Nile Water Level Sensors for the Engineering Branch in Chesapeake, VA

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Acquisition Division – Kansas City office intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106(b)(1), with YSI Inc Yellow Springs, OH a purchase order for NOAA Nile Water Level Sensors for the Engineering Branch in Chesapeake, VA.

The Government intends to utilize the authority under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106(b)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements, unless, as a result of this announcement, acceptable responses to this notice are received and a determination is made by the Government to issue a competitive solicitation. The Government intends to award a purchase order to YSI Inc.

Sole Source Justification:

The NOAA Nile, FMR51 Design Analysis radar water level sensor, Part Number: 203360 (Formally Series 3611) is CO-OPS standard noncontact primary water level sensor used at environmental monitoring stations on the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of America coast, throughout the Pacific, the Great Lakes, the Caribbean, and in coastal areas of Alaska. YSI/Xylem is the sole manufacturer and sole distributor of the equipment in this purchase. As the manufacturer, only YSI/Xylem has the proprietary rights and knowledge to produce the specialisted oceanographic equipment in this purchase. Significant engineering effort was utilized to ensure these sensors not only provide the precise measurements required but also are capable of withstanding the harsh marine environments they are deployed in for extended periods of time and that the power consumption, size, and other characteristics are appropriate for the specialized data acquisition and logging system to which it is connected. This purchase is to support maintenance efforts at stations within the CO-OPS network, including those in Upper Chesapeake Bay PORTS® and New York/New Jersey Harbor PORTS®. Implementing different components will result in additional cost and resources. Also, there will be resulting delay for testing, training, and purchase of support equipment.

Under the current CO-OPS operating system any environmental monitoring equipment that has not previously been approved must be subjected to a series of tests to ensure the quality of the data and the durability of the equipment for the intended use. These tests usually include bench testing using controlled conditions and physical measurement, controlled environmental testing to check a sensor’s reliability under different conditions, and long-term comparison testing with accepted equipment at multiple real-world locations. These tests and the analysis of the resulting data take a large amount of time, money, and resources to conduct.

CO-OPS environmental monitoring systems are designed to operate with the components in this purchase. Implementing different components will result in compatibility issues.

Currently CO-OPS field personal and contractors are trained in the use and maintenance of the systems and components in this purchase. Additional cost will incur from having to train field personal and contractors on the use and maintenance of new equipment.

CO-OPS also has the ability and equipment to test, calibrate, and repair the sensors in this purchase. If new sensors are purchased additional parts and equipment will need to be purchased to support the new equipment. Additional training will also be required for those tasked with calibrating and repairing this equipment.

This special notice is not a request for competitive offerors and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide this supply may submit substantiating documentation in writing within fifteen business days of this notice. Responses can be sent via e-mail to Abigail.green@noaa.gov. Documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. If no documentation is received, award will be made directly to YSI Inc.

DOC, Eastern Acquisition Division requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. Contractors active in SAM have a

unique entity identifier (UEI) that is used to do business with the federal government. The Government has moved to a free new, non-proprietary identifier that will have to be requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). You can register and access the site by going to www.sam.gov.