43 -- NU PLASMA HR MC - ICP - MS PUMP UPGRADE

2026-11-03

Brand Name or Equal to NU PLASMA HR MC - ICP - MS PUMP UPGRADETHIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES . THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ( RFP ), REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS ( RFQ ) OR INVITATION FOR BID ( IFB ). NO FORMAL SOLICITATION IS BEING REQUESTED UNDER THIS NOTICE . This Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes to identify parties having an interest in and resources to support this requirement for a Plasma Vacuum Pump upgrade compatible to Nu Instruments Plasma High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer ( HR MC - ICP - MS ) for the United States Geological Survey ( USGS ), Geology , Geophysics , and Geochemistry Science Center ( GGGSC ) Denver , CO supporting the Mineral Resource Mission Area . The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement . The Government will review the information requested in this announcement based on the responses to sources sought notice / market research , this requirement may be set - aside for small businesses or procured through full and open competition . The North American Industry Classification System ( NAICS ) code is 334516 ( Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing ) and the size standard is 1 , 000 employees . NOTE 1 : The Buy American Act ( 41 U . S . C . 8301 - 05 ) is the primary federal procurement law providing a preference for domestic goods and manufactured products . As such , the USGS is seeking information on sources that can supply the described instrument either mined , produced or manufactured in the U . S . in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of satisfactory quality . A . Introduction : The United States Geological Survey ( USGS ), Geology , Geophysics , and Geochemistry Science Center ( GGGSC ) Denver , CO supporting the Mineral Resource Mission Area has a requirement to purchase a new Plasma Vacuum Pump upgrade compatible to Nu Instruments Plasma High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer ( HR MC - ICP - MS ). The purpose of this upgrade is to replace the 22 year old ion pumps with new turbo pumps to improve instrument uptime and ensure accurate , precise isotope ratio measurements for critical mineral deposit research . B . Background : GGGSC ' s current state - of - the - art isotope ratio and trace element laboratory is equipped with two multi - collector inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry ( MC - ICP - MS ) and quadrupole ICP - MS instrument . The lab directly supports the Source , transport , and deposition of critical minerals using trace and isotope systematics project , as well as numerous MRP and USGS research endeavors . Research and collaboration endeavors have demonstrated the need to keep both instruments not only up and running , but compatible with stability and sensitivity of modern MC - ICP - MS instruments . This is achieved by periodically upgrading the instruments . The HR MC - ICP - MS isotope ratio instrument has a vacuum system of both turbo pumps in the source region and ion pumps in the mass spectrometer region to achieve detector region vacuum ~ 5x10 - 9 mbars . Currently the vacuum in the detector region is at 2 . 5x10 - 8 mbars as result of aging of the ion pumps . High vacuum is critical in measuring precise and accurate isotope ratios . The current Nu MC - ICP - MS instruments consist entirely of turbo pumps to achieve the vacuum necessary to measure isotope ratios . The HR MC - ICP - MS is equipped with turbo pumps and the original ion pumps ( 2004 ). Over the past year or so , the HR MC - ICP - MS has had low vacuum errors which required restarting the entire instrument as well as shutting down the ion pumps and controller , and at time tapping the ion pumps with a wrench to remove whisker buildup . A vacuum upgrade is now available for HR MC - ICP - MS instrument which consists of replacing the aging ion pumps with turbo pumps , controllers , vacuum gauges , and scroll dry backing pump to ensure seamless instrument operability . This upgrade provides the USGS sustaining state - of - the - art analytical capability for measuring isotope systems and keeping up with the newest instrument technology and capabilities . C . Brand Name or Equal Minimum Salient Characteristics for Nu Instrument Plasma Vacuum Pump Upgrade : 1 . Vacuum System Upgrade for NP1 ( HR MC ICP MS ) Provide a complete vacuum system upgrade compatible with the Nu Instruments Plasma HR MC ICP MS ( NP1 ) and communications control with its operating software program , including : a . Two ( 2 ) 85 L / s turbomolecular pumps with :- ISO flange ( 85L ) compatibility - Integrated water cooling manifold - Required mounting hardware for mechanical integrationb . One ( 1 ) 6 L / min scroll dry pump with :- All required vacuum connection hardware - Solenoid controlled backing valves - Oil free operation suitable for clean vacuum MS environmentsc . One ( 1 ) vacuum control unit capable of fully replacing or superseding the existing ion pump controller with full compatibility with NP1 vacuum architectured . Vacuum monitoring package , including :- Pirani gauge ( s ) for rough vacuum monitoring - Active Ion Gauge ( AIG ) for high vacuum measurement ( End of Minimum Salient Characteristics ) Businesses with the capability to meet these requirements must submit the following information : 1 . Brand Name or Equal Product Information : Identify the proposed product / manufacturer meeting the salient characteristics above . Include specification sheets and brochures . 2 . Place of Manufacturing / Country of Origin : Specify whether the product is manufactured within the United States in accordance with NOTE 1 . 3 . Business Size and Socioeconomic Status applicable to the NAICS code listed above : Must indicate whether your business is :- Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise ( ISBEE )- Small Business - 8 ( a )- HUBZone - Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business ( SDVOSB )- Other than Small Business4 . Company Information : Provide a point of contact ( name and email ), System for Award ( SAM ) Unique Entity ID ( UEI ), and confirmation of active SAM . gov registration . 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 Proposal ( RFP ), Request for Quotations ( RFQ ) or Invitation for Bid ( IFB ). The Government does not intend to award a contract based on responses received under this announcement . The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated . To be considered responsive to this Notice , businesses must submit all required documentation by April 10 , 2026 , at 2 : 30 p . m . Mountain Daylight Time ( MDT ). Any response that does not follow these instructions will not be considered . Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged , and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions . Inquiries will only be accepted by e - mail to Lisa Williams at lisa_williams @ ios . doi . gov .

Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System

2026-05-06