X-RAY diffraction mineralogy of clay

The U.S. Geological Survey's Office of Acquisitions and Grants is soliciting services for X-ray diffraction mineralogical analysis of shale samples to support the Alaska Basins and Petroleum Systems Project. The contractor must provide all necessary equipment, instrumentation, and materials to perform whole rock XRD mineralogical analysis on 84 samples using Rietveld or whole pattern fitting techniques, along with detailed clay speciation. Key requirements include utilizing a Panalytical X'pert Pro diffractometer with copper radiation source, delivering results in Excel spreadsheet format with unique sample IDs, and maintaining confidentiality of all results. The evaluation will focus on two non-price factors: past performance requiring at least three references for similar XRD work within the past three years, and technical performance demonstrated through a three-page narrative describing capabilities and technical approach. Request for Quote 140G0125Q0196 was issued on August 26, 2025, with quotes due September 2, 2025, and an anticipated contract award date of September 5, 2025.

This opportunity is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541990 with a size standard of $19.5 million. The contract establishes a firm-fixed price structure with a one-year period of performance running from September 2025 through September 2026. The contractor must process the 84 shale samples with a maximum turnaround time of six weeks per sample batch, delivering results via email with raw data files subject to USGS expert review. All vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to be eligible for award consideration. The solicitation does not identify any incumbent contractors, and quotes must be submitted electronically to the designated contracting officer, with faxed submissions explicitly not accepted.