SNOTEL/SCAN Compatible Solar Radiation, Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensors and Data Loggers

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in association with the National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) intends to negotiate a sole source fixed price purchase order with Campbell Scientific, Inc., 815 W 1800 N, Logan, UT 84321-1784, United States, for solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity sensors and data loggers. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for a simplified acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonable available (e.g. urgency, exclusive licensing agreement, brand name or industrial mobilization). This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract and is not a request for competitive proposals. The associated North America Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 334513 and the Business Size Standard is 500. The National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) collects data from multiple Meteorburst master stations in order to obtain remote station data from SNOTEL and SCAN systems and is in need for modified Climate Sensors and Data Acquisition to include; Rotronic Hygroclip Temperature/RH Probes modified to accommodate specific programming for consistent measurements throughout the SNOTEL/SCAN network including custom wiring to meet SNOTEL/SCAN standard wiring scheme. LI-COR Pyronometer customized for consistent calibration factor throughout the network, LI2003S LI-COR Leveling Base, CM225 Solar Sensor Mounting Stand, CS210 Enclosure Humidity Sensor, 05103 Wind Monitor, TX320 High Data Rate GOES Transmitter and CR1000 Datalogger. The primary modifications to the sensors are the cabling color code, cable type and pre-calibration. These sensors and dataloggers are used in essential engineering research and development projects with field applications throughout the USDA-NRCS. These projects range from helping to monitor and predict the snowmelt runoff and required reservoir storage to crop water uses. USDA-NRCS has invested many hours refining the interfacing between the MCC545 and 565 radio and the CRlOOO data logger as well as the programming of the logger to accommodate the customized sensors. The TX320 transmitters are uniquely required to interface with the programming of the CR1000 required to provide consistent data acquisition throughout the SCAN/SNOTEL data network. All remote stations operate against a proprietary operating system. To compete this award would create substantial duplication of costs in which the Government is not expected to recover. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed order is at the sole discretion of the Government. Oral Communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. This is a notice and a solicitation will not be issued. NRCS will not respond to requests for solicitation copies and will not pay for information received in response to this announcement. Please email Amber Carson at amber.carson@usda.gov with responses or questions regarding this requirement. This notice will close on Monday, August 04th at 11:00 a.m. (Central Time).