Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seeks a qualified laboratory to perform detrital‑zircon U/Pb, Hf, and T/REE analyses on rock and modern sediment samples supporting multiple petroleum‑systems research projects. The contractor must provide high‑precision LA‑MC‑ICPMS analyses, meet strict reproducibility criteria, and deliver complete data packages including isotope ratios, uncertainties, and imaging. The effort is limited to a one‑year performance period with a flexible 1–3 month turnaround after sample receipt. The work will replace a previous BPA with the Arizona LaserChron Lab, and any vendor that can demonstrate comparable expertise may be considered.
• Analyze 100–300 zircons per sample (minimum), with optional high‑throughput mode of ≥600 analyses per sample.
• Meet < 3 % reproducibility for 238U/206Pb and 206Pb/207Pb ratios (≤ 5 % for high‑throughput).
• Deliver individual grain data, concentrations, and annotated BSE images in a standard Excel format.
• Provide at least one M.S.‑level analyst experienced in analytical geochemistry and continental tectonics.
• Performance period ≤ 1 year; sample‑to‑report timeframe 1–3 months (including mineral‑separation and mounting lead times).