AMS Radiocarbon Analyses

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research through a Request for Information (RFI) to identify qualified small businesses capable of providing Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon analyses for tsunami hazards research in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The USGS Office of Acquisitions and Grants seeks contractors to perform comprehensive radiocarbon dating services, including sample pretreatment, stable isotope analysis, and accelerator mass spectrometer testing on organic material from sediment samples. Qualified respondents must submit a capability statement and relevant literature demonstrating their ability to fully meet the requirements outlined in the attached statement of work, limited to a maximum of 10 pages. This announcement is classified under NAICS code 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) with an associated size standard of $19 million for small business consideration. All responses must be submitted electronically to jongjoco@usgs.gov and received no later than January 12, 2026 at 3:00 pm Pacific Time; responses submitted through hardcopy, SAM portal, or other means will not be accepted. It is important to note that this RFI is not a request for quote or proposal, and the government is not committed to award any contract pursuant to this announcement, as it is solely for market research and planning purposes.

This pre-solicitation notice does not utilize any set-aside designations, meaning all responsible sources, including large businesses, are eligible to respond. The contract involves radiocarbon analyses of up to 25 samples during the base year, with an optional second year potentially expanding the scope to 100 samples total. The contractor must complete sample analysis and deliver detailed results electronically within three months of receiving each sample batch, requiring full compliance with specific technical pretreatment protocols and measurement standards. While no explicit award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFI, the classification under PSC B517 (Special Studies/Analysis-Geological) indicates this is a specialized analytical services procurement. No incumbent contractor information is provided in this market research announcement, as the government is in the preliminary planning stages to determine acquisition strategy and the availability of qualified vendors in the AMS radiocarbon analysis market.