INDO-PACIFIC ENERGY AND CRITICAL MINERALS PROJECT SCOPING SERVICES

AMENDMENT 00002 - RESPONDING (IN BOLD)

TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED FOR SOLICITATION NUMBER: 1131PL26RQ0015.(SEE ATTACHMENT 1131PL26RQ0015 A00002) ALL ELSE REMAIN UNCHANGED.

AMENDMENT 0001: REVISED TITLE AND PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

REVISED TITLE: INDO-PACIFIC ENERGY AND CRITICAL MINERALS PROJECT SCOPING SERVICES SOLICITATION NUMBER:

1131PL26RQ0015 ISSUANCE DATE:

MARCH 2, 2026 CLOSING DATE: MARCH 30, 2026, 1:00 PM, Arlington, VA Time This Request for Proposal was prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 and procedures in Subpart 15.3 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only RFP; offers are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

This procurement is SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES under NAICS Code 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. Award is limited to U.S. Firms or U.S. individuals. Contractor and U.S. subcontractor employees used shall be either U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. Contractor use of subcontractors is limited to less than fifty percent of the proposed price.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS REPRESENT THE "PROPOSAL PACKAGE" THAT SHOULD BE RETURNED IN RESPONSE TO THIS SOLICITATION (Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items (SEP 2023)).

According to FAR 52-204-7 (b) (1) An Offeror is required to be registered in SAM when submitting an offer or quotation and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. All Offerors must be registered and have an active status in the SAM database (www.SAM.gov) in order to be eligible for contract award.

Offerors are reminded that failure to properly enroll in the SAM database and provide accurate information shall make an offeror ineligible for award as described in FAR 52.204-7. Should you have any questions, please send them to this office not later than 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET) Monday, March 9, 2026. Send your questions by email to contractproposals@ustda.gov and tjohnson@ustda.gov . Questions submitted by facsimile or to alternate email addresses will NOT be accepted. No phone calls will be accepted.

Any contract awarded to a Contractor who at the time of award was suspended, debarred, and ineligible for receipt of contract with Government Agencies or is in receipt of a notice of proposed debarment from any Government Agency, is voidable at the option of the Government. Award is limited to U.S. Firms or U.S. individuals. Contractor and U.S. subcontractor employees used shall be either U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

Enclosed are the following sections, which contains all information necessary to respond to this RFP: 1. Section B – Schedule of Supplies/Services, 2. Section C – Contract Clauses, 3. Section D – Any Contract Documents, Exhibits and Attachment, and 4. Section E – Instructions to Offerors.