JA_Sole_Source_-_Microwave_Telemetry_Transmitters.pdf

Justification & Approval Page 1 of 5 9/9/2019

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

GPS/GSM (Cellular) Backpack Transmitters Reference Requisition # 972025

This justification and approval for a sole source noncompetitive acquisition is prepared in accordance with FAR 6.303-2 for an acquisition that will be conducted under FAR 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING

ACTIVITY:

Requesting Agency:

USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 2820 East University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32641

Contracting Activity:

USDA APHIS

Acquisition & Asset Management Division 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401

2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING

APPROVED:

The purpose of this acquisition it to purchase twelve (12) GPS/GSM Microwave Telemetry cellular backpack transmitters to be used to continue ongoing research on meta- population dynamics, response to management, and migration patterns for black and turkey vultures in Southeastern to Mid-western states.

3. A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, OR SERVICES

REQUIRED TO MEET AGENCY NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED

VALUE OF THE ACQUISITION INCLUSIVE OF OPTIONS):

The estimated value of this acquisition is 45,000.00.

The goal of this project is to use GPS/GSM telemetry to determine meta-population dynamics, and movement and migration patterns in response to management efforts for vultures using livestock facilities in the Southeast and Mid-west states. The project will encompass a collaborative effort where migratory birds will be fitted with GPS capable GSM transmitters, and released to determine their migratory impacts to livestock producers. GPS/GSM telemetry equipment to be used in studies of vultures in the Southeast and Mid- west will include:

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Twelve (12) - Microwave Telemetry GPS/GSM transmitters Transmitter Specifications:

Dimensions: L 3.3" (83.8) x W 1.15" (29.2) x H 0.80" (20.3) (mm) Weight: 45 grams Antenna: Hard nylon coated flexible stranded marine grade stainless steel, 3.35" (85

mm) long, protruding from the back edge of the transmitter 45 degrees to the bottom face.

Construction: Lightweight glass-reinforced epoxy composite material, plated on the inside with a continuous metal coating. The final seal is a metal-to-metal solder, hermetically sealed to changes in temperature and humidity.

Sensors: Includes sensors to measure temperature, battery voltage, animal activity, as well as a sixteen channel GPS receiver that senses position, altitude, heading and speed. The maximum altitude is 2047m; the maximum speed in 127 km/h.

General Electrical Specifications:

Operating frequency:

850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Power output: 2W output is standard Operating temperature range: -15 to 45 Deg C Certified by:

FCC

Industry Canada

PTCRB

Features:

• Internal micro-power GPS receiver

• GPS horizontal accuracy ± 18m on average

• GPS vertical accuracy ± 22m on average

• GPS resolution 0.00001 degree (approximately 1 meter at equator)

• Solar powered

• Microprocessor controlled battery charge management to allow the transmitter to charge during the day and collect data and transmit at night

• Dynamically adjusting GPS fix rate; rate of fix acquisition increases with higher battery voltage, decreases with lower battery voltage. Daytime fix acquisition rate ranges from 1 minute to 2 hours, depending on the battery voltage. At night, the transmitter goes into a more conservative data collection mode in which the data collection interval expands from half an hour to 4 hours.

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• Dataset transmitted once a day. If the unit is not in a location with GSM service, data are stored until transmission is possible.

• GPS location data include altitude, lat/long coordinates, HDOP, VDOP and number of satellites used to obtain the fix.

• Transmitter archives up to 258,000 locations.

• Temperature, battery voltage and activity sensors

• 3.35 inch (85 mm) external antenna produces a stronger radiated signal than a concealed internal antenna; better signal-to-noise ratio for better reception in low coverage areas

• Configured for backpack attachment (except 50 gram Patagial unit)

• Up to three years’ operating lifetime

• One year warranty against electronic failure

4. IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUATORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING

NONCOMPETITIVE ACQUISITIONS:

The statutory authority for this noncompetitive acquisition is 41 USC 3304 (a) (1)

5. A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE

QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES

USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED:

This company is currently the only manufacturer that makes a solar powered GSM/GPS capable unit with greater than 1 year of battery life, with location, speed, direction and altitude capability, and is small enough ≤ 45 g) to attach to vultures. Our past experience and experiences of other colleagues has been that this company provides superior service on these types of products and is currently the only company that makes a unit small enough to meet our project needs and regulatory requirements for marking vultures with units of ≤ 3% of body weight. This is the 4th project utilizing this manufactures satellite transmitter technology. Wildlife transmitter reliability is in general a significant challenge, as many companies have products that will have failure rates up to 50%. This information cannot be captured in a market search, as the companies do not report their failure rates. We have experienced a >90% success/reliability rate with Microwave Telemetry, which is unheard of in the business of wildlife transmitters.

Microwave Telemetry GPS/GSM transmitters are made in the USA and is FCC, PTCRB, Industry Canada, and CE certified. Some manufacturers’ GSM transmitters do not have external antennas, but the external antenna produces a stronger radiated signal than a concealed internal antenna; this provides a better signal-to-noise ratio for better reception in low coverage areas. This is a continuation of a long-term research project on vulture movements. Maintaining data continuity by using standardized platforms for analysis, is crucial for this project.

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The primary purpose of the transmitters are to use the data provided by them to develop fine-scale movement models for black vultures in relation to livestock production areas that will allow us to learn how to mitigate the damage that American farmers are experiencing by way of losing calves. Our research collaborator at Purdue University has informed us that having every one minute transmission frequency is essential to the success of the project. To our knowledge, Microwave Telemetry is the only American company producing transmitters for raptors with this transmission frequency.

6. A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE

SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS

PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS, OR WILL BE,

PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION

(FAR) SUBPART 5.2, AND IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER FAR 5.202

APPLIES:

A search of a number of manufacturers and integrators of GSM Transmitters did not produce any company capable of meeting our specifications.

We performed a Google search for “gps/gsm transmitters that transmit every minute” and found the results listed in the link below. The only company we could find that fit that need, was from a company in Lithuania and has no track record that we could find.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=gps%2Fgsm+transmitters+that+transmit+every+minute

7. A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE

ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND

REASONABLE, AND THE BASIS FORTHAT DETERMINATION:

The cost of the contract act is determined to be fair and reasonable. The contractor pricing is competitive and they also provided a discounted rate to the government.

8. A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (FAR

PART 10) AND THE RESULTS, OR AN EXPLANATION OF THE REASON

MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT PERFORMED:

During market research by the contracting officer, several sources were located for solar powered transmitters, but none of which report the ability to be able to transmit location data at one minute intervals. The Wildlife Services program personnel also conducted market research as did not locate any vendors products than can meet their requirements.

To our knowledge, Microwave Telemetry is the only American company producing transmitters for raptors with this transmission frequency that meets the government’s requirements.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dfirefox-b-1-d%26q%3Dgps%252Fgsm%2Btransmitters%2Bthat%2Btransmit%2Bevery%2Bminute&data=02%7C01%7C%7C65893734f59f46a6ae8808d7322ed950%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637033049102268870&sdata=cdGAdu0Q4moLK%2BBHfaxngkyZ6Ny6FXkhx7BQEFmYzsM%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dfirefox-b-1-d%26q%3Dgps%252Fgsm%2Btransmitters%2Bthat%2Btransmit%2Bevery%2Bminute&data=02%7C01%7C%7C65893734f59f46a6ae8808d7322ed950%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637033049102268870&sdata=cdGAdu0Q4moLK%2BBHfaxngkyZ6Ny6FXkhx7BQEFmYzsM%3D&reserved=0

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9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL

AND OPEN COMPETITION - FAR 6.303-2(a)(9):

None

10. A LISTING OF SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED, IN WRITING, AN

INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITON:

No solicitation was issued but no sources have expressed interest to the program personnel.

All sources have an opportunity to express an interest or respond to this sole source justification notice.

11. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY. THE AGENCY MAY TAKE

TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION

BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES,

EQUIPMENT, OR SERVICES REQUIRED:

Future sole source justifications for this product will only occur if the program personnel cannot locate other companies producing a GSM/GPS solar powered transmitter capable of providing data at one minute intervals.

12. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS

JOFOC IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETETOTHE BEST OF MY

KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.

Corinne Nygren Date

Contracting Officer

Bryan Kluever Date Program Manager USDA, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center