66--CLUMPED ISOTOPE GEOCHEMICAL SAMPLES BPA

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the required analyses for the opportunity.

• Required Analyses: The primary analysis needed is carbonate clumped isotope analysis (Cap47 and ideally Cap48).
• Secondary Outputs: d13C and d18O are considered secondary outputs of the primary analysis.

This clarification confirms the specific analytical methods required, which bidders should incorporate into their technical proposals.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0002) to the solicitation serves the following purposes:

• Provides a Question and Answer document, referencing Attachment D, Question and Answer Amendment 2.

• Extends the closing date for offers from 02/27/2026 at 10:00 am Pacific Time to 03/18/2026 at 10:00 am Pacific Time.

• Clarifies the Period of Performance as 03/27/2026 to 03/26/2031.

• Modifies Item 00010 to reflect the following details for BPA clumped isotope geochemical samples:

  • Orders will be placed according to attached instructions and pricing.
  • The BPA effective period is five (5) years from the date of establishment.
  • There is a Not-To-Exceed (NTE) amount of $49,999.00.
  • The Product/Service Code is B517, described as SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS- GEOLOGICAL.

• The closing date for receipt of offers has been extended.

• Item 00010 (BPA Clumped isotope geochemical samples) has been modified.

• A Question and Answer document has been provided.

• The deadline for submitting offers has been extended to 03/18/2026 at 10:00 am Pacific Time.

• Bidders should review the provided Question and Answer document and the updated details for Item 00010.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation 140G0126Q0017 makes the following changes:

• Removes the "small business set aside" designation from the solicitation.

• Updates SF 1449 Block 10 to unselect "Set Aside" and "Small Business", and selects "Unrestricted".

• Modifies FAR 52.212-5 by unselecting FAR 52.219-6 (Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside) and selecting FAR 52.219-4 (Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns).

• Extends the due date for quotes from 02/04/2026 at 10:00 am pacific time to 02/27/2026 at 10:00 am pacific time.

• SF 1449, Block 10

• FAR clauses 52.219-6 and 52.219-4 within FAR 52.212-5

• Solicitation due date

• Item 00010 description and period of performance

• The deadline for submitting quotes has been extended to 02/27/2026.

• The solicitation is now unrestricted, meaning it is open to all businesses, not just small businesses.

• The period of performance for Item 00010 has been updated to 03/06/2026 to 03/06/2031 (5 years from establishment), with a Not-To-Exceed (NTE) amount of $49,999.00.

For questions regarding this amendment, contact Dayna Parkin at dparkin@usgs.gov.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To establish a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for clumped isotope geochemical analyses of carbonate mineral samples to support the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center (GEMSC) projects studying energy and minerals resources and geologic processes.

• Perform clumped isotopic compositions (D47 and D48) and/or stable carbon (d13C) and oxygen isotopic compositions (d18O) analyses on carbonate mineral samples (rocks, sediments, veins, fossil specimens).

• Analyze small samples (<500µg carbonate mineral powder replicates) on high-precision instruments (e.g., Nu Perspective, ThermoFisher MAT253 Plus, or equivalent).

• Capable of analyzing calcite, dolomite, and ideally magnesite samples. If magnesite analysis is not possible, instruments must be equipped to measure CO2 gas from USGS-prepared samples.

• Data calibration must use InterCarb ETH standards and "check standards" (in-house carbonate standards with established values).

• Data must be corrected for acid fractionation and reported according to accepted InterCarb research community standards (D47 standardized to I-CDES90).

• Temperature data reporting based on accepted D47-temperature calibrations (e.g., Anderson et al., 2021).

• Ensure consistent analytical procedures and data formatting for robust and statistically significant results.

• For each sample, measurements must be replicated on at least 3 separate analysis sessions.

• Report replicate-level and sample-summary level data, including standard measurement quality data.

• Report sample-level data uncertainty, preferably as the 95% confidence interval of the mean (internal and external error).

• If D47 internal standard error > 0.04‰ after 3 replicates, run additional replicates if sample material remains.

• Deliverables (data, summary reports, residual material) must be sent to USGS within 6 months (180 days) of sample shipment.

• Data found unacceptable must be re-analyzed at no cost to the government.

• Period of Performance: 02/13/2026 – 02/12/2031.

• Place of Performance: Specialized isotope geochemical laboratory within the United States, at the awardee's institution. No third-party vendors or subcontracting permitted.

• BPA contract not-to-exceed $49,000.00.

• Principal Investigator (PI) must hold a doctorate in geochemistry or have 5+ years of experience in clumped isotope analysis, with a history of high-precision publications.

• Primary operator/analyzer should have at least one year of experience with geologic samples, with preference for advanced degree holders (MS/MA or PhD) in geosciences, chemistry, or related fields.

• Laboratory must be capable of analyzing, standardizing, summarizing, and transmitting data to the USGS.

• USGS pays for sample shipment to the laboratory; laboratory pays for residual sample material shipment back to USGS.

• Measured data, supporting summary reports, and residual unconsumed sample material.

• Data tables in Excel or .csv format sent via email.

• Communication with USGS point of contact expected for any instrument complications.

• Return of excess sample materials if indicated on original submission.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for "Clumped isotope geochemical analyses of carbonate minerals samples" for the USGS Geology, Energy and Minerals Science Center. The laboratory must have proven experience in measuring these samples with high analytical precision and adhere to InterCarb standardization practices. The government is seeking a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with firm fixed-price calls/orders.

• Clumped isotope geochemical analyses of carbonate minerals samples (including rocks, sediments, veins, or fossil specimens).

• Samples are to be analyzed in a specialized isotope geochemical laboratory without reliance on third-party vendors.

• Adherence to state-of-the-art analytical precision and InterCarb standardization practices.

• Contract Type: Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with Firm Fixed-Price Calls/Orders.

• Period of Performance: Five (5) years from the date of establishment.

• Not-to-Exceed (NTE) Amount: $49,999.00 for the total 5-year period of the BPA. No funding is obligated for the BPA itself; funding will be obligated on individual BPA calls.

• BPA Calls: Issued as needed, not to exceed $49,999.00 over the five-year period.

• Proposal Submission: Offers must be submitted by the date specified in the solicitation.

• Evaluation Criteria: Offers will be evaluated based on Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price. Preference will be given to vendors performing all work in-house. Offerors must provide three references from academic or government institutions for similar sample preparation work completed within the past 36 months. Technical and past performance will be considered approximately equal in importance when compared to price.

• Key Deadlines: Offer Due Date is 02/04/2026 at 10:00 AM.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• NAICS Code: 541380 (Testing Laboratories), Size Standard: $19 Million.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR clauses incorporated by reference, covering various aspects of commercial item acquisitions, including but not limited to, System for Award Management (SAM) registration, contract terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and labor standards.

• Attachment A: Pricing Schedule

• Attachment B: Wage Determination Number 2015-42881 Rev 35

• Attachment C: Performance Work Statement

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Register of Wage Determinations under the Service Contract Act, specifically Wage Determination No. 2015-4281, Revision No. 35, dated December 3, 2025. It lists various occupations and their corresponding minimum hourly wage rates and fringe benefits required for federal contracts within the District of Columbia, Maryland (Charles and Prince George's Counties), and Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Loudoun, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Stafford). The document also includes notes regarding Executive Orders 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and 13658 (Establishing a Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors), as well as details on vacation, holidays, hazardous pay differentials, and uniform allowances.

This document is crucial for bidders as it establishes the minimum wage and fringe benefit rates that must be paid to service employees performing work under a federal contract in the specified geographic areas. Bidders must use these rates when calculating their labor costs for proposals to ensure compliance with the Service Contract Act and relevant Executive Orders. It also outlines the process for requesting additional classifications and wage rates if a required occupation is not listed.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing a pricing schedule for the opportunity. Bidders are expected to provide unit prices for the listed sample analysis services.

• Line Item 10: Covers "Sample Analysis - Carbonate clumped isotope analyses of sample".
• Line Item 10 (continued): Covers "Sample Analysis 2 - Traditional carbonate oxygen and carbon isotope analyses".
• Pricing: The schedule includes columns for Year 1 through Year 5, with placeholders for unit prices indicated by '$'.
• Instructions: Bidders are explicitly asked to "Please provide unit price per sample".

This pricing schedule is critical for bidders to understand the cost structure expected for the analytical services. It directly impacts proposal preparation and the overall cost evaluation of bids. Bidders must accurately complete this schedule with their unit prices for each specified sample analysis type for each contract year.

Request for Information (RFI)

This is a market research RFI, not a solicitation for proposals. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center (GEMSC) is seeking information on potential sources qualified to perform clumped isotope geochemical analyses of carbonate mineral samples. This research supports GEMSC projects studying energy and minerals resources and related geologic processes.

• Perform clumped isotope analyses (Δ47 and Δ48), stable carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C), and oxygen isotopic compositions (δ18O) on carbonate samples.

• Analyze small samples (<500µg carbonate mineral powder replicates).

• Utilize instruments capable of high precision clumped isotope analyses (e.g., Nu Perspective, ThermoFisher MAT253 Plus, or equivalent) with semi-automated digestion and analysis units.

• Analyze various carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite, ideally magnesite). If magnesite analysis is not possible, instruments must measure CO2 gas from USGS-prepared samples.

• Use InterCarb ETH standards for data calibration and analyze alongside "check standards".

• Correct data for acid fractionation and report in conformance with accepted InterCarb research community standards and practices.

• Ensure consistent analytical procedures and data formatting for robust and statistically significant results.

• Replicate measurements on at least 3 separate analysis sessions per sample.

• Report replicate-level and sample-summary level data, including standard measurement quality data and sample level data uncertainty (95% confidence interval).

• Deliverables include measured data, supporting summary reports, and residual unconsumed material in Excel or .csv formats.

• Analyses must be conducted at the awardee's institution; no third-party vendors or subcontracting are permitted.

• Anticipated award of a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

• Total BPA value not to exceed $49,999.00.

• This is for market research only; no notification of evaluation results will be provided.

• Interested firms must submit:

  1. Firm's Name, Address, and Phone Number (including UEI).
  2. Capability Statement including recent (within 3 fiscal years) relevant performance history (owner, points of contact, email, fax) and capacity (prime, subcontractor).
  3. Firm's Size Status.

• All responses must be submitted via email to dparkin@usgs.gov.

• No questions are being accepted for this RFI.

• Seeking information from industry, including Small Business, Section 8(a), HUB-Zone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and EDWOSB.

• Small businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

• NAICS Code: 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services

• NAICS Size Standard: $19.0 Million

• Respondents must have a UEI number and be registered in SAM.gov.

• Request for Information Closing Response Date: December 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time.

• Dayna Parkin, dparkin@usgs.gov

• Responses will inform future acquisition decisions. Future RFQ announcements will be posted on SAM.gov.

Request for Information (RFI)

This is a market research RFI, not a solicitation for proposals. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center (GEMSC) is seeking information on industry capabilities to perform clumped isotope geochemical analyses of carbonate mineral samples. The goal is to identify potential sources and assess market capacity for future procurement.

• Perform clumped isotope analyses (¿47 and ¿48), stable carbon isotopic compositions (¿13C), and oxygen isotopic compositions (¿18O) on carbonate samples (rocks, sediments, veins, fossils).

• Analyze small samples (<500µg carbonate mineral powder replicates) with high precision.

• Capability to analyze calcite, dolomite, and ideally magnesite samples.

• If magnesite analysis is not possible, instruments must measure CO2 gas from USGS-prepared samples.

• Data calibration using InterCarb ETH standards and "check standards".

• Data correction for acid fractionation and reporting in conformance with InterCarb standards.

• Measurements must be replicated at least 3 times per sample.

• Deliverables include replicate-level and sample-summary level data tables (Excel or .csv).

• Analyses must be performed at the awardee's institution; no subcontracting.

• Anticipated award of a five-year Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

• Total BPA value not to exceed $49,999.00.

• This is for market research only; no evaluation of responses will be conducted.

• Responses are due by December 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time.

• Submit responses via email to dparkin@usgs.gov.

• No questions will be accepted for this RFI.

• All interested sources are encouraged to respond.

• Special encouragement for Small Business, Section 8(a), HUB-Zone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and EDWOSB firms.

• Respondents must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov.

• NAICS Code: 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services (Size Standard: $19.0 Million).

• The Principal Investigator (PI) must have a doctorate in geochemistry or 5+ years of experience in clumped isotope analysis and a publication record.

• The primary operator must have at least one year of experience analyzing geologic samples.

• Future RFQ announcements will be posted on SAM.gov.