SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Notice of Intent to Award to Australian National University
- Notice Date
- 8/24/2012
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 611310
— Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
- Contracting Office
- USGS OAG SACRAMENTO ACQUISITION BR.MODOC HALL, CSUS3020 STATE UNIVERSITY DRIVE EASTSACRAMENTOCA95819-6027US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- G12PS00838
- Response Due
- 8/31/2012
- Archive Date
- 9/30/2012
- Point of Contact
- Zachary Buss
- E-Mail Address
-
zbuss@usgs.gov
(zbuss@usgs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) intends to award a sole source fixed-price purchase order to Australian National University (ANU) under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)), Simplified Acquisition Procedures, for Trace element analyses for of coral core by laser ablation ICPMS. The Pacific Coral reef project of the Western Region Coastal and Marine Geology Science Center is conducting multi-year studies of sediment impact on fringing coral reefs in the US and the US Territories. Erosion and associated sedimentation are the most significant threats to the terrestrial and marine resources making land-based sources of pollution the priority focus area for resource managers. With ongoing research in Guam and Hawaii, and projected projects in American Samoa, this area of research and development is directly linked to two of the six science directions outlined in the USGS science strategy, Understanding Ecosystems and Predicting Ecosystem Change and Climate Variability and Change. Under increases in extreme climate events, Guam for example will likely experience even higher erosion and sedimentation rates as a result of severe wildfires from droughts, which contribute to loss of vegetation and destabilization of hillsides and stream banks. However, it is difficult to improve on these projections since long-term, continuous measurements of sediment concentration are absent. Continuous measurements of sediment concentration and coral cover are absent. In addition to Guam, we are currently operating field studies on the island of Maui to better understand and interpret the longer climate record and compounding effects of land-use change. The Coral Reef Working Group (CRWG), made up of key state and federal partners involved in coral reef management, has identified Olowalu as a Hawaii Coral Reef Strategy Priority Site and adjacent to a proposed priority watershed. Proposed development of the 1,500-home Olowalu Town project makes it critical to collect comprehensive data on conditions before- the natural status quo ante-the final build out. With the project potentially impacting 636 acres agricultural land there is large potential to increase the sediment loading to the near shore environment. Without any a priori information, it is difficult to quantitatively assess these impacts. Coral geochemistry provides one method to close this gap particularly in their ability to quantify trends, baselines, range of variability and anomalies over decadal-to-century scales. These records place current environmental conditions into a historical context and producing valuable information on the rates of change occurring historically and up to present-day conditions. Ultimately this provides resource managers with critical data needed to calculate trajectories of coral reef health related to future land-use and climate change, since both processes will affect the supply and storage of sediment to the coral reefs. In addition to ongoing research in Hawaii and Guam, the Coral Reef Project at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center is pursing research in American Samoa. The United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) designated the Fagaalu watershed in American Samoa as just the third linked watershed-reef system in the entire US to become one of the USCRTF Priority Study Site to investigate and mitigate Land-Based Pollution (LBP) all of the previous had been designated by USCRTF Local Action Strategies (LASs). As this are is in the Pacific and the Pacific Coral Reef Project has been identified as a key partner in investigating land based pollution processes from high islands, there is considerable interest by Federal, State, local, and NGO partners for the Pacific Coral Reef Project to contribute to studies in this area. Reliable high-resolution records of these metals can therefore serve as a proxy for both the amount and rate of input from land-based sources to the coral environment. Obtaining long time series by traditional methods (thermal ionization mass spectrometry, solution ICP-MS) is very time consuming and expensive. The development of rapid multi-element analysis by LA-ICP-MS improves the quantity and quality of information that can be extracted from corals, an essential prerequisite for their practical application as environmental proxies. This information is valuable for resource managers in Guam trying to calculate trajectories of coral reef health related to future land-use and climate change, since both processes will affect the supply and storage of sediment to the reef flat. As done in Hawaii with ANU collaborators using coral geochemical records from Molokai, HI a theoretical model was constructed indicating gradients of sediment loading (source) and sediment storage (sink) and relative response of coral growth. A framework such as this theoretical model could help target and prioritize mitigation efforts in addressing land-based pollution threats to coral reefs in Guam. Date/Time of Required Services Analysis will be conducted over the next five years as part of several ongoing coral reef projects within the Pacific Coral Reef Project at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center. Approximately a minimum of 38 cm and a maximum of 5 m will be analyzed per year, for a maximum total of 21 m over five years. Representative samples from Guam, Hawaii and American Samoa will be shipped by USGS to ANU for LA-ICP-MS analysis. A USGS researcher (Dr. N. Prouty) may assist with the measurements at ANU but the analyses are not dependent on her travel. Identification of Need 1.Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) with an argon-fluoride (ArF) Excimer laser (193 nm wavelength). 2.Ability to mask beam (3 cm x 1 cm) with a rectangular aperture (40 mm x 600 mm) is required for pre-cleaning carbonate surface. 3.During sample ablation, the laser spot size needs to be decreased to 40 μm x 500 μm and scanned along the coral growth axis at 33 mm s-1. 4.X-Y sample chamber (stage) must accommodate coral 2 coral pieces at 9 cm x 4 cm. 5.Chemically and matrix matched pressed coral powder standard 6.Data reduction software that includes protocol for drift and blank correction 7.The pieces will be cut into 95x25x8mm slices and sonicated at the USGS in Santa Cruz prior to sending the samples for LA-ICP-MS analysis. Estimated Schedule Line 0010: ICPMS of 418 cm POP 09/01/2012 to 08/31/2013 Line 0020: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m POP 09/01/2013 to 08/31/2014 Line 0030: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m, sample analysis done by USGS Dr. Nancy Prouty at ANU POP 09/01/2013 to 08/31/2014 Line 0040: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m POP 09/01/2014 to 08/31/2015 Line 0050: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m sample analysis done by USGS Dr. Nancy Prouty at ANU POP 09/01/2014 to 08/31/2015 Line 0060: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m POP 09/01/2015 to 08/31/2016 Line 0070: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m sample analysis done by USGS Dr. Nancy Prouty at ANU POP 09/01/2015 to 08/31/2016 Line 0080: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m POP 09/01/2016 to 08/31/2017 Line 0090: Optional line item for a minimum of 38 cm and a max of 5 m sample analysis done by USGS Dr. Nancy Prouty at ANU POP 09/01/2016 to 08/31/2017 At the Australian National University (ANU), researchers have developed state-of-the-art methods for precise micro sampling measurements of more than 50 trace and Rare Earth Elements using an ICPMS coupled to an Excimer UV (193nm) laser attached to a custom-built sample cell. Detection limits can be tailored to range from sub ppb levels on large ablation sites (100-200 m) to low ppm levels on small sites (10-15 m). These laser ablation techniques that have been applied to previous coral chemical analysis studies. In March 2008 we conducted analysis at ANU, which resulted in two peer reviewed publications in which we applied these analytical techniques to investigate the impacts of terrestrial input to the coral ecosystem. The breakthrough techniques as well as custom built analytical facilities are unique; no other analytical facility can replicate them. The Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, USGS requests that ICPMS facility at the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University (ANU) be considered the sole source for trace metal analysis on the ICPMS coupled to an Excimer UV (193nm) laser. The laser beam illuminates a rectangular aperture, which is crucial to LA-ICP-MS of corals to ensure representative analysis across the interlocking branch-like structural elements of the corals. Furthermore, the long focal length of the excimer laser optical system and large sampling window minimizes the depth related fractionation observed for material removed from the bottom of the holes. The custom-built sample cell allows for greater sample size (2 pieces of coral at 9 cm by 4 cm) and measurement of the standards within the same sample cell. Importantly, this design reduces the need to switch sample cells, which can reduce drift and blank issues. Other facilities in the US do not offer a large sample cell coupled to 193nm laser. In many cases the cell size allows a sample of only 27 mm by 56 mm coupled to a 213nm laser. Sample size is a paramount concern when analyzing coral cores that can range from 40 cm to 1 m in length. The high sensitivity of the ICP-MS (Agilent 7500s), coupled with the fast mass switching allows for simultaneous measurements of many elements together without compromising spatial resolution. Furthermore, the ICPMS facilities at ANU are dedicated to carbonate trace metals such that state-of-the-art methods for precise micro sampling measurements of more than 50 trace and Rare Earth Elements have been developed. The breakthrough techniques, as well as custom-built analytical facilities, are unique and a replicate analytical facility does not exist making the lab usage of the ICPMS facilities at ANU essential for our project. The current Purchase Order, G11PX01813, is in place for same analysis of coral samples with ANU. We are requesting 418 cm of coral samples of geochemical analysis on the LA-ICP-MS at ANU for additional analysis that will accommodate coral samples for increased temporal and spatial investigation of the coral geochemical signal. Its essential that we keep the analysis, and resulting data, of these coral samples consistent in the effort to reduce any possible discrepancy and inefficiency over the life of our project. NO SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROCUREMENT. Notwithstanding, any firm that believes it is capable of meeting the USGS requirement as stated herein may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the Agency (FAR 5.207(c)(16)(i)). All questions or comments regarding this procurement shall be addressed in writing to Zachary Buss, at zbuss@usgs.gov. This notice conforms to the requirements in place through FAC 2005-58, Effective 18 May 2012. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this procurement is 541380 Test Laboratories. SBA Size Standard is $14 M
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