A05 1173357 BN JA (West-JA26-017) Under SAT_transducers_AK_23Jun26_Redacted.pdf

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

Identification Number: West-JA26-017

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: 1173557 Requesting Activity Agency: USDA-NRCS Alaska Snow Survey, 800 E Palmer-Wasilla

Hwy, STE 100, Palmer AK 99645 Contracting Activity: FPAC-BC

(2) Estimated Value The estimated value is $59,981.92

(3) Brief Description of Supplies or Services Purchase of (30) GE Druck brand "TERPS" Pressure Transducers: P/N: DPS-813F-TB-A1-CC-HOPE;

range 0-2 Bar, with 15 feet of cable.

Suggested Source:

Druck, LLC 1100,Technology Park Drive 01821 Billerica Middlesex, MA Phone:1-281-542-3650

UEI: QJFHMN2CNG1

(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.

There are an estimated 250 Pressure Transducers deployed in the SNOTEL network managed by the NRCS in Alaska. NRCS requires the use of a Pressure Transducer to measure snow water equivalent (SWE), cumulative precipitation, and barometric pressure at SNOTEL sites. There is currently only one manufacturer of these quoted sensors that will integrate with the existing SNOTEL network. This equipment is uniquely appropriate for this usage as the Pressure Transducers are specially designed to be employed in rugged remote locations with extensive wind/weather exposure and have been designed with the appropriate valves and weatherproof durable materials to withstand extreme environmental conditions and record the range of pressures observed. The TERPS transducers additionally have excellent thermal stability for the extreme temperature variations found in Alaska.

They are also able to be ordered with the submersible connections required by placement used in Alaska. This is the only equipment that fully passes the rigorous testing and calibration procedure conducted in the environmental chamber at the NRCS Electronics Maintenance Facility (EMF) and are approved for use by NRCS Standards and Specifications. Other brand name equipment would result in significant increases in upgrade costs due to the non-compatibility with existing equipment at the current SNOTEL sites and a degradation of critical data quality. NRCS Standards

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

Identification Number: West-JA26-017

Rev. 3/4/26 and Specifications identified in the NRCS General Manual call for replacement of the transducers every 3-5 years for calibration to ensure that measurements remain accurate.

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

Market research was done for type. Web searches brought up a few vendors who were more expensive. A market research plan is part of the accompanying documentation.

Market research has been conducted to determine that there are NO comparable products available for purchase, and this is the standard of the SNOTEL program. The hardware components must be compatible with existing infrastructure and meet the standards and specifications as stated in paragraph 5 above. Use of other 'equal’ equipment would result in significant reconfiguration of existing systems and contribute to a significant increase in cost to replace infrastructure as well as increase labor hours spent performing routine maintenance. It would also compromise data quality for the important precipitation and SWE readings that are measured at SNOTEL stations. This is a unique procurement that only the brand name 'Druck' can provide that meets and/or exceeds NRCS's specifications.

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.