Stable LI isotope analyses

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants is seeking qualified contractors to perform stable lithium isotope analyses on rock samples to support domestic lithium mineral resource assessment and critical minerals research. The procurement requires conducting laboratory analysis on 15 powdered rock samples using dissolution, wet column chemistry, and mass spectrometer measurements to determine d7Li values, which will help identify potential undiscovered lithium deposits. Contractors must demonstrate capability to perform complex geochemical testing and deliver accurate analytical results in a spreadsheet format containing numerical data and d7Li values for all samples. The evaluation will assess the contractor's technical capability, experience with stable isotope analysis, and ability to meet the 180-day performance timeline. Capability statements must be submitted electronically to aberry@usgs.gov by January 23, 2026, at 0500 PM Pacific Daylight Time, which is the deadline for this sources sought market research phase.

This pre-solicitation notice includes no set-aside designations and identifies no incumbent contractors. The procurement is unrestricted and open to qualified businesses classified under NAICS Code 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) with a size standard of $19.0 million. The contract will be awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis for completion within 180 days of award, though the specific contract value is not disclosed in this sources sought announcement. No government-furnished property will be provided to the contractor, and there are no special personnel security clearances or data rights considerations required for this research project. This market research opportunity represents the agency's effort to identify capable laboratories before issuing a formal solicitation for this critical minerals analysis work.