Radiogenic Isotope Analyses

The US Geological Survey (USGS) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center is seeking qualified laboratories to perform radiogenic isotope analyses on rock samples collected from southeast Alaska. Specifically, the procurement requires whole-rock strontium-hafnium-lead-neodymium isotope analyses to support critical mineral studies of Ural-Alaskan-type ultramafic complexes, including the Duke Island Complex and Port Snettisham intrusion. The selected contractor must be an internationally recognized laboratory with demonstrated expertise in radiogenic isotope geochemistry, and the lead isotope geochemistry expert must hold a Ph.D. and possess at least five years of additional experience with peer-reviewed publications in this specialized analytical field. The contractor's laboratory must meet industry-standard precision requirements for isotopic analysis, specifically maintaining 143Nd/144Nd precision of 2s less than approximately 0.00001. Capability statements must be submitted electronically to aberry@usgs.gov no later than March 20, 2026, at 1800 PDT, with responses accepted only through email submission. This is a market research and sources sought announcement only; the government has made no commitment to award a contract and will not reimburse response costs.

This procurement is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, limiting competition to firms meeting the applicable small business size standard of $19.0 million for the Testing Laboratories and Services NAICS category (541380). The contractor must analyze 30 samples collected from igneous rocks and deliver comprehensive strontium-hafnium-lead-neodymium elemental and isotopic compositions, along with a detailed report documenting analytical methods, data reduction techniques, isotopic data tables with uncertainties, and elemental concentration data within 12 months of contract award. Government-furnished rock samples will be provided to the contractor's independent laboratory for analysis. No incumbent contractor is identified in this sources sought notice, and no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in this market research phase. The analytical work focuses on determining melt sources, contamination extent, and petrogenetic models for the studied ultramafic complexes to advance understanding of critical mineral potential in the region.