B--FOLLOW-ON ANALYSIS OF RADIOACTIVITY

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY for market research purposes to identify interested vendors for the potential requirement detailed below. A formal solicitation and performance work statement are not available. Additionally, in accordance with FAR 19.5, Set-Asides for Small Business, the Government will review the information requested in this announcement to determine the type of set-aside (if any) for this requirement, should it come to fruition. This requirement is for analysis of radioactivity and/or uranium and thorium isotopic composition in animal tissue, plant tissue and soil samples. Samples must be comparable to previous sample data from 2013-2014 to ensure continuity. 1. Animal tissues, vegetation, dust, and/or soil samples will be submitted by the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) in one or more batches. Animal tissues and vegetation will be lyophilized and homogenized at CERC prior to submission. Soil and dust samples will be dried and homogenized prior to submission to GEL. 2. Submitted sample weights will range from 1 to 2 grams total dry weight of tissue samples (vegetation and animal tissues). Additional weight may be available for soil or dust samples, but cannot be guaranteed. 3. In carrying out this agreement, the Contractor shall be able to analyze samples measuring less than 1 pico-Curie per gram of sample for gross alpha/beta activity and/or for uranium and thorium isotopic composition or other requested analyses in tissue, vegetation, dust, or soil samples. 4. Analyses of all sample matrices (vegetation, animal tissue, dust, and soil) will use a multi-tiered contingent approach: a) All samples will be screened for gross alpha/beta activities, and the results will be reported to CERC for review. Results should be reported regardless of exceedance of post-collection sample holding times. b) After CERC review, samples having positive gross alpha/beta detections may be down-selected by CERC for isotopic uranium analyses. Results should be reported regardless of exceedance of post-collection sample holding times. The CERC project manager or designee will provide, by e-mail, a list of the down-selected samples for isotopic uranium analysis to company within 30 business days of receipt of the gross alpha/beta report. c) Additional sample subsets may be further down-selected by CERC for analysis of (1) Isotopic Thorium, (2) Isotopic Radium, and/or (3) other analytes. Results should be reported regardless of exceedance of post-collection sample holding times. As before, the CERC project manager or designee will provide a list, via e-mail, of the down-selected samples for each additional study within 30 business days of receipt of the isotopic uranium analyses or of each additional analysis. Gamma Scan for Uranium daughters and Contingent Isotopic Uranium (U-233/234, 235/236, 238) and analysis method must be DOE HASL. Each analyte will be computed and reported for each sample in an EXCEL file using the sample identification information supplied by CERC. Laboratory shall provide a summary of results from internal quality assurance measures associated with the samples and discuss any unusual results. Laboratory will provide details of specific methods and any necessary deviations. Results for each sample batch submitted will report to the CERC within 120 days following receipt of samples. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380 and the size standard is $15.0 M. There is no incumbent contractor. All business concerns who believe they can responsibly perform this requirement should submit the following information to the contracting officer no later than 4PM CST Thursday May 05, 2016: 1. Capability statement describing corporate expertise and technical qualifications in the work described above. 2. Past performance information describing other contracts for similar services your company has been awarded. Past performance information should be submitted for projects conducted within the last three years and include: project title, location, whether the work was as a prime or subcontractor, contract/subcontract dollar value, type of contract, percentage of self-performed work, and overall performance rating received. 3. Small business status of vendor (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, etc.) 4. Point of contact information for vendor, Cage Code, and D&B Number. 5. Any other information that will prove the vendor is capable of performing the required effort. Submissions should be emailed Beth Wilson, Contracting Specialist at contact@example.gov. Responses should be limited to 10 pages (single-sided). NOTE: All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary - the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Materials submitted to the Government for review will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. This is not a request for proposals. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on responses received under this announcement. All questions and concerns may be submitted to the contracting officer via email only at contact@example.gov.