B -- Radiogenic Isotope & Platinum Group Element Analyses

2026-11-03

Request for InformationRadiogenic Isotope and Platinum Group Element AnalysesThe U . S . Geological Survey ( USGS ) is conducting market research to determine the availability of a qualified business that can provide radiogenic and platinum group element analyses as described below . This sources sought announcement is not a request for quote or proposal and the Government is not committed to award a purchase order or contract pursuant to this announcement . The information resulting from this market research is simply for planning purposes to assist the Government in determining its acquisition strategy . The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this notice . The North American Industry Classification System ( NAICS ) code NAICS 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services , associated size standard of $ 19 million applies to this announcement . All responsible sources may submit a capability statement and relevant literature detailing the ability of fully meeting the requirement as described below . All responses shall be limited to 10 pages . Description : The USGS conducts research on regional geology and mineral resources . This work involves analyzing the genetic origins of magmas and partially melted residuum in the region being investigated and reconstructing the tectonic and metallogenic history . The isotopic ratios of radiogenic elements ( i . e ., Sr , Nd , Hf , Os ) are extremely useful in characterizing the sources of mafic and ultramafic rocks in this line of research towards elucidating the geologic context of mineral resources in Alaska . Samples will be digested using either tradition open - beaker , or high - pressure bomb methods , depending on the presence of modal zircon or comparatively high sample HFSE concentrations ( e . g ., Zr > 80ppm ). Digested samples will then be chromatographically purified for Sr , Nd and Hf , and isotopes for each will be analyzed using techniques in Mallick et al . ( 2015 ) and Frisby et al . ( 2016a ). As needed , analytical optimization may require determination of parent / daughter trace element concentrations analyzed by ICPMS ( Frisby et al ., 2016b ) to determine amounts of material required to digest for isotope analysis . For a subset of these samples , the contractor may analyze high - precision Lu / Hf and Sm / Nd parent daughter isotope ratios by isotope dilution methods to constrain melt extraction ages . Analyses at the contractor laboratory will use bulk rock samples and / or powders supplied to the lab . A subset of ultramafic samples will be analyzed for Re - Os isotopes and super - trace concentrations of platinum group elements ( PGE ) ( Zuo et al ., 2022 , Todd et al ., 2026 ). The contractor laboratory will provide results of isotope ( Sr , Hf , Nd , Os ) and PGE concentration analyses , in addition to matrix - matched standards and replicate results , with all analytical results to be furnished in an Excel spreadsheet . References Cited : Frisby , C ., M . Bizimis , and S . Mallick ( 2016a ), Hf - Nd isotope decoupling in bulk abyssal peridotites due to serpentinization , ChemGeo , 440 ( C ), 60 ¿ 72 , doi : 10 . 1016 / j . chemgeo . 2016 . 07 . 006 . Frisby , C ., M . Bizimis , and S . Mallick ( 2016b ), Seawater - derived rare earth element addition to abyssal peridotites during serpentinization , Lithos , 248 - 251 ( C ), 432 ¿ 454 , doi : 10 . 1016 / j . lithos . 2016 . 01 . 025 . Hammond , R . R ., 2024 , Hf - Nd - Sr isotope systematics of Alaskan ophiolite complexes : Implications for the origin of marginal ocean basins in east - central Alaska [ Masters Thesis ]: University of South Carolina , 92 p . Hammond , R . R ., Todd , E ., Kylander - Clark , A . R . C ., and Bizimis , M ., 2023 , Hf - Nd - Sr isotope systematics of Alaskan ophiolite complexes : Implications for the origin of marginal ocean basins in East Central Alaska , in Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs : v . 55 , No . 6 , doi : 10 . 1130 / abs / 2023AM - 391972 . Mallick , S ., J . J . Standish , and M . Bizimis ( 2015 ), Constraints on the mantle mineralogy of an ultra - slow ridge : Hafnium isotopes in abyssal peridotites and basalts from the 9 ¿ 25 ° E Southwest Indian Ridge , EPSL , 410 ( C ), 42 ¿ 53 , doi : 10 . 1016 / j . epsl . 2014 . 10 . 048 . Todd , E ., Caine , J . S ., Bizimis , M ., Kylander - Clark , A . R . C ., Hammond , R . R ., and Wypych , A ., 2026 , Tectonic Implications of Transitional Melting Regimes from Petrological , Geochronological , and Compositional Characterization of the Ophiolitic Seventymile Terrane , Alaska : Geosphere , https :// doi . org / 10 . 1130 / GES02837 . 1 . Zuo , J . et al ., 2022 , Earth ¿ s Earliest Phaneritic Ultramafic Rocks : Mantle Slices or Crustal Cumulates ? Geochemistry , Geophysics , Geosystems , v . 23 , p . e2022GC010519 , doi : 10 . 1029 / 2022GC010519 . Responses to this announcement shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to Joahnne_Ongjoco @ ios . doi . gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than April 22 , 2026 at 1200 hours Eastern Time . Responses submitted by hardcopy , or the SAM web portal shall not be accepted or considered .

California

2026-05-10