Sole_Source_dataloggers_-_.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

1. AGENCY INFORMATION

USDA, Forest Service Northern Research Station Marcell Experimental Forest

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION BEING APPROVED

a. The Government requires a contractor to furnish equipment necessary to upgrade and expand environmental monitoring and research infrastructure at the Marcell Experimental Forest, consistent with the existing measurement network and systems operation. The site in northern Minnesota is part of a federally funded research and development center with decades of baseline environmental monitoring and research. The existing monitoring network includes data logging control systems, and their fully compatible peripheral sensors and telecommunications via radio/Ethernet/wireless/cellular connectivity as well as the use of proprietary software to interface with dataloggers to program sensor measurements and data recording. It is essential that all equipment be directly and readily integrated into the existing environmental monitoring system to assure uninterrupted data collection, continuity with the long-term monitoring program, and integrity/compatibility of environmental measurements with long-term records and record-keeping protocols. Turnkey connectivity with the existing sensor/logging/telecommunications systems is critical for data reporting, science integrity, and compatibility with protocols of data collection and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures of a long-term environmental research program. This sole source effort ensures the continuity of sensors, data logging/control systems, and telecommunications that are necessary to maintain current and ongoing scientific research.

b. Proposed vendor: Campbell Scientific Incorporated: Fed. I.D. #87-0305157 DUNS#06-798-0730

3. DESCRIPTION OF WORK, INCLUDING ESTIMATED VALUE

a. History: The purpose of the project is to upgrade, repair and replace existing equipment at the

Marcell Experimental Forest. The bolted pressure switch is the main disconnect for facilities at

FPL.

b. Reason for the proposed Action: The existing equipment is outdated and in need of upgrade.

While an upgrade is necessary, the integrity of the current – on-going research and experiments requires that the Government procure the equipment that is both compatible with existing equipment and ensures the validity of current research.

General description of requirement: Our specific needs at the Experimental Forest are for:

1) Dataloggers to measure sensors, store data, and allow telecommunications: 10-18 V DC power requirement with backup battery, capacity to power using 10-100 W regulated solar panels; operational temperature range from -40 to +40 degree Celsius;

direct Ethernet, CS I/O, RS-232, CPI, and RS-485 connectivity; Internet protocol via Ethernet, CS I/O IP, ICMP/Prin, IPv4, IPv6, TCP, DHCP, HTTP, and FTP; PakBus, TCP, and SDI-12 communication protocols; serial sensor integration and measurement using SDI-12, RS-232, and RS-485 protocols; minimum of 16 single-ended or eight differential analog inputs; pulse counter capability; minimum of 4 voltage excitation terminals; minimum of one switched 12 V terminal; minimum of 8 digital I/O terminals; capacity to interface with and control/receive signals from multiplexers and relays; direct PC communication via USB port, 10/100baseT, and Ethernet ports;

interface with Juniper Systems Archer II Field PC for data download and program upload/download; minimum of 4 MB data storage; weighs < 3 lbs; dimensions < 30 x

15 x 5 cm; interfaces with sensors via screw-clamp terminals; powered through a removable terminal block with screw-clamp terminals for 12 V and ground connections; readily mountable to ½ x ½” on-center holes in an environmental enclosure backplate; lug for grounding; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, programming, and compatibility with common sensors like thermocouples, serial, SDI-12, pulse, and frequency sensors; documentation that provides descriptions of measurement/control capacity and examples of programs for control/measurement of sensors.

2) Telecommunications via 900 MHz 1W spread spectrum radio that connects with 900 mHz 6dBd Yagi or 3dBd Omni antennas with type N female connectors; antennas with surge protection; RG8 antenna cable compatible; radio with CS I/O and RS-232 ports/protocols; does not require individual operational license; radio communication up to 5 km; capable of master, remote, or repeater role; compatible with existing RF450 (Campbell Scientific Inc.) and existing CR1000 or CR1000x controllers used in the research monitoring network; radios readily mountable to ½ x ½” on-center holes in an environmental enclosure backplate; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with CR1000 and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.); antennas, cables and connectors must be weather resistant for outdoor exposure and maintain operability from -40 to +60 degrees Celsius.

3) Ethernet and Wireless interfaces that are compatible with and attachable to existing CR1000 and a CR5000 dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.) in the research monitoring network; powered from and operated via connectivity with a datalogger’s peripheral port and telecommunication over standard IP network; provided with manuals that fully document specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 and CR5000 dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.) that are used in the environmental monitoring program.

4) RS-485 multidrop interface for communication between two existing CR1000 dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.) that are already part of the environmental monitoring network; allows telecommunications and data transfer between 2 dataloggers; readily mountable to ½ x ½” on-center holes in an environmental enclosure backplate; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers.

5) Soil water content sensors: technology must be consistent with and directly comparable to water content reflectometry sensor technology, which is the basis of existing measurements and long-term data; 5-18 V DC power supply; 30-cm long rods to contact soils; accuracy of plus or minus 2.5% volumetric water content; better than 0.1% volumetric water content precision; water content calculation based on the Topp equation; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.); antennas, cables and connectors must be weather resistant for outdoor exposure and maintain operability from 0 to +40 degrees Celsius, with exposure to -40 degrees Celsius without damage to components.

6) Wind speed and direction sensor: technology must be consistent with and directly comparable to existing use of RM Young 05103 anemometers for wind speed/direction measurements; 5-18 V DC; wind-turned propeller for wind speed measurement; sensor body orients to wind-direction for potentiometric measurement; housing of UV-stabilized materials; resistant to atmospheric pollutants; long-wearing ceramic (vs.

stainless steel) bearings to optimize operational lifespan; provided with a mount option to suspend the sensor from a tower; 0-100 m/s measurement range; plus or minus 0.3 m/s accuracy; starting threshold at or below 1.0 m/s; 0-360 degree mechanical rotation;

accuracy of plus or minus 3% rotation; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.).

7) Temperature probes suitable for prolonged belowground exposure including saturated and unsaturated conditions, up to 1-m burial depth; slim design to avoid disturbance of soil, <1 cm diameter/width x 15 cm length; operational from -40 to +50 deg Celsius; up to 8 sensors must be connectable to a single, dedicated datalogger with eight differential or 16 single-ended ports; plus or minus 0.2 degree Celsius accuracy;

provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.).

8) Water conductivity and temperature probes to measure electrical conductivity and temperature of water; must operate using similar technology to a CS547A sensor (Campbell Scientific Inc.) to compare with existing sensors in the monitoring network;

must tolerate acidity to pH of 3.2; depth up to 2-m deep; operable from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius; minimum measurement range from 10 to 1500 microSiemens/cm for electrical conductivity, plus or minus 10% of reading; easy to clean of aquatic biofilms;

dimensions less than 10 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.).

9) Air temperature and relative humidity probes that are consistent in technology with and comparable to data from Vaisala HMP45 sensors that are part of the existing monitoring network; temperature measurement range of -40 to +40 degrees Celsius (minimum range; 0.01 deg C resolution, plus or minus 0.3 deg C accuracy) and 0 to 100% relative humidity (0.03% resolution); SDI-12 communication; must fit an already-owned 41303-5A radiation shield (Campbell Scientific); provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.).

10) A quantum sensor for measurement of photosynthetically active radiation; must be consistent in technology with and comparable to data from LI-190 (LiCor) sensors, which are used elsewhere in the environmental monitoring network; provided with a mount option to hold and level the sensor on a cross beam; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.).

11) A sonic ranging sensor for acoustic measurement of snow depth; must be consistent in technology with and comparable to data from SR50A sensors (Campbell Scientific Inc.), which are used elsewhere in the environmental monitoring network; 1-3 m measurement range; operating range from -40 to +40 degrees Celsius; 0.0005 m resolution with plus or minus 1 cm accuracy; provided with a mount option to suspend the sensor from a 3-cm diameter horizontal pipe; provided with manuals fully documenting specifications, operability, and compatibility with existing CR1000 dataloggers and CR1000X dataloggers (Campbell Scientific Inc.).

c. Estimated Value: $60,000.00

4. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The authority permitting other than full and open competition in this acquisition is:

FAR 6.302-3 Industrial mobilization; engineering, developmental, or research capability; or expert services.

5. PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS

Campbell Scientific Inc. (Logan, UT) meets the criteria listed above and is the only vendor that provides the full systems compatibility with the existing environmental monitoring network at the Marcell Experimental Forest. Campbell Scientific provides turnkey environmental sensors, datalogging systems, and telecommunications devices along with component mounting options and software. Continued use of their devices are required to ensure the integrity and consistency of existing field equipment, operational protocols, and data acquisition/transfer systems that are used at the Marcell Experimental Forest. Using sensors, dataloggers, telecommunications, control programs, and data acquisition systems to maintain continuity of sensor technology, data types, and data quality is important in the provisioning of long-term quality-assured and consistent data while eliminating the need for new training, protocols, systems familiarization, use of multiple protocols, use of multiple software systems, and incompatible technologies. Scientists and technicians at the Marcell Experimental Forest have expertise in the installation and operation of the Campbell Scientific dataloggers, sensors, and telecommunications devices and routinely use the LoggerNet software to program measurement systems. In addition, these particular systems are being used throughout the NRS SmartForest system (including an installation at the Marcell Exp. Forest). This consistency assures compatibility, operability, and potential for swapping of components and technical expertise within the Marcell Experimental Forest and among the Northern Research Station Experimental Forests.

6. EFFORTS MADE TO OBTAIN COMPETITION

No other suitable sensor, dataloggers, and telecommunications option with turnkey installation and systems compatibility/swappability with existing technologies in our monitoring network, as specified above, exists.

Products from Campbell Scientific are fully compatible and interchangeable with our existing environmental monitoring system, sensor technologies, and data (quality, type, and compatibility) including data acquisition / transfer systems and control / measurement system programming. These products are implementable and consistent with protocols that have been applied for long-term data collection. The LoggerNet software (Campbell Scientific) is proprietary and is needed to program dataloggers that are already owned (CR1000 and CR5000 dataloggers) and CR1000X dataloggers (which are already a GSA contract item). The requested software is an update to software that is already used for existing datalogging/control systems at the Marcell Experimental Forest. The old version is out of date and the newest version is needed to set up, program, and operate the Campbell Scientific sensors and dataloggers.

Importantly, this software has CIO tech approval and is a GSA Contract item. The technical manuals available from Campbell Scientific fully document connectivity, compatibility, operation, programming, and troubleshooting of sensors, dataloggers, and communications devices.

7. DETERMINATION THAT ANTICIPATED COST WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

This determination will be made by the Contacting Officer at the time of award.

8. DESCRIPTION OF MARKET SURVEY

We routinely consider alternative products. We are not aware of other vendors and systems-ready products (dataloggers, radios, peripheral sensors, peripheral supplies, and software) that are fully consistent with our research and monitoring needs, are documented with manuals that describe connectivity with our existing datalogging/control systems, and have turnkey, full compatibility with our existing sensing/logging/data transfer, data handling, and data QA/QC protocols.

9. OTHER SUPPORTING FACTS

None

10. OTHER INTERESTED SOURCES

None.

11. ACTIONS TO OVER COME BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

In future procurements of this matter, we will re-examine the marketplace to determine if other companies have been certified by the software developer to provide this type of service. Currently, no other qualified source is available and no subcontracting opportunities exist.

As required by FAR 6.303-1 and 6.303-2, the undersigned does herby certify that the data and information provided to support this recommendation for acquisition of laboratory casework, without providing for full and open competition, is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Prepared by: Randy Kolka Date: 13 July, 2018

As Contracting Officer, I concur with this reasoning and the price is fair and reasonable.

Date: 13 July, 2018 Colleen Reittinger, Contracting Officer