Lab analysis of ear bones of native CA fish

Solicitation 140G0318Q0039, issued by the Department of the Interior's Office of Acquisition and Grants for the USGS OAG Sacramento Acquisition Branch, seeks laboratory services for the molecular day equivalent analysis of ear bones, known as otoliths, from native California fish. The project involves non-personal services focused on the extraction, preparation, analysis, and synthesis of these otoliths to determine habitat use and age. Technical requirements include microstructural analysis for ageing and micro-chemical analyses utilizing LA-ICP-MS lab access and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence imaging at the CHESS Laboratory. This combined acquisition followed a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable selection process with a performance period running from March 12, 2018, to October 31, 2018. Under the terms of the agreement, the government provides the whole fish or fish heads, while the contractor is responsible for delivering the resulting raw data files and syntheses in Excel or Word format. The procurement is categorized under NAICS code 541380.