U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS 205B, Reston, VA 22092

B -- GROUND WATER ANALYSIS POC Contact -- Karen Phillips (703)648-7372 (contact), Patrick N. Robertson (703) 648-7368 (CO) The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Division in Reston, Virginia is conducting a study of ground-water age dating. The Government will need measurements of the tritium/helium-3 age of collected ground water samples. In order to obtain the analysis the USGS intends to enter into a contract with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University in Palisades, New York. This procurement is anticipated to be non-competitive as Columbia University is the only known laboratory with three mass-spectrometric systems devoted to tritium/helium-3, neon, and noble gas measurements in aquatic systems. Columbia University's Laboratory is the only known source that can provide the 8 week turn around of the 60 water samples required by the Government. Further, Columbia University's Laboratory is the only known laboratory capable of high-precision measurements of the extreme concentrations of tritium (detection limit of 0.005 Tritium Units) and helium and other noble gases (to 0.0001 cubic centimeters at standard temperature and pressure per gram of water) expected in the water samples. The Government requires the following: a mass spectrometric determination of total dissolved helium gas; a mass spectrometric determination of total dissolved neon gas; a mass spectrometric determination of isotope ratio 3He/4He of total dissolved helium gas; tritium measurements by the helium-3 ingrowth method; helium-3 determinations within +/- 0.2 percent; tritium determination within +/- 2 percent and detection limit of 0.005 Tritium Units; copper tubes with clamps for water sample; and analytical results for up to sixty (60) water samples within 8 weeks of submission to the laboratory. Samples will be provided to the laboratory in contractor provided copper tubes with clamps within sixty (60) days after award of contract. Delivery of results of the analysis must be sent to Reston, Virginia within 8 weeks of submission of samples. Firms who believe they can provide the above are invited to submit an affirmative response within 45 days of the publication date of this notice; all responses will be considered. The responses will be evaluated on the capability to provide the required analysis as describe above. This notice is for informational purposes only--Request for Proposal (RFP) is not available-- This notice represents the Government's only official notice of this procurement. See number note 22. (0027)

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