Version 2.0

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

FOR AN ORDER/BPA EXCEEDING MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD

AND UP TO THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 8.405-6)

Requirement 26-0004/145022-26-0004

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program.

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office

(AGO), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)/Air Resources Laboratory (ARL)/Special Operations and Research Division (SORD)

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value).

Twenty-two (22) 81000RE R.M. Young 3 Axis Ultrasonic Anemometers, twenty-two (22) 36 foot data cables, with tariff, and shipping to measure horizontal and vertical wind speed, direction, and variability to determine the flow of the atmosphere and atmospheric stability for emergency response plume modeling. Expected delivery within 60-90 days. This is a procurement with a total estimated value of around $98,835.

3. Identification of the limited source(s) to be solicited.

R. M. Young Company, LLC 2801 Aero Park Drive Traverse City MI 49686-9171 Tel: (231) 946-3980 | Fax: (231) 946-4772

4. Authority and supporting rationale. The contracting officer has determined the following circumstance justifies limiting the source under FAR 8.405-6 and as supported below:

Utilizing R.M. Young 81000RE 3-D sonic anemometers ensure consistency with our existing infrastructure, as 36 units are already operational within the mesonet. This continuity minimizes technical risks and reduces the time required for staff training and system integration.

Pursuant to FAR 8.405-6(b), the Contracting Officer has determined that the research plan necessitates specific RM Young brand products to meet critical scientific objectives:

● 22 units of R.M. Young 81000RE 3-D Sonic Anemometers

● 22 units of 36-foot Data Cables

Requirements-26-1519 /145022-26-0004

The research network requires robust instruments capable of operating in extreme conditions (-40 to 50°C), with at least 2% accuracy for wind speed and temperature, and sampling rates of 10Hz or faster.

The R.M. Young equipment is uniquely suited for these requirements due to its omni-directional design, low power consumption (under 0.5A at 12VDC), and well-characterized transducer flow distortion. Characterization is essential as uncorrected flow distortion can degrade vertical wind speed data by 10% or more.

5. Market Research

Market research for a 3-D sonic anemometer replacement was conducted by SORD's Division Director at a recent American Meteorological Society annual meeting. Discussions with colleagues and various vendors focused on performance, technological capabilities, and cost-effectiveness. Replacement is necessary because the current sensors have reached a 10-year service life and have sustained damage from the high UV levels in southern Nevada. Adopting the exact replacement model ensures that measurement techniques remain consistent across our 37-station weather tower network. Research included direct engagement with vendors from Vaisala, RM Young, Campbell Scientific, and MetOne, supplemented by independent online investigation.

Evaluation of Alternative Manufacturers

Gill Instruments: While the Gill R3 and WindMaster Pro models are omni-directional with a footprint comparable to the 81000RE, they have not undergone internal lab testing for transducer flow distortion. Quantifying these effects would require extensive experimentation due to their reliance on proprietary wind speed corrections. Furthermore, these units are not manufactured in the USA, which would likely increase future maintenance and repair costs.

Vaisala: Vaisala does not offer a traditional 3D research-grade sonic anemometer, providing instead a 2D ultrasonic sensor. Their products are manufactured in Finland.

Campbell Scientific: The CSAT3 is widely used but is a directional sensor, meaning wind data is disturbed when coming from behind the instrument. Additionally, research by Frank et al. (2016) indicates that even with flow distortion adjustments, the CSAT3 continues to exhibit significant measurement biases.

Met One: Met One primarily produces industrial 2D horizontal ultrasonic anemometers, which do not meet the 3D research-grade requirements of our mesonet.

Justification for RM Young 81000RE

Following the market analysis, the RM Young 81000RE was selected to initiate a multi-year replacement campaign. These sensors have a proven track record of durability, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness within our current operations. The 81000RE meets or exceeds all technical requirements, including:

● Operational range of -50 to 50 deg C.

● High accuracy (1% for wind speed; 2% for temperature) and sampling rates up to 32Hz.

● Low power consumption (110mA at 12-24VDC) and RS-232 data transmission at 38400 baud.

https://gillinstruments.com/compare-3-axis-anemometers/research-3axis/ https://www.vaisala.com/en/products/weather-environmental-sensors/windcap-ultrasonic-wind-sensor-wmt700 https://www.campbellsci.com/csat3 https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/9/5933/2016/ https://metone.com/products/30-5-industrial-grade-sonic-anemometer/ https://www.youngusa.com/product/ultrasonic-anemometer/

Requirements-26-1519 /145022-26-0004

● An omni-directional design with an elongated neck to minimize flow distortion.

Critically, the transducer flow distortion for the 81000RE has been thoroughly characterized by Kochendorfer et al., allowing for necessary corrections to vertical wind speed data that other sensors lack. Given these factors, RM Young remains the most competitive and technically sound choice for our needs.

https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/42116.pdf