INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE Soil Water Sensor Leads

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS, WBSC, College Station, TX intends to issue a sole source award Acclima, Inc., 1763 W Marcon Ln, Ste. 175, Meridian, ID 83642 for Soil Water Sensor Leads pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The Soil Water Sensor Leads are required to have the following characteristics: 20 EA, Model TDR-315L soil water sensor with 100-ft leads 29 EA, Model TDR-315L soil water sensor with 50-ft leads 30 EA, Model TDR-310S soil water sensor with 10-m leads 30 EA, Model TDR-315 soil water sensor with 10-m leads 15 EA, Model TDR-315L soil water sensor with 10-m leads Specifications in addition to model numbers and lead lengths include: a. Model TDR-315L must have three round stainless steel electrodes of 15-cm length and 0.35-cm diameter spaced at approximately 2 cm center-to-center in one plane forming a waveguide originating from a flat epoxy potted sensor head, must use the SDI-12 signaling protocol for communications to a datalogger, must use a true time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement method involving a fast step pulse (approximately 100 ps incident pulse rise time) and capture of the waveform of reflected voltage values (reflection coefficient), must have the TDR circuitry contained in the sensor head where it is directly coupled to the waveguide without coaxial cabling, must output all of the following: pulse travel time, soil apparent permittivity (with 0.1 unit resolution), soil apparent electrical conductivity, soil temperature, soil water content, and TDR waveform consisting of reflection coefficient values relative to a time base, must accept DC input voltage over a 6 to 15 volt range, and must be low power consuming (<35 ?A at idle). b. Model TDR-315 must have all characteristics of the TDR-315L, but must use higher speed Si-Germanium circuitry with 200 giga-samples-per-second waveform digitizer and a 5 ps resolution time base. c. Model TDR-310S must have all characteristics of the TDR-315L, except must have a round sensor head of 1.315-inch diameter with a stepped shoulder of 1.038-inch diameter suitable for mounting within a PVC Schedule 40 pipe of 1-inch nominal diameter; must have three round stainless steel electrodes of 10-cm length and 0.35-cm diameter, spaced at 0.45 inches center-to-center in one plane; and, can have approximately 350 ps incident pulse rise time. This posting is a NOTICE OF INTENT and is not a request for quotations or proposals. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests for information will not be accepted. Potential sources who believe that they are capable of proving these supplies/services are invited to submit, in writing, substantiating documentation to the identified point of contact by no later than 15 days of the publication of this notice. The information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement for future requirements. A determination by the Government to compete future actions based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. Any questions or concerns about this notice should be directed by email to the primary point of contact.