R--Sole Source Award for Sample Collection at NADP AL99

The U.S. Geological Survey, under the Department of the Interior, has issued a sole source award for the collection and processing of precipitation samples at the NADP AL99 monitoring station located on restricted-access property owned by Auburn University’s Sand Mountain Research Center. The contract, identified by solicitation number 140G0126Q0104, was issued under FAR 13.1 due to the unique and non-transferable requirement that only Mr. Mack Smith possesses authorized access to the site, along with the requisite training and pre-existing institutional agreements necessary to operate and maintain the monitoring equipment. This situation eliminates any viable alternative sources, making competitive bidding unnecessary. The primary obligation is weekly site visits for sample collection, instrument calibration, maintenance, data recording, and shipment of samples, all conducted in accordance with NADP/NTN protocols. The contracting office is located in Reston, Virginia, with Brian Baker designated as the primary point of contact and contracting officer, while no contracting officer’s representative or technical representative has been identified. No formal contract value, payment terms, invoicing instructions, or accounting data has been provided in the documentation, indicating this may be a pre-award notice or that pricing details are contained in a separate document. The place of performance is exclusively at the Auburn University site, requiring strict adherence to its access protocols, which are tied directly to the contractor’s personal authorization rather than institutional capability. There are no specified packaging, marking, or preservation standards, nor are any MIL-STDs referenced for shipment or handling procedures. The award is not subject to competitive evaluation factors, adjectival ratings, or cost analysis, and no socioeconomic or small business status has been declared for the offeror. While access agreements and training records from Auburn University underpin the justification, no formal Section K representations, UEI or CAGE codes, or clause listings from FAR Section I are included. The response deadline for submissions is May 1, 2026, with proposals required to be emailed directly to the contracting officer, though no strict formatting or page limits are imposed due to the non-competitive nature of the acquisition.