R--INTENT TO AWARD - USGS NJDOH WATER SAMPLE ANALYSIS

MISCELLANEOUS USGS NJWSC/NJDOH WATER SAMPLE ANALYSIS

As part of the US Geological Survey (USGS) New Jersey Water Science Center (NJ WSC) cooperative water-quality programs with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the USGS NJ WSC has a requirement to contract on a sole source basis with the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Laboratories to provide analysis of suspended solids, total and dissolved nitrogen as ammonia, gross alpha and beta, and hexavalent chromium.

The total anticipated period of performance will be 12-months from date of award, plus one 12-month option period (Base year plus one Option Year).

The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to NJDOH unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they have similar technical expertise and can provide the same service(s). Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Miranda Blankenship, via email at Miranda_blankenship@ios.doi.gov no later than 1:00 PM EDT, Friday, April 4th, 2026 with an affirmative answer.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.

Sole Source Justification States the Following Parts:
This request is for a sole source award to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Laboratories to provide research and analysis of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). As part of the USGS New Jersey Water Science Center cooperative water-quality programs with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), water samples are analyzed for suspended solids in water, water as filtered
Ammonia, hexavalent chromium and Gross alpha and beta radioactivity by Thorium-230 curve and Strontium-90 curve at 72 hours and a recount at 30 days (Evaporation).

Analysis of suspended solids is done at the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL), but at the higher reporting limit of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l). Since the average suspended solids concentration of New Jersey streams is less than 10 mg/l, the Network requires the accuracy provided by the NJDOH lab¿s reporting limit of 1 mg/l. The analyses of total and dissolved nitrogen as ammonia are performed at the NJDOH lab to maintain historical detection and reporting limits.

The proposed action may be awarded on sole source basis under the authority outlined in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1) - only one source reasonably available.

The NJDOH lab is certified by the state of New Jersey for analysis of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). FIB samples will be collected as part of an Urban Waters Federal Partnership project operated out of the New Jersey Water Science Center. Due to a 6-hour hold-time associated with these samples, the NJDOH lab is the only viable option for sample delivery given the hold-time window, the capability to perform standard methods, and the capacity to perform time-sensitive analyses. Hexavalent chromium is not offered at NWQL directly and NJDOH offers a higher quality analysis than the contract lab is able to offer.

The NJDOH lab is certified for the analysis of these constituents. The NJDOH lab is already familiar with USGS data handling and reporting procedures, and field personnel already deliver other USGS samples there. As a result, The USGS NJ WSC has determined that the NJDOH lab is the only lab that can provide these analyses

Market research was conducted by contacting commercial laboratories, academic Laboratories and NWQL who advertised acceptance of outside samples for USGS Laboratories. However, none of the laboratories can meet the Government¿s minimum needs described in section 6.