microbe polished sock samples

This contract, solicitation number 140G0326Q0174, issued by the U.S. Geological Survey under the Department of the Interior, is a total small business set-aside for the preparation of microbe polished thin sections from approximately 440 rock samples to support geological research in Alaska. All work is to be performed at the vendor’s facility under a firm fixed price structure, with a period of performance spanning from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2028. The solicitation requires the production of 30µm-thick rock thin sections adhered to glass slides, with sample numbers engraved directly on the slides, embedded in clear or blue resin, and polished to a 0.5 µm diamond finish, following specified technical requirements such as orientation marks and staining as directed by the technical liaison. Quality control is performed upon receipt at the USGS facility, where defective sections must be replaced at no additional cost to the government. Offerors must be certified small businesses under NAICS code 541380 with a size standard of $19 million in average annual receipts, and must be registered in the System for Award Management with a valid Unique Entity Identifier and CAGE code. Proposals are evaluated on a trade-off basis, with Experience and Past Performance collectively deemed more important than price; vendors must submit three references from academic or government clients within the past 18 months and provide resumes of key personnel, relevant certifications, and proof of corporate resources. The solicitation includes mandatory FAR clauses related to security prohibitions against covered telecommunications equipment, prohibitions on internal confidentiality agreements that restrict communication with the government, accelerated payments to small business subcontractors, and compliance with scientific integrity and whistleblower protections. All invoices must be submitted electronically via the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform, and no other invoicing systems are accepted. The contract prohibits subcontracting outside the United States and mandates adherence to federal financial regulations, despite the absence of specified appropriation codes or FOB terms. No pricing data is provided in the solicitation, leaving unit and extended prices to be determined by offerors.