ACID VIALS
THIS 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 acid vials for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) for use in Water Resource Discipline (WRD) water sampling and testing programs.
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 325199 (All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing) and the size standard is 1,250 employees.
A. Introduction:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) has a requirement for acid vials Brand Name or for use in Water Resource Discipline (WRD) water sampling and testing programs.
B. Background:
The USGS, WRD, and NWQL strive to maintain national consistency in all of the environmental samples collected by their personnel. The scientific analytical data from these samples is available and presented for use by other agencies and the public. It is extremely important that the supplies acquired hereunder be of high quality and will continue to provide consistency with the data that has been obtained, in some cases, for over a decade. Consistency in data is critical for the NWQL and USGS programs across the country for which the Laboratory performs analysis, and only high-quality items will allow for this consistency. Unlike commercial labs, the NWQL, and the USGS programs they support, monitor trends in the data, further cementing the importance of consistency in sampling containers.
C. Salient Characteristics (Brand Name or Equal): The following salient characteristics define the minimum essential requirements.
1) 2.0 mL, 7.5-7.7N Ultrex grade nitric acid solution (JT Baker), in a 4.5 mL polypropylene (PP) copolymer screw cap vial (polyvials).
a. The screw cap vials shall be 4.5 mL capacity and made of polypropylene (PP) copolymer. Vials are to be filled with 2.0 mL of 7.5-7.7N Ultrex nitric acid solution and then capped. The measurement tolerance shall be 2.0 mL delivery +/- 0.2 mL. The vials shall be bottom filled to prevent defective seals.
b. Each polyvial shall be clearly labeled with the mixture contents, lot number and the appropriate volume. The label shall be placed on the union of the cap and vial. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) shall be provided with each shipment in accordance with OSHA standard 1910.1200.
c. The vials shall be packaged according to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations on shipping and packaging hazardous materials (see 40 CFR part 173), such that each package shall be designed and sealed to guard against breakage and leakage.
d. Contamination levels of the following metal constituents shall be less than the report levels described below when prepared to the equivalent of 1 vial volume added to 250 mL of deionized water.
Constituent Report Level Unit
Ag 1.0 µg/L
Al 2.0 µg/L
As 0.1 µg/L
B 2.0 µg/L
Ba 0.1 µg/L
Be 0.01 µg/L
Cd 0.03 µg/L
Co 0.03 µg/L
Cr 0.5 µg/L
Cu 0.4 µg/L
Fe 5.0 µg/L
Li 0.15 µg/L
K 0.004 mg/L
Mn 0.4 µg/L
Mo 0.05 µg/L
Ni 0.2 µg/L
Pb 0.03 µg/L
Se 0.05 µg/L
Sb 0.06 µg/L
Sr 0.5 µg/L
V 0.1 µg/L
Zn 2.0 µg/L
Ca 0.02 mg/L
Mg 0.01 mg/L
Na 0.04 mg/L
Silica 0.05 mg/L
U 0.03 µg/L
W 0.03 µg/L
2) 1 mL 4.5N sulfuric acid (Trace Metal grade) solution (Fisher Chemical Trace Metal grade) in a 4.5 mL polypropylene (PP) copolymer screw cap vial (polyvials).
a) The polyvials shall be 4.5 mL capacity and made of polypropylene copolymer. These polyvials shall be filled with 1 mL 4.5N sulfuric acid (Trace Metal grade) solution and then capped. The measurement tolerance shall be 1 mL delivery +/- 0.1 mL. The vials shall be bottom filled to prevent defective seals.
b) Each vial shall be clearly labeled with the mixture contents, lot number and the appropriate volume. The label shall be placed on the vial. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) shall be provided with each shipment in accordance with OSHA standard 1910.1200.
c) The vials shall be packaged according to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations on shipping and packaging hazardous materials (see 40 CFR part 173), such that each package shall be designed and sealed to guard against breakage and leakage. The packaging process shall not contribute significant impurities above the specifications in the table in subsection d below.
d) Contamination levels of the following nutrient and carbon constituents shall be less than the report levels described below when prepared to the equivalent of one vial volume added to 125 mL deionized water.
Constituents Method Report Level
Dissolved organic carbon Hi-temp oxidation 0.23 mg/L
N-Ammonia Colorimetric 0.1 mg/L
N-Nitrite + Nitrate Colorimetric 0.02 mg/L
Phosphorus Colorimetric 0.003 mg/L
3) 2 mL, 6N (1:1) Omni Trace Hydrochloric acid solution (EMD Millipore) in a 4.5 mL polypropylene (PP) copolymer screw cap vial (polyvials).
a) The polyvials shall be 4.5 mL capacity and made of polypropylene copolymer. These polyvials shall be filled with 2 mL 6N (1:1) Omni Trace Hydrochloric acid solution and then capped. The measurement tolerance shall be 2 mL delivery +/- 0.1 mL. The vials shall be bottom filled to prevent a defective seal.
b) Each vial shall be clearly labeled with the mixture contents, lot number and the appropriate volume. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) shall be provided with each shipment in accordance with OSHA standard 1910.1200.
c) The vials shall be packaged according to Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations on shipping and packaging hazardous materials (see 40 CFR part 173), such that each package shall be designed and sealed to guard against breakage and leakage. The packaging process shall not contribute significant impurities above the specifications in the table in subsection d below.
d) Contamination levels for mercury shall be less than the report levels described below when prepared to the equivalent of one vial volume added to 200 mL deionized water.
Constituent Method Reporting Level
Mercury CVAF 0.005 µg/L
Other Requirements:
Specifications for Polyvials: Polyvials shall be a polypropylene screw cap vial. The screw cap vials shall be 4.5 mL capacity and made of polypropylene (PP) copolymer. Polyvials shall be capable of withstanding, without leakage, and internal pressure which produces a pressure differential of not less than 95 kPa (0.95 bar).
(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. Specifications for Polyvials Information:
Identify the proposed product/manufacturer meeting the specifications above. Include specification sheets and brochures.
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 Business
4. 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 July 9, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). Any response that does not follow these instructions will not be considered. Do not include any quotes with your response.
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.
