspended, Proposed for Debarment, or Voluntarily Excluded. (JAN 2025) ( 31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

__ (13) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (OCT 2018) ( 41 U.S.C. 2313).

__ (14) [Reserved].

__ (15) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (OCT 2022) ( 15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (16) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (OCT 2022) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a).

__ (17) [Reserved]

X__ (18) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside…