Platinum Geochemical Analytical Services

Notice of Intent


This is a notice of intent to solicit from a single source.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), intends to negotiate a purchase order with Intertek Minerals, Maddington Western Australia, 6109 for a professional geochemistry analytical laboratory for geochemical analytical services for full platinum group element and gold characterization of 300 deep-ocean ferromanganese crust, manganese nodule, sulfide, phosphorite and sediment samples as described in the attached Statement of Work.

Award will be made in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) and the procedures at FAR Part 12 entitled, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 entitled, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Intertek is, to the USGS' knowledge, the only source who can provided this service for the determination of platinum group elements and gold concentrations which ensure comprehensive deep-ocean mineral geochemical characterization. Intertek can also work with smaller amounts of sample material than many of the commercial geochemistry laboratories that focus on ore analyses.

The purpose of this notice is to satisfy the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.2. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible parties may submit a quotation by the closing date of this announcement which shall be considered by the agency. No solicitation will be issued. A determination not to compete this action based upon responses received is in the sole discretion of the Government.


The NAICS code for this action is 541380 Testing Laboratories and associated size standard $16.5 million annually apply to this announcement.

Responses or inquiries shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to nlushenko@usgs.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than April 18, 2023.


Statemen of Work is attached