Critical Min. Inv. TX Cores Offshore Wat

Background
The United States Department of the Interior (DOI), specifically the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) Programs, is seeking to award a purchase order for a Critical Mineral Investigation of Texas Cores collected in Offshore Waters. This initiative aims to support the National Offshore Critical Mineral Inventory (NOCMI) by characterizing critical mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The project aligns with executive orders aimed at enhancing America's exploration and development of offshore critical mineral resources.

Work Details
The contract involves several key tasks:

1. Sample Selection: Identify a minimum of 3 samples from each core based on initial descriptions, ensuring accurate representation.

2. Sample Collection: Samples must be collected by an experienced geologist and shipped to a testing facility while cores remain in storage.

3. Sample Analysis: Conduct grain size analysis using Laser Particle Size Analysis (LPSA) and perform elemental/mineralogical analyses on 624 samples from 208 cores, focusing on critical minerals as per the final 2025 List of Critical Minerals. After initial analysis, selected samples may undergo further mineralogical testing to determine provenance, composition, and recoverability.

4. Meetings: Conduct monthly meetings with BOEM for input on sample analysis.

5. Reports and Data: Develop written summaries for each core, translating data into a BOEM-specified schema.

6. Data Transfer: Ensure all data is transferred to BOEM within 60 days post-analysis completion, accompanied by individual sample reports and a methodology paper.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is one year from the date of award.

Place of Performance
The work will be performed in Austin, Texas, and Boca Raton, Florida.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must demonstrate technical capability and experience relevant to the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work. They should provide information on two previous government contracts that are similar in size, scope, and complexity to this solicitation.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent and/or closely related prior contract based on award 140M0121D0006, awarded to Aptim Federal Services for $13,316,928 (07/22/21–07/21/26). That prior effort provided geophysical, geological, and environmental data collection and analysis supporting OCS marine minerals stewardship, including critical offshore mineral resource evaluations and coring projects to support development of a national offshore critical mineral inventory. The current scope similarly focuses on characterizing Texas offshore cores through sample selection, grain size and elemental/mineralogical analyses, and structured reporting/data transfer to BOEM, which aligns with the earlier coring and critical mineral characterization work as a continuation of the same inventory-building mission.