P06 1106992 JA SS (FY23-FPAC-J097) Transducers_7Aug23_ss_Redacted.pdf

Control No: (if applicable):____________ __

Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

Description of suppl or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

. Description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

FY23-FPAC-Justification-097

USDA – NRCS Montana Snow Survey Program, 10E Babcock St. Bozeman, MT 59715.

A contract is required to purchase Pressure Transducers used to measure precipitation and snow water equivalent at SNOTEL stations

Procurement of 20 Pressure Transducers used to measure snow water equivalent (SWE) and cumulative precipitation at SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) sites in MT, WY & SD. 15, 100" pressure transducers and 5, 150" transducers are needed as spares for replacement to maintain calibrations outlined in the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting (SSWSF) Program’s standards and specifications. This procurement will provide the NRCS Montana Snow Survey Program the ability to measure snow water equivalent and precipitation at remote SNOTEL sites for use in mission critical

The NRCS SSWSF Program requires electronic sensors to measure hydro-meteorological parameters at automated SNOTEL sites. These parameters are integral inputs into the water supply forecasts issued by the program. The PMP 317-8693 pressure transducer manufactured by , is the electronic sensor that measures the most important data parameters at SNOTEL sites, Precipitation and SWE. NRCS Standards and Specifications identified in the NRCS General Manual call for replacement of the transducers every 3-5 years for calibration to ensure the measurements remain accurate. The PMP 317-8693 are the only transducers that fully pass 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. The documents included with the solicitation call for supplies that are particular to one vendor, . This written justification provides approval for limiting competition to a single source as authorized by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

The only vendor capable of providing the specific pressure transducer, the PMP 317-8693, used to measure precipitation and snow water equivalent in the SNOTEL network, is . The PMP 317-8693 is the only pressure transducer that passes testing and calibration procedures and is approved for use in the SNOTEL network. NRCS has rigorously tested these brand sensors in a lab environment to ensure they will work reliably in a field environment and provide data that is consistent with current standards and specifications. NRCS will continue to review and test other manufacturers’ pressure transducers for compatibility, quality, longevity, and data linearity, but are presently limited to deployment of this particular sensor.

Control No: (if applicable):______ ________

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FY23-FPAC-Justification-097