Iron Stable Isotope Analysis

This combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format at RFO 12.202, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number W913E526QA007 is being issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380 – Testing Laboratories & Services, which has a small business standard size of 19M.  This requirement is Full & Open Competition.

The Biogeochemical Sciences Branch (BSB) at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) Alaska Research Office (AKRO) has a requirement to analyze up to forty (40) water samples to generate a dataset on iron (Fe) stable isotopes.

Scope: The Contractor shall analyze up to forty (40) water samples from thawing permafrost areas to generate datasets on iron stable isotopes. CRREL will collect the water samples during a field campaign in summer (June-September) of 2026 and send to the contractor for analysis.

Performance Requirements: The following section specifies the Performance Objectives and Performance Elements for the contract. The Contractor shall conduct the following specified work:

Sample Reception and Quality Assessment:

• CRREL will ship up to forty (40) samples to the contractor via tracked shipment. The contractor shall acknowledge receipt via email to the COR and TPOC. The contractor shall place the samples in cold storage (>/= -4 degrees C) until preparation and analysis.
• The Contractor shall perform initial quality assessment of samples upon receipt and report any problems immediately via email or indicate no issues observed via email to the COR and TPOC.

Iron Stable Isotope Analysis:

• For these samples, perform iron stable isotope analysis (56Fe and 57Fe isotopic fractionation) via plasma sourced multi-collector mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), including necessary sample preparation.
• Nalgene bottles filled with 500 mLs of each of the water samples will be shipped to the contractor in a cool environment by CRREL using ice packs. Samples will be comprised of unfiltered natural stream waters. Fe concentrations will likely contain a minimum Fe of >10 micrograms/liter.  

Data Processing and Quality Control:

• Perform raw data processing for analysis platform.
• Implement rigorous quality control (QC) procedures to identify and remove low-quality data and re-analyze, if applicable.
• Normalize data to account for technical variations, if applicable.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Deliver raw and processed data and provide instrument parameters the analysis.
• Provide methods for sample preparation and analysis to be included in final reporting by CRREL.

Evaluation factors. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation tothe responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors will be used toevaluate offers:

(1) Technical

The Government will evaluate the Offeror's technical capability to perform the requirements of the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Technical evaluation will include:

• Demonstrated capability to provide required Iron Stable Isotope Analysis services in accordance with the PWS.
• The offeror may choose how to demonstrate technical capability. An example of adequate demonstration may contain a description of the following:
  • Testing equipment and methods
  • Capabilities and experience of testing staff
  • Prior experience/publications/outcomes of similar meltwater iron isotope analyses performed by the offeror
• Offeror shall demonstrate it can analyze water samples that contain colloidal organic matter for iron isotope ratios (56Fe, 57Fe) using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
• Offeror must indicate in its quote that, given timely samples submissions, it can perform all analyses by 1 March 2027.

(2) Price

• Total Quoted Price: The Government will evaluate the total quoted price for completeness and reasonableness.

Please reference the attached RFQ W913E526A007 for instructions and applicable provisions and clauses. 

Award will be made to the offeror whose quote represents the Lowest Price TechnicallyAcceptable (LPTA) offer.

FOB Destination: CRREL, 4070 9th St., Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

NOTE: Accomplishment of the work contained in this PWS requires the work to be performed at the contractor’s facility. No travel is required.

Payment Terms: Net 30

Please provide responses to this notice, no later than Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 12:00 PM, Central Daylight Time (CDT) to:

Latosha.N.Rodgers@usace.army.mil

Telephone responses will not be accepted.

*Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete representations and certifications. For more information, review the SAM website at https://www.sam.gov.