Brand Name Justification 142092-26-0058_Redacted.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- 1305M326P0319
About this file
This is a Brand Name Justification for a single-source acquisition of RTK GNSS hydrologic survey equipment and related items for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS) Southern Region.
The contracting activity is the Department of Commerce Acquisition and Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division. The Government requires CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) brand i83 RTK GNSS hydrologic survey equipment and accessories to collect surveyed elevations, along with compatible tablets and software for post-processing hydrologic survey data. These items support multiple NWS functions including river flood impact assessments, flood categorization, georeferencing for hydro-IDSS, flood inundation mapping verification, high-water mark collection, and support to local, state, and federal partners. The contract type is Firm-Fixed-Price with a 60-day period of performance and expected delivery within 5-7 business days of order placement. The procurement is justified under RFO FAR 6.103-1(d) as items peculiar to one manufacturer. The rationale centers on NWS's prior FY25 purchase of similar CHCNAV hardware currently deployed across multiple NWS field offices; switching brands would require developing new training materials, retraining surveyors with resulting efficiency losses, and create incompatibility issues since the equipment operates as base and rover units requiring same-brand compatibility. NWS conducted extensive market research in FY25 evaluating 13 requirements and specifications across leading brands and validated in August 2026 that no significant market changes have occurred, confirming the prior research remains valid.
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BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION
FOR AN ORDER/BPA EXCEEDING MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD
AND UP TO THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD
(AUTHORITY: 41 U.S.C. 1901 and RFO FAR Part 12.102(a))
142092-26-0058
1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD) and the National Weather Service (NWS) Southern Region (SR).
2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).
The National Weather Service Office of Water Prediction requires the CHCNAV brand i83 RTK GNSS hydrologic survey equipment and accessories to collect surveyed elevations, as well as compatible tablets and software to post-process the hydrologic survey data. This data can be used in evaluating river flood impact statements, flood categories, georeferencing impact statements for hydro-IDSS (impact based decision support services), Flood Inundation Mapping verification, and high-water mark collection for riverine and coastal flood verification, as well as support of local, state, and federal partner needs.
Period of Performance: 60 days from the date of award with expected delivery within 5-7 business days from order placement.
Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price
3. Identification of the brand name to be solicited.
CHC Navigation (CHCNAV)
4. Authority and supporting rationale. The contracting officer has determined the following circumstance justifies limiting the source under Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) FAR 6-103-1(d) and as supported below:
Item(s) peculiar to one manufacturer (including brand name) - RFO FAR 6.103-1(d) -
The NWS purchased similar hardware in FY25 and as a result there would be significant costs to purchasing a different brand:
● The hardware is in use at multiple field offices across NWS. NWS training is tailored to this brand. Changing to a different brand would require development and upkeep of a new set of training materials. Even with new training, surveyors at the NWS offices would require significant time to gain equivalent field experience, and would be less efficient in their work in the meantime.
● The hardware includes both a “base unit” and a “rover unit”. If working with another NWS office and they only have a base unit, the only compatible option for a rover unit would be the same CHCNAV brand.
142092-26-0058
5. Market Research
The NWS conducted extensive market research in FY25 prior to the purchase of CHCNAV hardware.
In addition to cost, the market research reviewed 13 requirements and specifications:
● Hardware Type
● Static Positioning Mode (for post-processing/baselines)
● RTK Positioning Mode (real-time kinematic with base or NTRIP)
● PPK Positioning Mode (post-processed kinematic)
● Base Station (transmitting corrections)
● Standalone Rover (with NTRIP or satellite corrections)
● Rover+Base (can work as both in a local setup)
● Is an Annual Subscription Required
● Accuracy
● Connectivity
● Tilt
● NTRIP Support
● Battery Life
NWS validated in August 2026 that there have been no significant changes to the leading brands in the market therefore the previous market research is still valid.
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.
7. Approval
This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .