Radiogenic Isotope & Platinum Group Element Analyses

Request for Information

Radiogenic Isotope and Platinum Group Element Analyses

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to determine the availability of a qualified business that can provide radiogenic and platinum group element analyses as described below.

This sources sought announcement is not a request for quote or proposal and the Government is not committed to award a purchase order or contract pursuant to this announcement. The information resulting from this market research is simply for planning purposes to assist the Government in determining its acquisition strategy. The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this notice.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code NAICS 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services, associated size standard of $19 million applies to this announcement.

All responsible sources may submit a capability statement and relevant literature detailing the ability of fully meeting the requirement as described below. All responses shall be limited to 10 pages.

Description: The USGS conducts research on regional geology and mineral resources. This work involves analyzing the genetic origins of magmas and partially melted residuum in the region being investigated and reconstructing the tectonic and metallogenic history. The isotopic ratios of radiogenic elements (i.e., Sr, Nd, Hf, Os) are extremely useful in characterizing the sources of mafic and ultramafic rocks in this line of research towards elucidating the geologic context of mineral resources in Alaska. Samples will be digested using either tradition open-beaker, or high-pressure bomb methods, depending on the presence of modal zircon or comparatively high sample HFSE concentrations (e.g., Zr > 80ppm). Digested samples will then be chromatographically purified for Sr, Nd and Hf, and isotopes for each will be analyzed using techniques in Mallick et al. (2015) and Frisby et al. (2016a). As needed, analytical optimization may require determination of parent/daughter trace element concentrations analyzed by ICPMS (Frisby et al., 2016b) to determine amounts of material required to digest for isotope analysis. For a subset of these samples, the contractor may analyze high-precision Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd parent daughter isotope ratios by isotope dilution methods to constrain melt extraction ages. Analyses at the contractor laboratory will use bulk rock samples and/or powders supplied to the lab. A subset of ultramafic samples will be analyzed for Re-Os isotopes and super-trace concentrations of platinum group elements (PGE) (Zuo et al., 2022, Todd et al., 2026). The contractor laboratory will provide results of isotope (Sr, Hf, Nd, Os) and PGE concentration analyses, in addition to matrix-matched standards and replicate results, with all analytical results to be furnished in an Excel spreadsheet.

References Cited:
Frisby, C., M. Bizimis, and S. Mallick (2016a), Hf-Nd isotope decoupling in bulk abyssal peridotites due to serpentinization, ChemGeo, 440(C), 60¿72, doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.07.006.

Frisby, C., M. Bizimis, and S. Mallick (2016b), Seawater-derived rare earth element addition to abyssal peridotites during serpentinization, Lithos, 248-251(C), 432¿454, doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2016.01.025.

Hammond, R.R., 2024, Hf-Nd-Sr isotope systematics of Alaskan ophiolite complexes: Implications for the origin of marginal ocean basins in east-central Alaska [Masters Thesis]: University of South Carolina, 92 p.

Hammond, R.R., Todd, E., Kylander-Clark, A.R.C., and Bizimis, M., 2023, Hf-Nd-Sr isotope systematics of Alaskan ophiolite complexes: Implications for the origin of marginal ocean basins in East Central Alaska, in Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs: v. 55, No. 6, doi:10.1130/abs/2023AM-391972.

Mallick, S., J. J. Standish, and M. Bizimis (2015), Constraints on the mantle mineralogy of an ultra-slow ridge: Hafnium isotopes in abyssal peridotites and basalts from the 9¿25°E Southwest Indian Ridge, EPSL, 410(C), 42¿53, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2014.10.048.

Todd, E., Caine, J.S., Bizimis, M., Kylander-Clark, A.R.C., Hammond, R.R., and Wypych, A., 2026, Tectonic Implications of Transitional Melting Regimes from Petrological, Geochronological, and Compositional Characterization of the Ophiolitic Seventymile Terrane, Alaska: Geosphere, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02837.1.

Zuo, J. et al., 2022, Earth¿s Earliest Phaneritic Ultramafic Rocks: Mantle Slices or Crustal Cumulates? Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 23, p. e2022GC010519, doi:10.1029/2022GC010519.

Responses to this announcement shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to Joahnne_Ongjoco@ios.doi.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than April 22, 2026 at 1200 hours Eastern Time. Responses submitted by hardcopy, or the SAM web portal shall not be accepted or considered.