R--Intent to Award - USGS NJDOH Water Sample Analysis
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New Jersey Water Science Center (NJ WSC) intends to award a sole-source contract to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Laboratories for water sample analysis. This special notice invites other vendors to demonstrate their capability to provide similar services. Responses are due by April 3, 2026.
Scope of Work
The required services include the analysis of various water quality parameters:
- Suspended solids (with a reporting limit of 1 mg/l)
- Total and dissolved nitrogen as ammonia (maintaining historical detection/reporting limits)
- Gross alpha and beta radioactivity
- Hexavalent chromium (higher quality analysis than other labs)
- Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) due to a 6-hour hold-time requirement.
These analyses support the USGS NJ WSC's cooperative water-quality programs with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Intent to Award (Sole Source)
- Duration: 12-month base period + one 12-month option year
- Set-Aside: Not Applicable (Sole Source)
- Response Due: April 3, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
- Published: March 31, 2026
- Product Service Code: R499 - Other Professional Services
Sole Source Justification
The USGS NJ WSC justifies this sole-source award under FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1) because the NJDOH lab is considered the only reasonably available source. Key reasons include:
- Ability to meet specific reporting limits for suspended solids (1 mg/l).
- Capacity to maintain historical detection limits for ammonia.
- Certification and proximity for time-sensitive fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) samples (6-hour hold-time).
- Superior quality analysis for hexavalent chromium.
- Familiarity with USGS data handling and reporting procedures.
- Extensive market research found no other laboratories capable of meeting all minimum government needs.
Action for Industry
Vendors who believe they possess similar technical expertise and can provide these services are invited to contact Miranda Blankenship via email at mblankenship@usgs.gov by the response deadline.