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How to Use the Pricing Guides
Introduction
The pricing guides list the cost of each analysis available from all of
our contract labs including ACF's lab. This information can be used to
estimate the cost of your sample analysis and determine how much money
will be needed for proposed studies and projects. However, we want to
emphasize that the pricing sheets should only be used to "estimate" the
cost of your analysis, not the final cost. Even though your estimate
and the final cost may turn out to be the same, there are often
unforeseen circumstances that may affect the selection of the lab, the
requested analysis, and other factors that affect the final price.
How Lab Prices are Set
Every five years, ACF awards an Organic and Inorganic contract to
various labs across the county (and even Canada). The award process
conducted by ACF is both rigorous and extensive, with the primary
objective of selecting a lab(s) that is capable of performing quality
chemical analyses. The actual cost of the analysis is only considered
at the very end of the award process, and sometimes not at all. If ACF
has more labs then are needed that meet our quality standards, then the
cost of the analyses may be considered.
Contracts are awarded for a 5 year period. Prior to awarding a
contract, the perspective lab includes the cost of each analysis for
the entire 5 year period.
Perspective contract labs are free to include any analyses in their
proposals, but they are required to include certain "routine analysis".
Which analyses are considered "routine" (like Metals Scan, OC Scan, PCB
Congener Scan, etc.) is set by ACF based solely on the needs of our
customers, you, the catalog submitters. As issues and study needs
change, or new methods and analysis become available, new "routine" analyses are added to the contracts. However, ACF recognizes that it
cannot anticipate every need, especially over a 5 year period.
Therefore, if you require an analysis that is not part of our pricing
sheet, please contact us.
ACF is here to meet our client's analytical needs. Special services
can be arranged. If our contract labs can't perform the analysis you
need, then we can often help you find a lab that can.
Non-FWS Organic and Inorganic Prices
The prices shown on the pricing sheets that follow are the actual costs
charged by each lab. However, there may be additional overhead charges
added to the lab prices that you should be aware of, depending on who is
paying for the analyses.
Special Note: If a non-FWS agency is doing work for
the FWS and pays for their analyses using a FWS cost code, then
NO overhead charges will be accessed.
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USGS Catalogs - To get the true cost of your sample
analysis, USGS customers should add 42% to the prices shown on the
pricing sheets. The 42% figure includes two overhead charges. A 17%
overhead charge is accessed by the FWS for processing funds
transferred from the USGS (Interagency Agreement). ACF also includes
a 25% overhead charge for processing catalogs and analytical results
(performing QA/QC).
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Other Agency Catalogs - To get the true cost of
your sample analysis, all other agencies (other then the FWS and
USGS) should add 47% to the prices shown on the pricing sheets. The
47% figure includes two overhead charges. A 22% overhead charge is
accessed by the FWS for processing funds transferred from the other
agencies (Interagency Agreement). ACF includes a 25% overhead charge
for processing catalogs and analytical results (performing QA/QC).
Things to Keep in Mind
Using the pricing guides is simple and does not require a lot of instructions.
However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:
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Price Per Sample vs. Price Per Element - The majority
of the analyses included in the pricing sheets show the price per sample,
but not all, expecially many of the inorganic analyses. Many of the
inorganic "Determination" anlayses are priced based on the number of
elements requested for each sample. How the analysis is priced is shown
in italics after the analysis name, if it is something other then
"per sample". For example the price listed for "HGA - Determination" is
per sample and element. Therefore, if you were requesting HGA-Determination
for Lead, Selenium, and Zinc, the price at TERL for tissue samples
would be $90 per sample ($30 per element for one sample using the 2008 prices).
For additional examples on using "Prep" and "Determination", see examples 5, 6,
and 8 in the section entitled "Pricing Examples" below.
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Price Per Matrix - This is pretty obvious, but many
of the prices are also based on the sample matrix. If the analysis
doesn't include a sample matrix then it's not a factor when
determining the price. For those analyses that do list a sample
matrix, then the lab will only perform the analysis on those matrixes
listed. For example, AVS and Total Organic Carbon will only be
performed on Soil/Sediment samples.
In the Organic pricing sheets, the sample matrix "Tissue" includes
both plant and animal samples. In the Inorganic pricing sheets,
"Tissue" is separated into "Animal Tissue" and "Plant Tissue".
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Missing Prices - If the price for a given lab and
analysis is blank, then the lab does not perform that analysis (at
least not on a routine bases).
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Discount Prices - Some of the labs offer discount
prices when certain analyses are combined. These are
indicated in the "Analysis" column of the pricing sheets as "combo prices".
Note however, that the discounts only apply when requesting multiple
analyses on the same sample. For example, if you
had 5 samples and wanted an Aliphatic Scan and Aromatic Scan on each
one, you would get a discount if your samples were analyzed at GERG or TDI.
However, if you had 10 samples and were requesting an Aliphatic Scan
for 5 of them and an Aromatic Scan for the other 5, then you
would not receive a discount.
Most labs can offer a discount for certain analyses because they
only have to do the sample prep once.
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Don't Select the Lowest Prices at Each Lab - When
you indicate that you want a specific lab(s) to perform your
analyses, ACF tries hard to honor your request. However, we also
try to select one lab that can perform all of your analyses without
having to split your samples, or send aliquots to other labs.
Sometimes this is not possible, especially when you request organic
and inorganic analyses in the same catalog. However, ACF rarely
sends samples to multiple labs based solely on the price of the
analyses.
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Rapid Turnaround - Labs have up to 75 days to
perform your requested sample analyses (actually the number of days
also depends on how many catalogs and samples have already been assigned
to a given lab). However, if you indicate that your request is a "rapid
turnaround", the lab will perform your samples analyses within 22 days.
Rapid turnaround requests are not free and are subject to
certain restrictions. For example, your catalog normally must have fewer
then 20 samples and there may be further restrictions depending on
the number and type of analyses you are requesting.
The pricing sheets include the rapid turnaround cost at each lab,
which are on a per sample basis. Therefore, if
you have 5 tissue samples that you want analyzed for
Organochlorines (OC) at GERG, the total cost would be $2,685 using
2008 prices ($1,935 for the OC Scan and $750 for
the rapid turnaround request. If you have 5 tissue samples that
you want analyzed for Organochlorines, Aliphatics, and Aromatics
at GERG, the cost for the rapid turnaround would be the same
($750), since it is based on the number of samples, not the
analyses.
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Lab Names - The full lab name associated with the acronyms
used in the pricing sheet headings are displayed at the bottom of each sheet
(you may have to scroll down to see them).
Pricing Examples
All the examples listed below use the 2008 organic and inorganic prices.
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Organic Sediments Discount Example - TDI was selected as the
lab (GERG could have been selected as well).
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 50 |
Sediments |
Organochlorine Scan (OC)
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Aromatic Scan
Aliphatic Scan |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
TDI is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| OC Scan with PCB Scan (combo price) |
Soil/Sediments |
50 |
$614 |
$30,700 |
| Aromatic Scan / Aliphatic Scan (combo price) |
Soil/Sediments |
50 |
$450 |
$22,500 |
| Total |
$53,200 |
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Organic Tissue Example - GERG was selected as the lab of
choice because they are the only one that can do all the analyses requested.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 4 |
Other Egg (Animal Tissue)
| Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Dioxin & Furan Full Scan |
| 1 |
Whole Body (Animal Tissue) |
Dioxin & Furan Full Scan |
| 5 |
Other Egg (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan |
| 2 |
Whole Body (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Dioxin & Furan Full Scan |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
GERG is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Organochlorine Scan (OC) |
Tissue |
5 |
$387 |
$1,935 |
| OC Scan with PCB Scan (combo price) |
Tissue |
6 |
$607 |
$3,642 |
| Dioxin & Furan Full Scan |
Tissue |
7 |
$650 |
$4,550 |
| Total |
$10,127 |
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Simple Sediments Organic and Inorganic Example - Because the samples
are requesting both an organic and inorganic analysis, the samples
will have to be sent to at least two different labs. TDI was
selected for the organic analyses because they offer a discount for an Aliphatic and
Aromatic Scan (GERG does as well). LET will be used for the inorganic analysis.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 5 |
Sediments |
Organochlorine Scan
Aliphatics Scan
Aromatics Scan |
| 5 |
Sediments |
Metals Scan |
| 5 |
Sediments |
Grain Size
Total Organic Carbon |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
TDI is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Organochlorine Scan (OC) |
Soil/Sediments |
5 |
$352 |
$1,760 |
| Aromatic Scan / Aliphatic Scan (combo price) |
Soil/Sediments |
5 |
$450 |
$2,250 |
| Total |
$4,010 |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
LET is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Metals Scan |
Soil/Sediments |
5 |
$210 |
$1,050 |
| Grain Size |
Soil/Sediments |
5 |
$31 |
$155 |
| Total Organic Carbon |
Soil/Sediments |
5 |
$31 |
$155 |
| Total |
$1,360 |
| Inorganic and Organic Grand Total |
$5,370 |
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Complex Tissue Organic and Inorganic Example - Because the samples
are requesting both an organic and inorganic analysis, the samples will have to be
sent to at least two different labs. GPL was selected for the organic analyses
since they could do all the analyses and TERL for the inorganic analysis.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 4 |
Whole Body (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Metals Scan |
| 1 |
Avian Egg (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Cold Vapor Mercury |
| 1 |
Feces (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Organophosphate Scan
Metals Scan |
| 5 |
Feces (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Organophosphate Scan |
| 2 |
Whole Body (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Organophosphate Scan |
| 12 |
Avian Egg (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Aromatic Scan |
| 2 |
Avian Egg (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Metals Scan |
| 17 |
Whole Body (Animal Tissue) |
Congener Specific PCB Scan
Organophosphate Scan |
| 4 |
Feces (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
Congener Specific PCB Scan |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
GPL is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Organochlorine Scan (OC) |
Tissue |
6 |
$325 |
$1,950 |
| Congener Specific PCB Scan |
|
17 |
$425 |
$7,225 |
| OC Scan with PCB Scan (combo price) |
Tissue |
25 |
$475 |
$11,875 |
| Organophosphate Scan |
Tissue |
25 |
$350 |
$8,750 |
| Aromatic Scan |
Tissue |
12 |
$275 |
$3,300 |
| Total |
$33,100 |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
TERL is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Metals Scan |
Animal Tissue |
7 |
$221 |
$1,547 |
| Cold Vapor Mercury - Prep |
Animal Tissue |
1 |
$38 |
$38 |
| Cold Vapor Mercury - Determination |
|
1 |
$25 |
$25 |
| Total |
$1,610 |
| Inorganic and Organic Grand Total |
$34,710 |
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Inorganic Tissue Prep and Determination Example - This is an
example where the cost per element vs. the number of samples comes into play.
The "Prep" cost is per sample, but the "Determination" cost is per element. TERL
will be used for the inorganic analysis.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 35 |
Animal Tissue |
HGA Analysis (Graphite Furnace AA) for Cadmium, Lead, and Zinc |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
TERL is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| HGA Prep (Graphite Furnace AA) |
Animal Tissue |
35 |
$38 |
$1,330 |
| HGA - Determination (per element) |
|
105 |
$30 |
$3,150 |
| Total |
$4,480 |
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Complex Mixed Matrix Inorganic and Organic Example - TERL will
be the lab of choice for the inorganic analysis and GERG for the organic analyses.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 9 |
Sediments |
Acid Volatile Sulfides
HGA Analysis (Graphite Furnace AA) for Cd-SEM, Cu-SEM, Ni-SEM,
Pb-SEM, Zn-SEM
|
| 13 |
Sediments |
Aromatics Scan
Organochlorines Scan
PCB Individual Aroclors |
| 13 |
Sediments |
Metals Scan |
| 9 |
Whole Body (Animal Tissue) |
Organochlorine Scan
PCB Individual Aroclors |
| 13 |
Sediments |
Grain Size
Total Organic Carbon |
| 3 |
Invertebrate (Animal Tissue) |
Aromatics Scan
Organochlorines Scan
PCB Individual Aroclors |
| 9 |
Whole Body (Animal Tissue) |
Metals Scan |
| 1 |
Water |
Aromatics Scan
Organochlorines Scan |
| 1 |
Water |
Metals Scan |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
GERG is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Organochlorine Scan (OC) |
Tissue |
26 |
$387 |
$10,062 |
| PCB Quantification of Individual Aroclors |
|
25 |
$25 |
$625 |
| Aromatic Scan |
Tissue |
3 |
$385 |
$1,155 |
| Aromatic Scan |
Soil/Sediment |
13 |
$340 |
$4,420 |
| Aromatic Scan |
Water |
1 |
$300 |
$300 |
| Total |
$16,562 |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
TERL is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Metals Scan |
Animal Tissue |
9 |
$221 |
$1,989 |
| Metals Scan |
Soil/Sediment |
13 |
$209 |
$2,717 |
| Metals Scan |
Water |
1 |
$190 |
$190 |
| HGA Prep (Graphite Furnace AA) |
Soil/Sediment |
9 |
$32 |
$288 |
| HGA - Determination (per element) |
|
45 |
$30 |
$1,350 |
| Grain Size |
Soil/Sediment |
13 |
$38 |
$494 |
| Total Orgainc Carbon |
Soil/Sediment |
13 |
$44 |
$572 |
| Acid Volatile Sulfides |
Soil/Sediment |
9 |
$101 |
$909 |
| Total |
$8,509 |
| Inorganic and Organic Grand Total |
$25,071 |
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Simple ICP Inorganic Example - LET will be
used for the inorganic analysis.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 43 |
Sediments |
ICP Scan
Grain Size |
| 8 |
Soils |
ICP Scan
Grain Size |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
LET is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| ICP - Prep |
Soil/Sediment |
51 |
$46 |
$2,346 |
| ICP - Determination |
|
51 |
$41 |
$2,091 |
| Grain Size |
Soil/Sediment |
51 |
$31 |
$1,581 |
| Total |
$6,018 |
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Inorganic ICP-Mass Spec Example - AWH will be
used for the inorganic analysis.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 23 |
Vegetation (Plant Tissue) |
ICP-Mass Spec for Nickel |
| 12 |
Sediments |
ICP-Mass Spec for Nickel |
| 7 |
Invertebrate (Animal Tissue) |
ICP-Mass Spec for Nickel |
| 12 |
Water |
ICP-Mass Spec for Nickel |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
AWH is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| ICP-Mass Spec - Prep |
Animal Tissue |
7 |
$40 |
$280 |
| ICP-Mass Spec - Prep |
Plant Tissue |
23 |
$40 |
$920 |
| ICP-Mass Spec - Prep |
Soil/Sediment |
12 |
$35 |
$420 |
| ICP-Mass Spec - Prep |
Water |
12 |
$25 |
$300 |
| ICP-Mass Spec - Determination |
|
54 |
$90 |
$4,860 |
| Total |
$6,780 |
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Rapid Turnaround - GPL will be used for the
organic analysis.
| Analysis Requested |
| Number of Samples |
Sample Matrix |
Analysis Requested |
| 11 |
Soils |
Organochlorine Scan
Rapid Turnaround |
| 10 |
Soils |
Grain Size
Rapid Turnaround |
| 12 |
Soils |
Total Organic Carbon
Rapid Turnaround |
| Cost of the analysis assuming
GPL is the lab of choice. |
| Analysis |
Matrix |
Number of Samples |
Cost Per Sample |
Total Cost |
| Organochlorine Scan |
Soil/Sediment |
11 |
$300 |
$3,330 |
| Grain Size |
Soil/Sediment |
10 |
$75 |
$750 |
| Total Organic Carbon |
Soil/Sediment |
12 |
$65 |
$780 |
| Rapid Turnaround |
|
33 |
$50 |
$1,650 |
| Total |
$6,480 |
If you have any additional questions about the pricing sheets or the
information presented above, feel free to contact us at any time.
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