The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting a Sources Sought Notice to identify firms capable of supplying pH buffer solutions, conductivity standards, and deionized water for the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL). These materials are essential for maintaining consistency in environmental water sampling and testing programs, which are critical for the USGS's monitoring of water quality trends across the nation. Interested firms must provide detailed information about their products, including compliance with the Buy American Act, and submit their responses by December 9, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. (MST) to Lisa Williams at ldwilliams@usgs.gov. This notice is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a request for proposals or guarantee a contract award.

Sources_Sought_Notice-RiccaChemcials_1.pdf

This Sources Sought Notice from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is for market research to identify firms capable of supplying pH buffer solutions, conductivity standards, and deionized water. These materials are crucial for the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) and field personnel to maintain consistency in environmental water sampling and testing programs. The notice specifies detailed salient characteristics for each product, including brand name or equal requirements, packaging, shelf life, and traceability to NIST standards. All products must be manufactured in the U.S. in accordance with the Buy American Act. Firms interested in this potential requirement must submit information on their product, country of origin, business size (NAICS code 325180, 1,000-employee standard), point of contact, and SAM.gov registration by December 9, 2025. This is not a solicitation, and the government is not obligated to award a contract.

Ricca Chemical Company Brand Name or Equal  
  
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 interested firms for the potential requirement detailed below. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 325180 (Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing) and the size standard is 1,000 employees. The Government will review the information requested in this announcement to determine the type of set-aside (if any) for this requirement, should it come to fruition.  
  
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.   
  
NOTE 2: The full requirements will be provided with any solicitation that may be issued. The Government is not required to issue a solicitation.  
  
A. Introduction:  
  
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) has a requirement for pH buffer solution, conductivity standards, and deionized water for use in Water Resource Discipline (WRD) water sampling and testing programs.   
  
B. Background:  
  
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Water Resource Discipline (WRD), and National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) strive to maintain national consistency in all of the environmental samples collected by their personnel. The scientific analytical data from these samples is available and presented for use by other agencies and the public. It is extremely important that the supplies acquired hereunder will continue to provide consistency with the data that has been obtained, in some cases, for over a decade. Consistency in data is critical for the NWQL and USGS programs across the country for which the Lab does analysis. Unlike commercial labs, the NWQL, and the USGS programs they support, monitor trends in the data. In addition, the pH buffer solution, conductivity standards, and deionized water are also provided to field personnel through the National Field Supply Service (NFSS) for use in the collection of environmental samples.  
  
C. Brand Name or Equal Salient Characteristics Equal to Ricca Chemical Company (RCC):  
  
The following brand name or equal salient characteristics specify the minimum requirements that items shall meet to be acceptable and that will satisfy the Government¿s needs.   
  
1. Required supplies   
  
a. pH Buffer Solutions   
  
The Contractor shall supply pH buffer solutions in the following pH values, volumes, and packaging with a remaining shelf life of no less than twelve (12) months upon arrival at the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL).  
  
Salient Characteristics for all pH buffers:  
  
¿ pH verifications shall be performed for the certificates of analysis at an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.  
¿ All material used in the preparation and verification of the conductivity standards shall be certified traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference material (SRM) via an unbroken chain of comparisons.  
¿ As appropriate for the process, test products shall be prepared and tested with support equipment (e.g. volumetric glassware, balances, and thermometers) that is compliant with ISO 17025 accreditation.  
¿ All products shall be prepared according to master documents and validated methods that assure consistent manufacturing for minimal lot to lot variability.  
¿ pH shall be measured at 25°C and a minimum of eight (8) other temperatures encompassing the entire range from 0-50°C. At 25°C, the pH measurement shall be certified to ±0.01 pH units and test accurate to ±0.02 pH units at USGS NWQL. At all other temperatures, the pH measurement shall be accurate to ±0.05 pH units.  
  
Product numbers and required specifications for pH buffer solutions packaged in 1-liter polyethylene containers (twelve (12) per case) approved for reshipment:  
  
Table 1 pH buffer 1-L specifications and requirements  
  
RCC Product Number Supply Solution Color Code  
1501-32 Buffer, Reference Standard,   
 pH 4.00 ± 0.01 at 25°C Red  
1551-32 Buffer, Reference Standard,   
 pH 7.00 ± 0.01 at 25°C Yellow  
1601-32 Buffer, Reference Standard,   
 pH 10.00 ± 0.01 at 25°C Blue  
  
Product numbers and required specifications for pH buffer solutions packaged in twenty (20)-liter bladder cubitainer with screw on cap/spigot in cardboard box approved for reshipment:  
  
Table 2 pH buffer 20-L cubitainer specifications and requirements  
  
RCC Product Number Supply Solution Color Code  
  
1501-5 Buffer, Reference Standard,  
 pH 4.00 ± 0.01 at 25°C Red  
1551-5 Buffer, Reference Standard,   
 pH 7.00 ± 0.01 at 25°C Yellow  
1601-5 Buffer, Reference Standard,   
 pH 10.00 ± 0.01 at 25°C Blue  
  
The Contractor shall use industry standard color codes of pH 4.00 Red, pH 7.00 Yellow, and pH 10.00 Blue.  
  
b. Conductivity Standards  
  
The Contractor shall provide potassium chloride (KCl) conductivity standards with the following values in one (1)-liter polyethylene containers packaged twelve (12) per case and twenty (20)-liter cubitainer, as specified during order, with a remaining shelf life of no less than twelve (12) months upon arrival at the NWQL.  
  
Minimum Requirements for all conductivity standards:  
  
¿ Conductance standard verifications shall be performed for the certificates of analysis at an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.  
¿ All material used in the preparation and verification of the conductivity standards shall be certified traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference material (SRM) via an unbroken chain of comparisons.  
¿ As appropriate for the process, test products shall be prepared and tested with support equipment (e.g., volumetric glassware, balances, and thermometers) that is compliant with ISO 17025 accreditation.  
¿ All products shall be prepared according to master documents and validated methods that assure consistent manufacturing for minimal lot to lot variability.  
  
Product numbers and required specifications for conductivity standards packaged in one (1)-liter polyethylene containers (twelve (12) per case) approved for reshipment:  
  
Table 3 Conductivity standards 1-L specifications and requirements  
  
RCC Product Number Conductivity (at 25.0°C) Specification (measured at 25.0°C)  
5886.5-32 50 µS/cm  
 (50 µmho/cm) 50.0 ± 0.1 µS/cm  
5887-32 100 µS/cm  
 (100 µmho/cm) 100.0 ± 0.1 µS/cm  
5887.250-32 180 µS/cm  
 (180 µmho/cm) 180.0 ± 0.1 µS/cm  
5887.300-32 250 µS/cm  
 (250 µmho/cm) 250 ± 1 µS/cm  
5887.5-32 500 µS/cm  
 (500 µmho/cm) 500 ± 1 µS/cm  
5887.75-32 750 µS/cm  
 (750 µmho/cm) 750 ± 1 µS/cm  
5888.01-32 1,000 µS/cm  
 (1000 µmho/cm) 1,000 ± 1 µS/cm  
5888.180-32 1,800 µS/cm  
 (1,800 µmho/cm) 1,800 ± 10 µS/cm  
5888.02-32 2,500 µS/cm  
 (2,500 µmho/cm) 2,500 ± 10 µS/cm  
5888.43-32 5,000 µS/cm  
 (5,000 µmho/cm) 5,000 ± 10 µS/cm  
5888.01-032 10,000 µS/cm  
 (10,000 µmho/cm) 10,000 ± 10 µS/cm  
5888-6-32 25,000 µS/cm  
 (25,000 µmho/cm) 25,000 ± 100 µS/cm  
5889-32 50,000 µS/cm  
 (50,000 µmho/cm) 50,000 ± 100 µS/cm  
  
Product numbers and required specifications for conductivity standards packaged in twenty (20)-liter bladder cubitainer with screw on cap/spigot in cardboard box approved for reshipment:  
  
Table 4 Conductivity standards 20-L cubitainer specifications and requirements  
  
RCC Product Number Conductivity (at 25.0°C) Specification (measured at 25.0°C)  
5887.300-5 250 µS/cm (250 µmho/cm) 250 ± 1 µS/cm  
5887.5-5 500 µS/cm (500 µmho/cm) 500 ± 1 µS/cm  
5888.01-5 1,000 µS/cm (1000 µmho/cm) 1,000 ± 1 µS/cm  
5888.02-5 2,500 µS/cm (2,500 µmho/cm) 2,500 ± 10 µS/cm  
5888.10-5 10,000 µS/cm (10,000 µmho/cm) 10,000 ± 10 µS/cm  
  
c. Deionized Water  
  
The contractor shall provide deionized water with the following values in four (4) liter polyethylene natural containers packaged four (4) per case with a remaining shelf life of no less than twelve (12) months from an NWQL approved sequestered lot.  
   
Product information: 4 x 4L in natural poly containers (Ricca Chemical Part Number 9150-1)  
  
Minimum Requirements:  
¿ Each lot shall be thoroughly tested by the manufacturer and shown to have:  
  
Chloride ¿ 20 µg/L  
Conductivity at 25oC ¿ 0.056 µS/cm  
Heavy Metals (as lead) ¿ 0.01 mg/L  
Nitrate (NO3) ¿ 0.01 mg/L  
Organic Carbon (TOC) ¿ 700 µg/L  
Phosphate (PO4) ¿ 0.004 mg/L  
Silicate (as SiO2) ¿ 50 µg/L  
Sodium (Na) ¿ 400 µg/L  
Sulfate (SO4) ¿ 20 µg/L  
  
¿ At a minimum, this product shall be purified by water softening, prefiltration, activated carbon organic adsorption, reverse osmosis, mixed bed triple deionization, ultraviolet light irradiation and 0.2-micron membrane filtration. Product must meet ACS specifications for Reagent Grade Water and ASTM D1193 specifications for Reagent Water, Type I.   
¿ All materials and procedures used shall be traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM) 3193.  
¿ All orders within a contract period shall be from the same lot of deionized water until quantity in lot is expended.  
  
(End of Brand Name or Equal Salient Characteristics)  
  
All business concerns who believe they can responsibly provide this type of product must submit the following information to the Contracting Officer:  
  
1. The firm shall specify the Brand Name product or an Equal product and manufacturer that meets the brand name or equal salient characteristics listed above along with product specification sheet and product brochure.  
  
2. For supply/equipment requirements, business responses shall include the place of manufacturing/country of origin (manufactured outside of US or manufactured in the US) per NOTE 1 above.  
  
3. The firm shall specify that they are either:   
  
3.1 An Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), small business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, etc. and Or   
  
3.2 Other than small business under the NAICS Code listed in the announcement.   
  
3.3 The firm shall provide a point of contact name and e-mail information, and SAM.gov (Unique Entity ID (UEI) and must be registered and active in System for Award Management (SAM).   
  
NOTE 3: 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.   
  
NOTE 4: In order to be responsive to this Notice, a firm shall provide the appropriate documentation for consideration by December 9, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. (MST). Responses that do not comply with these procedures will not be considered.   
  
Inquiries will only be accepted by e-mail to Lisa Williams at ldwilliams@usgs.gov.  
  
  

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