Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) - Plains, Snow and Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in NE
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Omaha District has prepared a solicitation and intends to issue a Request for Proposal to the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) in accordance with 41 U.S. Code § 1901 as incorporated in FAR Subpart 13.5 procedures. The Omaha District plans to execute a new Single Award Task Order Contract (SATOC) for supplies, which will be titled Upper Missouri River Basin Plains Snowpack and Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in the State of Nebraska (NE). The District intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract for five years (five-year base ordering period with no options) on a sole source basis to UNL. Anticipated award date is 25 September 2020. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency.
The purpose of this contract is to establish a network of stations to monitor snowpack and soil moisture throughout the plains area (MT, WY, ND, SD, & NE) of the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB). The plains area of the UMRB (above Sioux City, IA) in the United States (U.S.) totals 270,000 square miles. In NE, there are approximately 30 new sites that will be operated by the UNL Mesonet that need equipment installed once the sites have been identified. The Mesonets are a mesoscale network of automated weather and environmental monitoring sites. The instrumentation on the existing sites is not consistent but will be standardized and included in the network.
UNL staff have the technical capability to install the equipment, as they were responsible for the purchase and installation of the original equipment at the existing sites. UNL also owns, operates, and maintains the existing sites and will own, operate, and maintain the new sites once identified. UNL will be responsible for selecting the new sites, based on their own criteria. UNL has already obtained the real estate access for the existing sites and will be responsible for obtaining real estate access for all new sites. UNL has established relationships with landowners that will be leveraged when performing work on existing and new sites, once identified. UNL has the necessary infrastructure already in place and has been a product of support and commitment from USACE, NOAA, USBR and other state Mesonet offices. UNL has knowledge of operational efficiencies and the technical protocols required by the Mesonet Program to conduct and oversee upgrading existing and new sites. UNL’s continued efforts are important to maintain consistency, continuity, and data integrity to ensure the necessary equipment is installed correctly and the data can be analyzed, therefore concerting the data to information on which to base management decisions. UNL already possesses experience in installing the full range of equipment and site-specific knowledge, which minimizes any mobilization/start-up costs and delays in becoming familiar with the equipment and installation procedures, and data transmission to support the Mesonet Program. UNL is the proposed sole source contractor. UNL has the unique inherent knowledge of the Mesonet Program and UNL, resulting in increased efficiency and data quality.
W9128F20R0088 Department of the Army Corps of Engineers Engineering District Omaha
9/1/20, 12:10 PM Sole Source Justification and Approval (J&A) - UMRB (UNL)
This Special Notice is a Justification and Approval (J&A) for other than full and open competition, published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering District Omaha. It authorizes an increase in capacity for a Single Award Task Order Contract (SATOC) with the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) to establish and maintain a network of soil moisture and plains snow monitoring stations throughout the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB).
The purpose of this J&A is to continue UNL's work in operating and expanding the UMRB Plains Snowpack and Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, as designated by the Water Resources Reform and Development Act 2014 and the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act 2016. This monitoring network provides critical data to support various federal and state agencies, including the National Weather Service, National Drought Mitigation Center, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The J&A concludes that continuing the work with UNL is the most cost-effective option to ensure data consistency, quality, and timely availability to guide management decisions. The Special Notice was posted on September 5, 2024, with a due date of October 5, 2024. Eligibility is limited to UNL due to their unique knowledge, technical capabilities, and existing infrastructure in the region.
W9128F21D0032 Department of the Army Corps of Engineers Engineering District Omaha
9/5/24, 4:17 PM