Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The US Forest Service (USFS), Washington Office Procurement and Property Services, (herein after referred to as - WOPPS) intends to issue a contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements, on or about May 6, 2022, to RBR, Ltd. (RBR) in support of the USFS Sustainable Wetlands Mitigation and Adaptation Program (SWAMP). The Sustainable Wetlands Mitigation and Adaptation Program (SWAMP) is a global collaborative effort. Our goal is to develop the information and regional capacity necessary to inform management and policy decisions that will guide appropriate management of wetland ecosystems, and to enable in-country partners to participate in international efforts to report on and limit greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands. The turbidity monitors will allow us to track suspended sediment in waters near tidally inundated mangrove forests in similar settings in Costa Rica and in Vietnam. Suspended sediment can be estimated via multispectral satellite remote sensing; when combined with other ground data, this will allow us to determine the relationship between sedimentation rate and turbidity. Satellite remote sensing has the advantages of high temporal frequency and coverage of hard to reach areas. This work will help to understand how mangroves adjust to rising sea level, as well as how they store carbon belowground in different conditions. The objective of this acquisition is to obtain instrumentation which can be used to establish turbidity monitoring sites in mangrove forests in coastal Costa Rica and Vietnam. In order to meet the program goals the instrumentation must be able to measure turbidity throughout the tidal cycle. The monitors must be self-contained with a battery pack and internal loggers and storage as well as the sensor, in order to reduce their conspicuousness in the environment. They must be durable enough to be left in the water in between field measurement visits, or for approximately six months. The sensor must also include a wiper for removing biofouling from the face of the sensor, either integrated or as a separate accessory. WOPPS intends to non-competitively award this requirement to RBR pursuant to the attached Brand Name Justification/Authorization. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 334519 with the size standard of 500 employees. This notice of intent is not a request for quotes. However, all responsible sources may submit an offer and capabilities/narrative that proves by clear and convincing evidence that details their ability to provide the supplies needed for this requirement. If said OFFER and capabilities/narrative is received within fifteen (15) calendar days of publication of this notice, the narrative will be considered by WOPPS. All responses must be submitted to the Government point of contact at the email address shown below. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon the 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.