GROUNDWATER MODELING HYDRO DATA
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 existing Indian Tribal streamflow and groundwater elevation hydrologic data collected from 1950 ¿ 2026 across the model area to support the model history matching process.
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 this 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 541360 (Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services) and the size standard is $28.5 million.
The following is a brief description of services that are required to be performed but not limited to:
A. Introduction:
The Upper Midwest Water Science Center groundwater modeling team recently started a project through the EarthMRI program under the USGS Mineral Resources Program to utilize recently collected geophysics data to better understand groundwater resources near the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). This modeling effort uses computer software to simulate the flow and elevation of groundwater across a model area as well as the interaction between the groundwater system and surface water bodies like streams and lakes.
For this modeling effort looking at groundwater resources near KBIC, measured hydrologic data, including groundwater elevations and streamflows, are needed across the model area for the history matching process. Additionally, local knowledge of water resources can help define the model scope and assess model performance. This contract is for compilation of existing water data records across KBIC as well as collaboration on refining the model scope and assessing the reasonableness of the model predictions.
B. Background:
The Upper Midwest Water Science Center (UMID) is a water science center with various science teams focused on better understanding water resources across Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. The Groundwater and Watershed Modeling Team has conducted small and large-scale groundwater flow modeling projects across this region for several decades.
A groundwater model divides a geographic area up into a three-dimensional grid covering a model area of interest and extending down into the earth to simulate groundwater flows at depth. Modelers assign various aquifer properties to each grid cell to represent the different geologic materials the groundwater is flowing through and information about the various model boundary conditions. The model properties are often uncertain because there is limited information about the sub surface. A process called history matching is used to compare modeled flows and elevations to measured values of things like groundwater elevations in wells and streamflow during baseflow conditions when the stream water is mostly derived from groundwater.
C. Scope:
The Contractor shall provide compiled existing tribal streamflow and groundwater elevation hydrologic data collected from 1950 ¿ 2026 across the model area to support the model history matching process. The Upper Midwest Water Science center groundwater modeling team already has access to existing USGS and State of Michigan data within the model area. This contract is for hydrologic data (streamflows and groundwater elevations) collected by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. At a minimum, this dataset should include available tribal hydrologic data within the KBIC L¿Anse Reservation and study basins shown on the included contract map: Sturgeon River, small Lake Superior Tributaries, Falls River, Silver River, Slate River, Ravine River, and Headwaters Michigamme Creek.
Additionally, the contractor will participate in meetings discussing the modelers interpretation of the model results within the context of local knowledge of water resources. Local knowledge includes information known by living and working in an area like occurrence of wetlands that may not be mapped in state wetland maps, if streamflows are continuous or ephemeral, where there are flowing wells, etc.
D. Applicable Documents:
A map of the model area, the KBIC L¿Anse Reservation boundary, and the study basins is provided as figure_1_contract_area.pdf.
E. Technical Requirements
The Contractor shall:
1. Review previously collected Keewenaw Bay Indian Community streamflow and groundwater elevation hydrologic data that have been collected by KBIC to identify data that could be available to support the model calibration. This review would cover data available in the study model area in figure_1_contract_area.pdf.
2. Compile the available hydrologic data into a dataset that includes the hydrologic measurement (groundwater elevation, in feet or meters and streamflow in cubic feet per second or equivalent flow rate), date the data were collected, and latitude, and longitude of the collection point. This should be provided with a machine-readable file such as a comma separated value file (.csv), excel spreadsheet, or shapefile.
3. Provide written or verbal feedback on the groundwater model, as they relate to KBIC¿s groundwater priorities.
4. Provide written or verbal feedback on the validity of interim model results by reviewing model outputs such as simulated depth to groundwater maps and estimated groundwater contributions to streams in the context of local knowledge on these stream systems and groundwater resources including but not limited to other types of data that have been collected in these systems such as stream temperatures, observations of water resource behavior in wet and dry years, and anecdotal observations from tribal well water use. This will be an iterative process with the USGS groundwater modelers running the model, meeting with the Contractor to review results, updating the model based on that conversation and then meeting again to discuss the new model results.
5. Participate in quarterly project check-in calls.
(End of brief description of Services)
If your organization has the potential ability to meet this requirement, please provide the following information to the Contracting Officer:
1. Tailored capability statement addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation describing detailed information in providing the services described above.
2. The firm shall specify that they are either:
2.1 An Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), small business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, etc. and Or
2.2 Other than small business under the NAICS Code listed in the announcement.
2.3 The firm shall provide a point of contact name and e-mail information, and SAM.gov (Unique Entity ID (UEI) and must be registered and active in System for Award Management (SAM).
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.
In order to be responsive to this Notice, a firm shall provide the appropriate documentation for consideration by May 22, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). Responses that do not comply with these procedures 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.
