40Ar/39Ar analyses to determine the ages of volcan

The contract solicitation seeks a firm fixed-price quote for 40Ar/39Ar geochronological analyses of ten volcanic rock samples from Alaska’s Kuskokwim region, with additional mineral phases to be analyzed on a sample-by-sample basis as needed. Work entails sample evaluation, mineral separation including feldspar, biotite, hornblende, and groundmass, irradiation, mass spectrometry, and interpretation of data to produce geologically reasonable age determinations with well-justified uncertainties, adhering to established scientific standards from Faure (1986), Faure and Mensing (2005), and Schaen et al. (2021). Deliverables include a comprehensive electronic report with raw analytical data, publication-ready figures and tables, and written interpretation, alongside return of all remaining samples to the USGS Alaska Science Center in Anchorage, AK. Performance is scheduled to begin on August 10, 2026, and conclude by December 31, 2027, under FOB Destination terms, with title and risk of loss transferring upon arrival at the delivery address. The solicitation, assigned NAICS code 541380 and identified as a small business set-aside, requires offerors to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with an active Unique Entity ID and to certify small business status, including any applicable socioeconomic designations such as HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, EDWOSB, or 8(a). Evaluation is on a trade-off basis, prioritizing experience and past performance of both the company and key personnel over price, followed by technical capability and cost. Submission must comply with the Instructions to Offerors for Commercial Items and include all required representations and certifications, with mandatory disclosures required within 72 hours for violations involving covered telecommunications equipment, FASCSA orders, or Iran-related activities. Invoicing is exclusively through the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform, and no paper invoicing is accepted. The Contracting Officer for this solicitation is Tracy Huot of the USGS Office of Acquisition and Grants in Sacramento, CA, with no COR or COTR designated. The solicitation response deadline is August 1, 2026, and no contract value is published, though the NAICS size standard of $19 million applies for small business eligibility.