Trace Metal Sample Analysis

The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity seeks qualified sources to perform trace metals sample analysis for the Defense Centers for Public Health - Aberdeen, with quotes due July 31, 2026 and technical questions due June 26, 2026. This is a full and open competition commercial items procurement under FAR 12.6 with no set-asides; all capable vendors are encouraged to submit quotes.

Place of performance is Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The contractor must maintain ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and DoD Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program certification, demonstrate compliance to the 2016 TNI Environmental Testing Laboratory Standard, and operate a minimum 5,000 square-foot laboratory facility equipped with Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Mercury Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence systems. All analysis must be performed at the bidding facility; no subcontracting or joint ventures are permitted.

The contractor shall perform low-concentration analysis of non-potable waters (including high salinity waters), soil and sediment samples, and biological tissue samples using EPA-approved methodologies including ICP-MS, Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence for mercury per EPA 1631/1631E, Hydride Generation-Continuous Thermospray Gas Chromatography-Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy for arsenic speciation per EPA 1632, and Ion Chromatography with post-column reaction for hexavalent chromium per EPA 1636. Standard turnaround time is 25 days from sample receipt; high-priority samples require 10-day delivery, comprising approximately 10 percent of annual samples. The contractor must achieve specified Limits of Quantitation for 24 metals and two arsenic species across water, soil/sediment, and tissue matrices.

The firm-fixed-price contract runs from September 26, 2026 through September 25, 2027, with four one-year option periods extending through September 25, 2031. NAICS code is 541380 (Testing Laboratories) with a $19 million size standard; PSC code is Q301 (Reference Laboratory Testing). The contractor must submit a Quality Control Plan within 30 days of award, weekly status reports, monthly financial tracking reports, and complete analytical data packages with Level IV formatting and electronic data deliverable transmission. Liquidated damages apply at 5 percent per day for late or technically deficient deliverables, up to a maximum of 50 percent.