Notice of Proposed Contract Action for Sole Source Award for El Yunque National Forest. Remote Automated Weather Station

This is a Notice of Intent to Sole source. Requests for a solicitation will receive no response.

This Proposed Contract Action is published to notify potential sources that the USDA Forest Service, The USDA Forest Service (FS), Procurement & Property Services (PPS), is is intending to award a sole source, Firm Fixed Price contract to Forest Technology Systems Ltd. (FTS), for the procurement and installation of two fixed Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS). This requirement will also include parts and services to refurbish an existing FTS brand RAWS.

PSC: 6660

NAICS: 334513

Size Standard: 750 employees

Project Location: This project is located at El Yunque National Forest, Bo Barcalona, PR191, KM4.4Rio Grande, PR 00745

This procurement is being conducted under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(i). For purchase not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (it) Contracting Officers may solicit form one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only single source reasonably available.

The RAWS are self-contained weather stations that would include adjustable legs, solar panels, air temperature and humidity sensors, tipping rain gauge, wind speed and direction sensor, solar radiation sensor (Pyranometer), EON2 GOES antenna, waterproof and programable data logger, Barometric sensor, soil moisture, Soil Temperature, Ultrasonic wind speed direction and air quality.

The RAWS Depot at NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) supplies the maintenance program for the network of RAWS. All the sensors on the RAWS are required to be replaced at intervals of annually, two or three years, depending on the sensor. The Depot refurbishes and recalibrates these sensors for us in addition to providing technical and maintenance support, trouble shooting and system monitoring. Only FTS products will be supported by the RAWS Depot. Any other supplier's products would require a maintenance agreement that would be an additional expense over and above the current Depot agreements.

Additionally, only FTS equipment is field programmable without the need for a laptop, connecting cables and adaptors or any additional software, substantially reducing costs and preparation time. Field programming is critical based on ever-changing fire environment requires us to adapt our prescribed fire parameters quickly and frequently so that we can effectively and efficiently meet our objectives.

The anticipated award date is April 12, 2024. Interested parties may identify their interests and capabilities to respond to this requirement to the Contracting Specialist, Eric King, by email at eric.king@usda.gov with a courtesy email to the Contracting Officer keith.d.friot@usda.gov within 10 calendar days of this publication. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government.

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by Keith Friot, the Government Contracting Officer, not to compete this proposed award upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. No reimbursement for any cost connected with providing capability information will be provided.