ICP-MS Analysis
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the U.S. Geological Surveyâ₏™s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement G15AS00003 Project Title Trace Elements and Isotopic Cycling in the North Pacific Ocean and Analysis by ICP-MS Recipient University of Washington School of Oceanography Principal Investigator / Program Manager Dr. Virginia Armbrust John Crusius Anticipated Federal Amount $82,151.00 Cost Share No Total Anticipated Award Amount $410,755.00 New Award or Continuation? New Anticipated Period of Performance 08/01/2015 07/31/2020 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement CFDA # and Title 15.808 Research & Data Collection USGS Point of Contact Stewart Evans sevans@usgs.gov OVERVIEW This project is to facilitate both trace element and/or stable isotopic analyses of metals in seawater and to provide support to a graduate student to carry out related work, and to jointly interpret the data collected. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT University of Washington (UW) and US Geological Survey (USGS) personnel will collaborate to carry out high-precision analyses using UWâ₏™s state of the art inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) facilities. This will include either an existing multi-collector ICP-MS (NuPlasma), a new high resolution ICP-MS (Element 2), or both. A variety of projects examining the fate and cycling of trace elements in coastal surface waters, dust and sediments may use this instrumentation. Analyses could include elemental and/or stable isotope analyses of sediments, porewaters, groundwater, fresh water or seawater samples. CY2015-2016 Activities: UW ICP-MS instruments will be used for determination of elemental concentration and possibly isotopic composition of a variety of water, sediment and rock samples. This support is for a Graduate Research Assistant in a project to be carried out jointly under this agreement between one or more UW faculty and the USGS PI, Crusius. USGS INVOLVEMENT Substantial involvement on the part USGS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, USGS will be responsible for the following: â₏¢ Provide and contribute expertise in seawater sampling and other field sampling â₏¢ Help with methods development for laboratory procedures required for trace metal and/or isotopic analysis (isotope dilution, ion exchange, sample preconcentration, trace-metal clean procedures, etc) â₏¢ Provide samples from a variety of USGS projects focused on metal sources and cycling in the environment, with any of the following societally relevant objectives: assess the impact of metals on ecosystem or human health and utilize isotopic means to distinguish natural from anthropogenic metal sources or to distinguish among different natural metal sources â₏¢ Assist in the selection of the graduate student, possibly by funding an existing graduate student for one year or by funding a new graduate student if sufficient funds are available â₏¢ Guide the study of the graduate student in collaboration with a faculty member from the UW School of Oceanography on a topic that is mutually agreed upon SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria: (1) Unsolicited Proposal â₏“ The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives; (2) Continuation â₏“ The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity; (3) Legislative intent â₏“ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressâ₏™ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications â₏“ The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications; (5) Emergencies â₏“ Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed. (6) Cooperative Agreements - USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State, and academic partners) or DOI Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 1457b (not-for-profit organizations). USGS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: Single Source Justification Description: Condition 4: Unique Qualifications. UW is well-respected and uniquely qualified in regards to the quality of the ICP-MS techniques and capabilities. Also, the capability of their instruments can resolve and separate Fe (Iron) from ArO (Argon Oxide) an essential requirement in this study. This high level of sensitivity is not known commercially. Additionally, the location at UW benefits the USGS as travel and other per diem costs are reduced or eliminated. Condition 6: TITLE 43 - PUBLIC LANDS CHAPTER 2 - UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY § 36d. Cooperative agreements Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31U.S.C. 6301â₏“6308), the United States Geological Survey is authorized to continue existing, and on and after November 10, 2003, to enter into new cooperative agreements directed towards a particular cooperator, in support of joint research and data collection activities with Federal, State, and academic partners funded by appropriations herein, including those that provide for space in cooperator facilities. (Pub. L. 108â₏“108, title I, Nov. 10, 2003, 117 Stat. 1254.) STATUTORY AUTHORITY 43 USC 36d
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