B--RADIOCARBON AGE ANALYSES

This is a notice of intent to solicit from a single source. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), intends to award a purchase order to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, MA for radiocarbon age analysis as described in the attached Statement of Work. Award will be made in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) and the procedures at FAR Part 12 entitled, Acquisition of Commercial Items. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is, to the USGS knowledge, the only source who can routinely process and analyze very small radiocarbon samples less than 1 mg, and maintain result integrity to previously analyzed samples. The purpose of this notice is to satisfy the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.2. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible parties may submit a quotation by the closing date of this announcement which shall be considered by the agency. No solicitation will be issued. A determination not to compete this action based upon responses received is in the sole discretion of the Government. The NAICS code for this action is 541380, Testing Laboratories. Responses or inquiries shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to contact@example.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than 24 June 2020. Responses submitted by hardcopy or the FedConnect web portal or the FedConnect Message Center shall not be accepted or considered. STATEMENT OF WORK I. GENERAL INFORMATION A. Introduction The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Science Center, Seattle Field Office (SFO), requests services for radiocarbon analyses of samples collected from paleoseismological and landslide studies. B. Background Paleoseismologists and geologists conduct studies of active fault zones and landslides throughout the Pacific Northwest. An integral part of these studies are Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) analyses of organic samples to determine the ages of layers in stratigraphic sections. The USGS does not have the capabilities to provide radiocarbon analyses. Many labs are available to do these types of analyses but require large samples for processing,and many of the samples we collect are smaller than what some labs can process. Usually labs require between 250 ug to 0.3 g of final carbon and many of the samples we have will fall below this required sample weight. C. Scope The purpose of the laboratory analyses are to provide accurate AMS analyses on carbon samples collected from field sites in Washington and Oregon. The lab must be able to perform standard AMS analyses and also provide services on small (<100 ug of pure carbon) samples. We anticipate needing analyses on 135 samples of subfossil trees from the Pacific Northwest, post-bomb samples of lake sediments (Searsville Lake), and late Holocene lake sediments (Upper Pond at Jasper Ridge). The criteria for acceptance of services shall be as follows: 1. The complete analysis of radiocarbon samples, including a report of results within the lab's standard turnaround time, or 2. The identification of specific samples that do not contain adequate amounts of sample, following processing, required to complete analysis; including a report of the insufficient samples within the lab's standard turnaround time. II. WORK REQUIREMENTS A. Technical Requirements Specific work requirements include: 1) Provide standard and small sample analyses of carbon samples collected from lake sediments and buried soil layers in paleoseismic excavations, and 2) Provide a written report of results. B. Deliverables We require the lab to provide a written report of the results, including descriptions of methodology, pretreatments, radiocarbon measurement and age calculation. Results shall be reported on spreadsheets and emailed to the Technical Liaison. Delivery dates will vary depending on when samples are submitted to the laboratory by USGS for analysis and how much treatment each sample requires. III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION A. Place of Performance Analyses will be performed at vendor's facility. B. Period of Performance Date of Award to July 2021 with additional option years through 2023. C. Government Furnished Property (GFP) There is no Government Furnished Property required for this work.