Intent to Sole Source-Apogee Thermopile Pyranometers

This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract and is not a request for competitive proposals. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC-BC) intends to issue a sole source, firm-fixed-price contract to Apogee Instruments, Inc., 721 West 1800 North, Logan, UT 84321 for the purchase of Pyranometers designated for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Snow Survey Data Collection Office located in Denver, Colorado. The proposed contract action is for commercial items for which the Government intends to solicit in accordance with Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b), Only one source reasonably available and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Snow Survey Data Collection Office of NRCS has the responsibility of forecasting water runoff and supplies for municipal and agricultural uses. Snow Survey monitors the winter snowpack for forecasting and projecting annual streamflow. This information is utilized by states and various governmental agencies to determine associated drought indicators. It is the intent of the FPAC Business Center to purchase the Pyranometers for the Snow Survey Program for replacement of the existing LICOR 200 solar radiation sensors. Part # SP-510-SS; Thermopile Heated Pyranometer (Upward), Unamplified with Stainless Steel Connector and 5m cable Part # SP-610-SS; Thermopile Heated Pyranometer (Downward), Unamplified with Stainless Steel Connector and 5m cable Part # AL-130; Albedometer Mounting Bracket These Pyranometers are now the standard for measuring solar radiation throughout the NRCS Snow Survey Program and are currently installed and deployed in other Data Collection Office Territories. As a program, this sensor will be the new standard for collecting solar radiation data. Snow Survey is moving to a net radiometer, versus an incoming solar radiation sensor. This move is to better understand the overall energy budget that drives the melt of mountain snowpack. The use of upward and downward instruments provides the flexibility required for the weather conditions and is an additional tool for the forecast hydrologist. Consistency of instruments is vitally important. Use of any other instruments would introduce error and non-comparable data. The commitment to the Snow Survey Program standardization ensures that instrument algorithms, power consumption, reading spectrums, and the proprietary operation of the sensors, assure data between Data Collection Offices is reliable, valid and comparable with other Data Collection Offices within the Snow Survey Program. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 334519, Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing, with a business size standard of 500. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotes. However, if any other interested party believes that it can provide the required products, it may submit a statement of capabilities. Capability statements must display sufficient detail and evidence to determine if the party has the ability to provide the required products. The statement of capabilities must be furnished in writing and e-mailed to Vickie Grant, Vickie.grant@usda.gov by September 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The government will not pay for information received in response to this announcement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. This is a notice and a solicitation will not be issued. Oral communications will not be accepted in response to this notice.