EO 14398 - this requirement is for support service

This Request for Quotation (RFQ), solicitation number 140G0326Q0160, is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Alaska Science Center as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services). The USGS is seeking a US-based contractor to perform physical and chemical mineral separations on 86 rock samples to isolate zircon and apatite crystals. The recovered minerals will support ongoing geochronologic and thermochronologic research to understand Alaska's metallogenic history. The contractor's tasks include sample receipt, tracking, crushing, sieving, and density separations (utilizing water tables, Frantz, and magnetic separation). The resulting mineral separates must be placed in clearly labeled glass vials and returned to the Alaska Science Center. Key details of the procurement include: - **Contract Type:** Firm-fixed-price. - **Period of Performance:** 12 months from the date of award (anticipated July 27, 2026, to July 26, 2027). - **Turnaround Time:** Completed separations must be delivered within 60 days of sample receipt. - **Evaluation Criteria:** Trade-off methodology based on capability (technical and capacity), past performance, and price. - **Submission Details:** Quotations and questions must be emailed to Contracting Officer Victor Nuno at victor_nuno@ios.doi.gov. Clarifying questions are due by July 15, 2026, and final quotes must be received by July 17, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov at the time of submission.

This document is a federal Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination (No. 2015-5681, Revision 27, dated May 14, 2026) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor for the state of Alaska, specifically covering the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna areas. It establishes the minimum hourly wage rates and fringe benefits that contractors must pay to service employees performing work on covered federal government contracts in these regions. Key details of the wage determination include: - **Occupational Wages:** Specifies minimum hourly rates across multiple job families, including administrative support, automotive services, health occupations, information technology, mechanics, and protective services. - **Fringe Benefits:** Mandates health and welfare contributions of $5.55 per hour (or $5.09 per hour for contracts subject to Executive Order 13706). - **Paid Leave:** Requires a minimum of twelve paid holidays per year and progressive paid vacation (2 weeks after 1 year of service, 3 weeks after 5 years, and 4 weeks after 15 years). - **Executive Orders:** Incorporates compliance requirements for Executive Order 13706 (paid sick leave) and Executive Order 13658 (minimum wage standards). - **Special Pay Differentials:** Outlines rules for hazardous duty pay (4% to 8% differentials), night/Sunday work for specific roles, and uniform allowance provisions. - **Conformance Process:** Describes the procedure (using Standard Form 1444) for establishing wage rates for unlisted employee classifications.