SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Major and Trace Elements Sample Analysis
- Notice Date
- 4/19/2017
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- USGS OAG SACRAMENTO ACQUISITION BR. MODOC HALL, CSUS 3020 STATE UNIVERSITY DRIVE EAST SACRAMENTO CA 95819-6027 US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- G17PS00391
- Response Due
- 5/12/2017
- Archive Date
- 5/27/2017
- Point of Contact
- Evans, Stewart
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This sources sought notice is for informational purposes only and shall not be considered a solicitation, obligation, or commitment by the Government. This notice is for market research to determine the availability of small businesses with capabilities to provide X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) sample analysis on up to 29 major and trace elements. GENERAL Description Furnish all facilities, labor, and materials to provide goods/services as follows. TASKS: 1. Provide chemical analyses of rock samples by the XRF method for USGS Volcano Science Center (VSC) scientists. Each sample analysis will determine and report the weight concentrations of at least 29 major and trace elements (Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Sc, V, Ni, Cr, Ba, Sr, Zr, Y, Rb, Nb, Ga, Cu, Zn, Pb, La, Ce, Th, Nd, U). Major element concentrations will be reported as oxides: SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, total Fe as either FeO or Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5. Concentrations of the remaining elements are to be reported as weight parts per million (ppm). 2. Provide ICP-MS chemical analyses of the weight concentrations of 27 elements for selected rock samples, as requested by VSC scientists. Elements to be measured and reported include the 14 rare earth elements (REE: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) and Ba, Th, Nb, Y, Hf, Ta, U, Pb, Rb, Cs, Sr, Sc, Zr. 3. As requested, samples will be analyzed for loss on ignition (LOI: percent weight change upon heating above about 950 ° C for sufficient time for sample weight to stabilize), with LOI results included along with major element concentrations. 4.Samples can be submitted as hand samples, picked chips, or ground powders for no difference in price and will be ground by lab personnel (if necessary) in either agate, tungsten carbide, hardened steel, or alumina (99.5 wt%) as specified by requestor. Processing must not fractionate the samples, and equipment and environment must be cleaned thoroughly between samples to ensure no cross-contamination. Excess sample will be returned for no extra charge. 5. Results will be reported to individual USGS requestors upon completion of each batch of submitted samples, with a turnaround time not to exceed 55 days for 50 samples. Results may be submitted either as an Excel spreadsheet or in correspondence format. 6. Rush analyses will be available upon request with short turnaround time, i.e. 22 days or less. A. Technical Requirements 1. Samples received as rock or powder are prepared for analysis by chipping, grinding to a very fine powder, weighing with dilithium tetraborate flux, fusing at 1000 ° C in a muffle oven, and cooling to glass; the glass bead is then reground, refused, and polished to provide a non-contaminated, smooth flat analysis surface. Samples can be sent to vendor by any delivery service (US mail, UPS, FedEx, etc.). 2. Samples are analyzed for major and trace element concentrations by an XRF spectrometer yielding consistent research-grade precision and accuracy (precision of ca. 1% relative for major oxides, ca. 5-10% relative for trace elements), and/or by an ICP-MS quadrupole mass spectrometer that provides data precision from ppm (parts-per-million) to ppb (parts-per-billion). 3. Analytical results must be of high accuracy and precision and be similar to decades of internally scrutinized analyses of USGS standards. See Govindaraju, K., 1994, Geostandards Newsletter, Vol. 18, Special Issue, Pages 1-158. The purpose of this notice is to determine interest and capability of potential sources. The NAICS is 541380, Testing Laboratories, $15M. Interested parties will submit an email detailing their capabilities and experience with these services. Sufficient information must be provided to demonstrate the ability to complete the services. This is not a request for quotation or an announcement of a solicitation. Responses will be used for market research only. Responses are due no later than 05/12/2017 1300 EDT. Response must be submitted to Stewart Evans by email at sevans@usgs.gov. Responses shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to sevans@usgs.gov. All response documents required by this sources sought must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than 05/05/2017. Responses submitted by hardcopy or the FedConnect web portal or Fed Connect Message Center shall not be accepted or considered. Place of performance is the Contractor's Facility
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