1174100 BN JA (West-JA26-020) Sutron Equip_26Jun26__Redacted.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture Decision to Restrict Competition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Identification Number:

Rev. 3/4/26

In accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) FAR

12.102 (a), the following documents the decision to restrict competition for this acquisition.

(1) Mission Area and Contracting Activity.

Requisition Number: 1174100 Requesting Activity Agency: USDA-NRCS-National Water and Climate Center Contracting Activity: Brand Name Only Firm-Fixed Price

(2) Estimated Value

The Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program (SSWSFP) needs to procure (32) transmitters and

(32) antennas this fiscal year. The Sutron Satlink3 SL3-XMTR-1 transmitter with mounting bracket SL3-MTG- KIT-F-1 and the Sutron Geostationary Antenna, GEO-ANT-GPS-K10 have been fully tested and vetted for use in these networks.

The estimated total dollar value of this contract is with delivery of the equipment required within 90 days after the contract is awarded.

(3) Brief Description of Supplies or Services

The NRCS SNOTEL and SCAN networks monitor the snowpack across the mountains in the western United States (U.S.) and soil moisture conditions across the U.S. Each station in these networks transmits hourly data from a remote location to a central database so that it is available to develop water supply forecasts and can be made available to the American public. For each station to transmit critical data they require a transmitter and antenna that utilize the GOES satellite system. There are over 900 SNOTEL stations and over 200 SCAN stations that require telemetry equipment. New transmitters and antennas are needed to replace legacy equipment that is coming to end of life and to swap equipment that has been damaged by environmental hazards (water, lightning, falling trees, etc).

(1) Suggested Source

OTT HydroMet Corporation 22400 Davis Drive, Suite 100 Sterling, VA 20164-7128

(4) Justification for Restricting Competition and the Basis for that Decision.

A. Explain the unique qualifications/characteristics of the proposed contractor or product and why no other contractor or product/service can meet the Government's need.

Transmitters used to telemeter hourly data from SNOTEL and SCAN stations must use GOES satellites for their data transmissions and must be compatible with NOAA’s GOES Data Collection System (DCS). The transmitters must be easily integrated with and communicate with the Campbell Scientific CR1000x series dataloggers. The transmitters must allow for scalable power so that they can operate with multiple antennas and have a mounting system that allows them to be easily installed on to the existing electronic backplanes at SNOTEL and SCAN stations. Transmitters made by other manufacturers do not meet these requirements for use in the SNOTEL and SCAN networks. Market research shows that the Sutron Satlink3 transmitter is the only GOES transmitter on the open market that meets the specific requirements of compatibility with the GOES satellite system, communication with CR1000x series dataloggers, scalable power, flexibility to operate with multiple antennas and mounting brackets that allow for easy installation onto the existing infrastructure.

Telemetering equipment must meet the specific requirements and be tested and approved for use as outlined in the NRCS SNOTEL Standards and Specifications Guide.

Antennas used to telemeter hourly data from SNOTEL and SCAN stations must be a two in one antenna that have GPS functionality as well as transmit capability using the GOES satellite system. This feature is more efficient, simplifies installation, and is a cost savings to the American taxpayer. The antennas also need to minimize snow load and riming (ice buildup) in the winter months to ensure transmission of critical water supply data are not interrupted during the winter. Market research shows that the Sutron Geostationary Antenna is the only two in one antenna on the open market with a physical design that addresses the snow load and riming issues. The physical design of the antenna has a specific shape that has been tested and demonstrates the ability to shed snow and prevent ice buildup. This is a critical feature to prevent data interruptions during the winter season and ensure reliable transmission of water supply and snowpack data.

Transmitters and antennas are a critical component of the SNOTEL and SCAN networks that allow hourly hydrometeorological data to be reliably telemetered from remote locations to a central database. This data is then used to develop water supply forecasts for agricultural producers, municipalities, dam operators, irrigation districts, etc.. and is also made available to the public. These critical components must meet the specific requirements outlined for the equipment to be easily integrated into the existing networks and for stations to continue to transmit data efficiently.

B. Describe market research conducted and the results or the reason why no market research was conducted.

Market research shows that the Sutron Satlink3 transmitter is the only GOES transmitter on the open market that meets the specific requirements of compatibility with the GOES satellite system, communication with CR1000x series dataloggers, scalable power, flexibility to operate with multiple antennas and mounting brackets that allow for easy installation onto the existing infrastructure. Telemetering equipment must meet the specific requirements and be tested and approved for use as outlined in the NRCS SNOTEL Standards and Specifications.

Market research shows that the Sutron Geostationary Antenna is the only two in one antenna on the open market with a physical design that addresses the snow load and riming issues. The physical design of the antenna has a specific shape that has been tested and demonstrates the ability to shed snow and prevent ice buildup. This is a critical feature to prevent data interruptions during the winter season and ensure reliable transmission of water supply and snowpack data.

Other GOES transmitters and antennas available on the GSA schedule or open market do not meet the minimum requirements outlined above.

Some examples of other transmitters available are:

YSIT-1 GOES Radio Satellite Transmitter – This transmitter is not compatible with Campbell Scientific CR1000x Series dataloggers.

TX325 Satellite Transmitter for GOES – This transmitter does not allow for scalable power and can only be used with antennas with 11dB gain.

FTS G6-DB CS2 GOES Transmitter - This transmitter does not allow for scalable power and can only be used with a specific antenna from the same manufacturer.

Some examples of other GOES antennas available are:

GOES 11dBi Yagi RHCP Antenna – This antenna’s physical design has been shown through intensive field testing and deployment to experience significant snow and ice buildup. Stations with these antennas were shown to lose weeks of data after a snowstorm, when reliable data from SNOTEL stations is critical.

FTS EON2 GOES/Meteostat Antenna – This antenna’s small size resulted in significant snow build up between the antenna and mounting plate. Test site data and transmissions showed that sites would lose weeks of data after a snowstorm.

Certifications & Approvals

(5) Technical / Requirements Personnel Certification I certify this requirement meets the Government’s minimum need and that the supporting data, which forms a basis for this justification, is complete and accurate.

(6) Contracting Officer’s Certification I certify that the data supporting the recommended use of other than full and open competition accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I hereby approve this justification.