Isotope Analysis of Atmospheric Trace Gases

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seeks quotations for isotope analysis of atmospheric trace gases to support its Global Monitoring Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, with proposals due May 12, 2026. This is a women-owned small business set-aside structured as a single-award IDIQ contract with firm-fixed price task orders covering five one-year periods from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.

Place of performance is Boulder, Colorado. The contractor must provide isotopic and radiocarbon analysis across five measurement categories: stable isotopes of carbon dioxide (d13C and d18O) with reproducibility of 0.02 and 0.05 respectively, analyzing up to 20,000 samples annually; radiocarbon (14C) of carbon dioxide with external repeatability of 2 or better, processing up to 5,000 authentic samples and measuring 1,000–3,000 annually; radiocarbon (14C) of methane with precision of 4, analyzing up to 400 samples per year; stable isotopes of methane (d13C and dD) with reproducibility of 0.08 and 2 respectively, analyzing up to 10,000 samples annually; and triple oxygen isotope ratios of CO2 (D17O) with reproducibility of at least 0.01, analyzing up to 500 samples annually. All results must reference international IAEA primary reference materials. Sample return must occur within 50 calendar days, with transportation provided within five miles of the GML facility; costs beyond this radius are contractor responsibility. Results must be delivered via approved remote access within 10 calendar days after quality control completion. The contractor must also provide scientific interpretation services including time series analysis, north-south gradient analysis, and emissions/removals estimation, with preliminary analyses completed within two weeks of request.

The NAICS code is 541380, Testing Laboratories and Services. Government anticipates ordering between $15,000 minimum and $8 million maximum across the contract term. Evaluation is equally weighted across Technical Capability and Approach, Past Performance, and Price. An amendment posted May 6 addresses government responses to industry questions; acknowledgment of this amendment is required with submission. Recommended subcontracting goals include Small Business 47.69%, Small Disadvantaged Business 5%, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business 5%, Woman-Owned Small Business 5%, and HUBZone 3%.