B--Individual Foraminifer Analysis of Oxygen and Carb

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Contract Opportunity

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

NAICS Code: 541380, Testing Laboratories and Services
NAICS Size Standard: $19.0 Million

Subject: The purchase of a benchtop aluminum vacuum chamber with a PC based control system.

Sources Sought Closing Response Date: Three (3) Calendar days after posting.

Contact Point: Rafael Anderson, rlanderson@usgs.gov

Objective: To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed below. Note that the specific requirements are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation.
The USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center requires the analysis of oxygen and carbon stable isotope ratios of benthic foraminifers isolated from sediment samples collected from drill cores from the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (UT-GOM2-2 Site H003 in the Terrebonne Basin). We require both bulk analysis (multiple foraminifer specimens in a sample) and individual foraminiferal analysis (IFA) to accomplish our scientific goals. Our objectives are to 1) reconstruct glacial-interglacial changes in sedimentation rates over the past ~400,000 years using ¿^18O stratigraphy (benthic foraminifer species Uvigerina peregrina and Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi), and 2) identify episodes of high rates of anaerobic oxidation of methane and/or methane hydrate dissociation by negative excursions in δ13C of Miliolida order benthic foraminifers. These sets of measurements are central to our goal of understanding the evolution of gas hydrate systems in response to a changing depositional environment.
Responses: All interested parties should notify this office via e-mail within the posted date. Responses shall include:
(I) To what extent each of the specifications can be met.
(II) Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.].
Interested firms shall submit (1) NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NUMBER OF THE FIRM (including UEI (Unique Entity Identifier); (2) a CAPABILITY STATEMENT including (a) RECENT (within the last three fiscal years) RELEVANT (similar projects to this requirement) performance history (identify the name of the owner and their point(s) of contact with telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses; and (b) in what capacity (e.g., prime, subcontractor etc.) they performed the work; and (3) their SIZE STATUS.

Your company must have a UEI number and be registered on-line at the System for Award Management (SAM). You will also be required to provide your small business status information either via the On-line Representations and Certifications also located at the SAM.gov website before an award to your company can be made. Your on-line registration will cover any/all of your offers to the Federal Government, and only needs updated annually.

At this time, the Government is not accepting questions pertaining to the sources sought notice.

Responses to this source sought notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Any solicitation that may be issued will be posted on the SAM.Gov. It is the responsibility of potential responders to monitor the site for additional information pertaining to this announcement.

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