Intent to Award - Remote Boat

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for a sole source Purchase Order with Frontier Precision for unmanned remote systems.
The period of performance of the resulting award will be 60 days after award.
The USGS, Cooperative Research Units in Reston, VA requests the purchase of remote operated boats critical for efficiently collecting discharge measurements with an ADCP, which in turn support the accuracy of our real time discharge rating models. These models directly serve the public, cooperators, and stakeholders who rely on dependable water data for planning, permitting, emergency response, and resource management.
Therefore, it intends to make a direct award to Frontier Precision, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Overhaul (RFO) 12.102(a).
This is not a request for competitive quotations or proposals but rather an intent to award sole source notification. Questions or concerns may be addressed to the Contract Specialist, Jonathan Wyatt at jonathan_wyatt@ios.doi.gov no later than 8/28/2026.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.
1. Contracting Agency and Activity The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Reston Science Acquisition Branch.
2. Nature of Action Being Approved.
The U.S. Geological Survey (Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center, Tallahassee Field Office) requests award of a non-competitive purchase order to Frontier Precision. The delivery date is 30 days from the receipt of purchase order.
3. Description of Supplies or Services.
The USGS Caribbean Florida Water Science Center, Tallahassee Field Office, requests procurement of equipment for unmanned remote system for acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). The remote operated boat will allow users to make accurate discharge measurements efficiently in less time and reduce physical strain and exposure to heat related illnesses. This consists of 2 remote systems, one for each type of ADCP and pontoon boat, the TRDI Stream Pro and River Pro. Each remote system has a power control box and 2 battery packs, 2 thrusters, and a remote handheld to control the vessel. All this equipment will be purchased from the manufacturer of Stork Remote Systems for TRDI ADCP s by Frontier Precision.
4. Statutory Authority The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR Overhaul (RFO) 12.102(a).
5. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5.
The Stork Remote System is specifically designed and fitted to the pontoon boat for the TRDI Stream Pro and River Pro. Each instruments boat varies in size and shape, and the thruster attachments are fitted to each boat specifically. No other vendors have remote boat attachments that will fit the TRDI ADCP pontoon boats. For these reasons, the purchase needs to be made with the manufacturer Frontier Precision.
6. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.
Market research consisted of conducting internet searches and reviewing other known vendors and equipment of ADCP s. Other systems are costly and bulky and would require more work to carry extra gear. No other remote system or attachments were available that would not compromise the quality of streamflow data collection with a TRDI instrument.
7. Future Plans to Permit Competition.
Once we have obtained the Stork remote system, operators will be able to safely and efficiently make accurate discharge measurements, which in turn will support our real-time discharge rating models. The models serve the public, stakeholders and cooperators who rely on real-time data for flood and drought monitoring.