NU PLASMA HR MC-ICP-MS PUMP UPGRADE

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Contract Opportunity

Brand Name or Equal to NU PLASMA HR MC-ICP-MS PUMP UPGRADE

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 a Plasma Vacuum Pump upgrade compatible to Nu Instruments Plasma High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (HR MC-ICP-MS) for the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center (GGGSC) Denver, CO supporting the Mineral Resource Mission Area.

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 is 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) and the size standard is 1,000 employees.

NOTE 1: The Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 8301-05) is the primary federal procurement law providing a preference for domestic goods and manufactured products. As such, the USGS is seeking information on sources that can supply the described instrument either mined, produced or manufactured in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of satisfactory quality.

A. Introduction:

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center (GGGSC) Denver, CO supporting the Mineral Resource Mission Area has a requirement to purchase a new Plasma Vacuum Pump upgrade compatible to Nu Instruments Plasma High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (HR MC-ICP-MS). The purpose of this upgrade is to replace the 22 year old ion pumps with new turbo pumps to improve instrument uptime and ensure accurate, precise isotope ratio measurements for critical mineral deposit research.

B. Background:

GGGSC's current state-of-the-art isotope ratio and trace element laboratory is equipped with two multi-collector inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) and quadrupole ICP-MS instrument. The lab directly supports the Source, transport, and deposition of critical minerals using trace and isotope systematics project, as well as numerous MRP and USGS research endeavors. Research and collaboration endeavors have demonstrated the need to keep both instruments not only up and running, but compatible with stability and sensitivity of modern MC-ICP-MS instruments. This is achieved by periodically upgrading the instruments.

The HR MC-ICP-MS isotope ratio instrument has a vacuum system of both turbo pumps in the source region and ion pumps in the mass spectrometer region to achieve detector region vacuum ~ 5x10-9 mbars. Currently the vacuum in the detector region is at 2.5x10-8 mbars as result of aging of the ion pumps. High vacuum is critical in measuring precise and accurate isotope ratios.

The current Nu MC-ICP-MS instruments consist entirely of turbo pumps to achieve the vacuum necessary to measure isotope ratios. The HR MC-ICP-MS is equipped with turbo pumps and the original ion pumps (2004). Over the past year or so, the HR MC-ICP-MS has had low vacuum errors which required restarting the entire instrument as well as shutting down the ion pumps and controller, and at time tapping the ion pumps with a wrench to remove whisker buildup. A vacuum upgrade is now available for HR MC-ICP-MS instrument which consists of replacing the aging ion pumps with turbo pumps, controllers, vacuum gauges, and scroll dry backing pump to ensure seamless instrument operability. This upgrade provides the USGS sustaining state-of-the-art analytical capability for measuring isotope systems and keeping up with the newest instrument technology and capabilities.

C. Brand Name or Equal Minimum Salient Characteristics for Nu Instrument Plasma Vacuum Pump Upgrade:

1. Vacuum System Upgrade for NP1 (HR MC ICP MS)

Provide a complete vacuum system upgrade compatible with the Nu Instruments Plasma HR MC ICP MS (NP1) and communications control with its operating software program, including:

a. Two (2) 85 L/s turbomolecular pumps with:

- ISO flange (85L) compatibility
- Integrated water cooling manifold
- Required mounting hardware for mechanical integration

b. One (1) 6 L/min scroll dry pump with:

- All required vacuum connection hardware
- Solenoid controlled backing valves
- Oil free operation suitable for clean vacuum MS environments

c. One (1) vacuum control unit capable of fully replacing or superseding the existing ion pump controller with full compatibility with NP1 vacuum architecture

d. Vacuum monitoring package, including:

- Pirani gauge(s) for rough vacuum monitoring
- Active Ion Gauge (AIG) for high vacuum measurement

(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.        Place of Manufacturing / Country of Origin:

Specify whether the product is manufactured within the United States in accordance with NOTE 1.

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 April 10, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). Any response that does not follow these instructions 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.

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