Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analyzer

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to identify qualified sources for a compact/portable major and trace element analyzer for geochemical analysis. The device must be either an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer or a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analyzer capable of detecting major rock-forming elements relevant to space resources such as Ti, Fe, Mn, and Ni, with preferred capability to detect lighter elements including Li, Si, K, Ca, and Mg. The analyzer must be compact and portable for use in both laboratory and field environments to enable cross-laboratory calibration, improved chemometric model development, and expanded analytical capabilities supporting critical mineral identification and planetary resource detection. This market research falls under NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1,000 employees, and responses must be submitted electronically to Vnuno@usgs.gov by August 18, 2025, at 1200 Eastern Time. The USGS emphasizes this is not a request for quote or proposal, and the government is not committed to any award based on this announcement.

This opportunity does not utilize any set-aside designations and is open to all responsible sources. No incumbent contractors or potential award values are specified in this pre-solicitation notice, as this is purely a market research effort for planning purposes. The government will not pay for any costs incurred in preparing responses to this sources sought announcement. Responses must be submitted in their entirety through electronic mail only, with hardcopy submissions or those through the SAM web portal explicitly not being accepted or considered. The USGS is seeking capability statements detailing companies' ability to provide the specified analytical instruments, with phone calls specifically discouraged as a method of communication regarding this opportunity.