FBO_Announcement_1.pdf

Intent to Award Notice – 140G0126Q0077 Page 1 of 1

The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, Observing Systems Division, Hydrologic Networks Branch has a requirement for a firm-fixed-price sole source contract to provide atmospheric deposition station operation services for a cooperatively supported station between the USGS, the site owner, and operator in support of the interagency National Atmospheric Deposition Program, National Trends Network (NADP-NTN).

Therefore, the USGS intends to make an award to Mr. Herman Keller unless the USGS is contacted by any vendor who believes they can meet the needs of this requirement. Vendors are invited to contact the Contracting Officer, Brian Baker via email at brian_baker@ios.doi.gov no later than 1:00 PM EST, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with an affirmative answer.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (FAR 13.1)

The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications:

1. Operation of a NADP/NTN wet atmospheric monitoring station. Operation requires weekly site visits to the site to collect, process, and ship the precipitation sample. Also, to perform routine instrument checks, maintenance and repairs as needed.

2. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates atmospheric deposition monitoring stations that support a national network used to measure long-term trends in wet deposition and water quality. Station SC06 has been in operation since the 1980s and relocation of the station would interrupt the long-term environmental monitoring record and result in data that is not comparable to the historical dataset.

The monitoring equipment is owned by USGS; however, critical site infrastructure and access are controlled by the landowner Santee National Wildlife Refuge – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Keller has authorized access to the property and is fully trained and experienced in performing the required weekly station servicing, data collection, and equipment maintenance.

3. Although these cooperative sites have typically been operated for many years often by the same organization or individual, when and if the opportunity arises to either relocate the site or have the operation of the site turned over to another organization, the USGS has and will in the future use a competitive process to select a new site operation partner.