020 Current meter Sole Source Justification_red_Redacted.pdf

Version 2.0 19Aug2020

SINGLE SOURCE DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Marine Mammal Laboratory.

Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

Small, compact, SeaGuard II Recording Current Meters (RCM) with optode and pressure sensor for use in passive acoustic monitoring and ecosystem studies in the Bering and Chukchi seas. We are responsible for providing information on the timing and distribution of marine mammals in Alaskan waters and characterizing the oceanographic and physical environment of these species. We need this contract to be awarded in FY25 with the instruments delivered by January 2026 in time for early-season mooring deployments.

We need to purchase one SeaGuard II RCM instrument plus oxygen optode and pressure sensor, for

Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited.

Xylem Environmental Solutions/Aanderaa 26717 Network Place Chicago, IL 60673 – 1267

536-3851 dylan.bedortha@xylem.com https://www.xylem.com/en-us/

Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

X Compatibility to existing systems or equipment - The required supplies must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, function, data collection) with existing systems or equipment, and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement.

In order for us to be able to integrate these data into the existing decades-long dataset, the instrument must be collecting the exact same data, at the same resolution and accuracy, as the existing instruments. Otherwise, we cannot combine datasets. The only instrument that collects the same data strings at the exact same resolution as the existing dataset is the Aanderaa SeaGuard II (RCM) with oxygen optode and pressure/temperature sensor. Further, these instruments must have a proven track record of superior performance in the cold, harsh Arctic environment in which they are deployed. The SeaGuard has been deployed by our colleagues for decades, with an excellent performance record.

The RCM must have a 2-second recording interval and up to 4 Analog sensor input (0-5 V). It must have a low current drain and a broadband Zpulse multi-frequency Doppler current sensor technology to increase sampling speed while reducing power consumption. It must be able to record data for a full year. It must have a speed range of 0-300 cm/s with a 0.1 mm/s resolution and a mean accuracy of 0.15 cm/s. It must have the option of coming with an oxygen optode and pressure/temperature sensor. The oxygen optode must have a range of 0-multipoint calibration, with an accuracy of +/- The pressure sensor must have an absolute pressure range of 0-4,000 kPa and an accuracy of 0.01%; the temperature sensor must have a range of -5° to 40° C, with an accuracy of 0.1° C.

It must have a depth rating of 300 m with a titanium protective housing, and be small in size, with a maximum length of 370 mm and an outer diameter of no more than 145 mm in order to be compatible with our mooring cage design.

X Other - Only one source is capable –

We deploy our recorders in harsh, remote locations, and they are deployed for a full year. The instrument must be small, sturdy, reliable, and capable of lasting for a full year. The result of losing data from a failed instrument would mean we are unable to fulfill our mission under the MSA, MMPA, and ESA or meet our objectives and project deliverables (required under InterAgency Agreements). In addition, these deployment and recovery cruises are expensive and take a great deal of human effort on the back deck. Knowing that the instruments in a deployed mooring will function properly and for a full year reduces loss to the government and stress to our research team. The SeaGuard II RCM by Aanderaa/Xylem has a decades-long proven track record of superior performance in the cold, harsh Arctic environment. Further, it is the only instrument that is not only compatible with our mooring cage design, but that is 100% consistent with the data already collected, thus allowing us to combine datasets.

5. Market Research.

We have conducted market research and found two other underwater recording current meter instruments. The first is the Aquadopp by Nortek. While this more than meets the depth rating requirements, the Aquadopp is only a single-point current meter, not a profiler, and does not have the broadband zpulse technology. Further, the accuracy is not as fine as the SeaGuard (0.5 cm/s vs

0.15 cm/s). Finally, the Aquadopp does not come with the ability to include an oxygen sensor, which is one of the key parameters we need to record. This instrument is unable to meet our needs and therefore is not being considered.

We also looked at the Midas ECM from Valeport Limited. While this instrument more than meets both our depth rating and our accuracy requirements, the battery life isn’t long enough to record for a full year-long deployment. It also does not have the broadband zpulse technology. Further, it is over twice as long as our mooring cage design will allow, so we have no way of mounting it with the mooring. This instrument is unable to meet our needs and therefore is not being considered.

Other readily available current meters are either the wrong design (e.g., the drag-tilt design that does not work for in-line moorings; TCM-1 Tilt Current Meter by Lowell Instruments LLC) or are designed to be on ROVs or other moving instruments like zooplankton nets (e.g., Digital Current Meter UC-200V by Tamaya Technics), not on stationary moorings.

Finally, we also have spoken with our oceanography colleagues at PMEL/NOAA, the University of Washington, and nationwide and heard their experiences with vendors that produced quality instruments and those that did not (including instruments that failed early, did not collect all necessary data parameters, or did not withstand the harsh Arctic environment). The SeaGuard II RCM is the industry standard for long-term, reliable recording current meters with a decades-long proven track record of performing successfully in the cold, harsh Arctic environment.

Market research report and accompanying quotes are included in the package. The SeaGuard II RCM meets all of the ECP Program requirements.

6. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification

I certify that this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Jessica Crance Date Research Biologist Jessica.crance@noaa.gov

Robert Foy Date Director, AFSC

7. Determination

I hereby determine that the circumstances of this action deem only one source is reasonably available. This determination is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date

CRANCE.JESSICA.L

.1393755241

Digitally signed by

CRANCE.JESSICA.L.1393755241

Date: 2025.06.30 10:00:48 -07'00'

JENKS.JASON.T

UCKER.1535217

Digitally signed by

JENKS.JASON.TUCKER.153

5217145 Date: 2025.09.04 09:09:28 -07'00'