Low-level Iodine-129 Analyses by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants is conducting market research to identify qualified vendors capable of providing Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) analyses for Iodine-129 in groundwater samples collected at the Idaho National Laboratory. Qualified contractors must demonstrate the ability to analyze approximately 62 groundwater samples (including field blanks and quality control replicates) with AMS sensitivity at the attocurie level (10⁻¹⁸ curies per liter) and achieve a 5% concentration uncertainty with 95% confidence acceptance criteria. The contractor must also provide NIST-traceable reference standards documentation and submit analytical results within 180 days of sample receipt in Excel format containing reduced data, uncertainties, quality control information, and sample analysis metadata. This is a sources sought announcement intended for market research and planning purposes only; the government is not committed to issuing a contract based on responses received. Responses must be submitted electronically to jongjoco@usgs.gov no later than February 6, 2026 at 3:00 pm Pacific Time, limited to 10 pages, and must include business size classification and System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number.

No set-aside designations apply to this procurement, and no incumbent contractor information has been disclosed. The Statement of Work identifies sampling events scheduled for April, June, and October 2026, with contract performance extending from April 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027 to accommodate the three collection periods, potential reanalysis, data retrieval, and publication preparation. The procurement applies NAICS code 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) with a $19 million size standard. Specific numerical details include analysis of samples from multiple Idaho National Laboratory facility locations including the Advanced Test Reactor complex, CFA, INTEC, RWMC, and the southern INL boundary, with the place of performance being the vendor laboratory facility. No award value or budget range has been disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice.