Neutron Irradiation Geochronology

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants seeks a contractor to provide neutron irradiation services for sealed quartz ampules in support of 40Ar/39Ar geochronology research. The contractor must irradiate samples using cadmium liners within a nuclear reactor core and return the irradiated samples with required documentation. Key qualifications include demonstrated experience irradiating samples for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology specifically using cadmium liners in a reactor core, and the reactor facility must have published neutron interference correction values available in scientific literature for specific isotope ratios. Evaluation will be based on technical capability, past performance references, and firm-fixed-price unit pricing proposals for the full five-year ordering period, with offerors permitted to include annual escalation schedules. Quotations must be submitted electronically by 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time on March 18, 2026, to Contracting Officer Joel Berberena at jberberena@usgs.gov.

This solicitation is unrestricted with no small business set-aside designation. The contract is structured as an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) agreement with a maximum value of $300,000 and a guaranteed minimum of $15,000, running from the estimated award date of March 23, 2026, through December 31, 2030. The Government anticipates issuing two initial task orders at or shortly after contract award, with Task Order #1 requiring approximately 30 samples and Task Order #2 requiring approximately 100 samples, for an overall estimated total of 75 irradiations throughout the contract period. The facility must be located at the contractor's nuclear reactor site, where acceptance will occur upon receipt and verification of returned samples and irradiation documentation. All costs for handling, processing, documentation, and return shipment must be included in the firm-fixed unit pricing.