SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Radiocarbon and Stable Carbon Analyses of Micro-Samples Extracted from Hard Parts or Skeletal Structures of Marine Organisms using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry
- Notice Date
- 6/14/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC 3, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20910
- Solicitation Number
- NFFR7400-16-02839
- Archive Date
- 6/27/2016
- Point of Contact
- STEPHANIE M. GARNETT, Phone: (808) 725-5356
- E-Mail Address
-
STEPHANIE.M.GARNETT@NOAA.GOV
(STEPHANIE.M.GARNETT@NOAA.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT. IT IS NOT A SOLICITATION, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE A SOLICITATION WILL BE ISSUED. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. Any information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Announcement is strictly voluntary. The Government will neither award a contract solely based on this notice, nor pay for any information submitted by respondents. This notice is a request by the Government to collect information from interested vendors for the purpose of market research. Failing to provide a response to this announcement will not prohibit/exclude an interested vendor from participating in a future solicitation. The Government is looking for vendors who can perform the following requirements: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) requires a contactor to perform radiocarbon (14C) and stable carbon (13C) analyses of micro-samples extracted from hard parts or skeletal structures of marine organisms using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Micro-samples will be provided to the Contractor for analysis of 14C using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Analyses will be extended to include an analysis of 13C for each sample to allow for fractionation corrections, unless online corrections are made with the specified instrument. However, each sample will require a robust 13C measurement for other purposes. The contractor should report radiocarbon measurements as: 1) fraction modern (Fm) corrected for fractionation (assumed or measured); 2) age-corrected relative to the appropriate radiocarbon standard (∆14C) and collection/formation date; and 3) conventional radiocarbon age where applicable. Background levels due to sample preparation should be subtracted based on 14C-free standards and final values should include measures of uncertainty or error. All reported values must be unambiguous and properly annotated relative to Stuiver and Polach (1977). Experience and background requirements Contractor personnel must be well versed in the application of AMS to the determination of ∆14C and 13C in samples from marine organisms (both organic and inorganic). AMS instrumentation must be capable of handling sample masses in the range of approximately 3-5 mg for nearly the entire sample set. AMS precision for this sample mass range should typically be less than 5‰, and closer to 3‰ on average (∆14C). Contractor must also properly handle 25 micro-samples that are near 1 mg (within the 200 samples) with reasonable precision. The AMS Facility utilized by the Contractor for the analysis of the micro-samples specified must be a 14C-tracer-level-free facility. Contractor facility should be dedicated to radiocarbon dating with demonstrated experience measuring post-bomb ∆14C levels in carbonates. Contractor should also be willing and capable of providing advice on sample design when there are concerns about whether an application is feasible. In the event that additional expertise is required for the interpretation of data, the contractor should be flexible in terms of participation in the analysis and would be rewarded appropriately in terms of an acknowledgement or coauthorship, depending on the level of contribution to final works. Deliverables Contractor will provide the ∆14C and δ13C analyses stated above on 75 samples within calendar year 2016 and 75 samples within calendar year 2017. Samples provided to the contractor must be logged in and tracked through the process of analysis to final values using both in-house sample Quality Control and the labeling provided by our sample numbering system. Contractor must provide federal rates for sample processing to maximize the utility of federal funding sources. Final AMS determined values must be provided in a timely manner as to prevent the delay of important timelines associated with radiocarbon applications at PIFSC. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 541990 with a size standard of $15.0 million. Interested Contractors are requested to provide the following information in response to this Sources Sought Announcement: 1) A statement that you believe your firm has the capability to meet all these requirements and perform these services. 2) Your firm's DUNS number & CAGE code; 3) Your firm's SBA certified small business concern status. Specifically identify if your firm is HUBZone-certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or in the SBA's 8(a) program. If your firm is not small, please state that it is a large business. 4) A brief description of your firm's recent past experience (within past 3 years) performing similar services. The information provided in response to this announcement is limited to five pages or less. All information shall be provided free of charge to the Government. The Government will not return any data provided in response to this announcement. This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. Responses shall be provided to Contract Specialist, Stephanie Garnett via email at Stephanie.M.Garnett@noaa.gov no later than 2:00 PM (Hawaii Time) on June 24, 2016.
- Web Link
-
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- Record
- SN04148302-W 20160616/160614234221-a03ac5fe4222519ab414122b3b773cd1 (fbodaily.com)
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