Carbon dating services

This Sources Sought Notice is being published for the purpose of conducting Market Research to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. This is not a solicitation. All costs associated with providing information, as requested by this Sources Sought Notice, shall be the responsibility of the submitter. Submission is voluntary.
0001 Mandatory Terms of this Requirements Contract

1. The Government must order from the Contractor non-personal Carbon-14 (with Carbon-13/Carbon-12) analytical laboratory services to satisfy the requirements of the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL).

2. The following Waiver Process must apply to this contract - In the event the end user of these analytical services believes the services provided by the Contractor hereunder will not meet his/her needs, he or she must submit a written request for a waiver to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer must review the request for waiver and make a unilateral decision as to whether or not a waiver will be granted. The Contractor agrees that the decision of the Contracting Officer to grant a waiver is final and undisputable.

0002 ESTIMATED QUANTITIES AND PRICES

The quantities stated in the schedule are estimated quantities for comparative purposes, and no claims must be made against the USGS for excess or deficiency therein. Payment at the unit or lump-sum prices agreed upon must be in full for the completed work and must cover materials, supplies, transportation, labor, tools, machinery, and all expenditures, incident to satisfactory compliance with the contract unless otherwise specifically provided. Except as limited by the total amount of funds obligated for the contract, the quantities to be furnished under this contract will depend entirely upon the actual quantities required unless otherwise noted.

0003 SCHEDULE OF ITEMS AND PRICES

The following items are estimated quantities for a basic year contract period beginning on the date of contract award through twelve (12) months, with one (1) twelve month subsequent option year periods. All prices, therefore, are to be based in calendar years, 2025, 2026.

Analytical methods listed in the schedule of items and prices may be updated or revised during the length of this contract because of formal (published or promulgated) updates or revisions to standard analytical methods specified in this schedule. Any updates, revisions and/or modifications to the listed methods must have written prior approval, before implementation, from the CO or COR.

The price per unit must include all indirect costs as well as all other direct costs associated with each sample. It includes consumables, labor and overhead at a US government agreed upon rate of labor. The rate is to include the initial cost (amortized over ten years) and bi-annual preventative maintenance cost of analytical equipment. Labor costs include salaries for technicians and administrators.

Price consideration includes proper storage and archive copies of analytical results and associated QC and raw data results for the duration period of the contract. All raw data will be returned to the USGS if requested at the end of the contract. This will be done at no expense to the government.

Price consideration includes analytical data be reported in written tabular form and also in electronic form provided by the USGS at the time of contract award.

Interested firms who feel that they can provide the item (based upon the criteria specified herein), are invited to submit in writing an affirmative response to this announcement. An affirmative response must include references with contact names, email address, and phone numbers. These references are to be for contracts similar in scope as the contract under consideration. This information will be evaluated and used to determine if competitive opportunities exist. Affirmative responses must also include supporting information showing the firm can meet all requirements set forth in this announcement.

All responses must be submitted NLT 05/16/2025 at 2:30pm MST via e-mail to: ysornberger@usgs.gov.