Critical Management Investigation of Texas Cores C

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management seeks quotations for critical mineral investigation of up to 300 samples from up to 208 geotechnical cores collected from the Texas Outer Continental Shelf, with quotations due August 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST and questions due August 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.

This is a firm-fixed-price Request for Quotation with no small business set-aside. Cores are stored in Austin, Texas and Boca Raton, Florida; 68 cores currently exist in storage and 140 proposed cores are under field collection. Work includes sample collection, grain size analysis via Laser Particle Size Analysis, elemental composition analysis (XRF, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and sodium peroxide fusion ICP), and mineralogical analysis on selected samples (QEM, TIMA) aligned with the USGS 2025 critical minerals list. The contractor must conduct monthly meetings with BOEM, deliver core summary reports (1–3 pages per core actually sampled), a methodology paper (maximum 15 pages), and tabular data in BOEM-specified schema format within an 18-month period of performance. All deliverables transfer to BOEM via secure SharePoint.

NAICS code is 541715 with a 1,000-employee small business size standard. Quotations must include a Technical Volume (maximum 10 pages, excluding resumes) demonstrating capability and experience, two past performance references from government contracts completed within the last three years, and a Price Volume with Standard Form 18. Payment is structured as firm-fixed-price with partial delivery milestones tied to Summary Report, Core Summary Reports, and Tabular Data submissions. QEM/TIMA testing (up to 20 samples) may be priced separately at the quoter's discretion. Quotation validity is 120 calendar days. Amendment 0001, effective August 24, 2026, incorporated questions and responses; no additional questions will be accepted after this amendment. Contractors must acknowledge receipt of Amendment 0001 prior to offer submission.