P06 1132055 JA SS (FY24-FPAC-J078) Under SAT_10Jun24_ss_Redacted.pdf

Control No. (if applicable) FY24-FPAC-Justification-078

United States Department of Agriculture Limited Source/Brand Name Justification

Less Than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) FAR 13.106-l(b)(l) - Simplified Acquisitions

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA-NRCS National Water & Climate Center, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. STE 802 Portland OR. 97232

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency's needs.

The Natural Resources Conservatio�quires electronics components for hydrometeorological data retrieval. -· provides these components that meet NRCS Standards and Specifications identified in the General Manual. NRCS requires various electronic components for snow measurement sites for use in the automated SNOwpack TELemetiy (SNOTEL) network operated by the USDA NRCS Snow Survey Program in the western U.S

This action will provide the NRCS Snow Survey program the required data collection platfo1ms from remote SNOTEL for use in mission critical operations in water supply forecasting and snowpack indexing for sites in the SNOTEL Network, as well as deployment at Supersite test platfo1ms used to vet next generation technology for implementation into the broader network. Cunently: _,

■ is the only manufacturer of a cable with embedded temperature sensors at speci�ch can withstand the forces generated by the snowpack, can be aimored against animal damage, and provide a modbus output ( digital) which can be measured by the cmTent platfo1m of dataloggers used at SNOTEL sites.

3. Rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

There is only one manufacturer of suitable temperature sensing cables that can be used to measure snowpack temperature gradients for water supply and flood forecasting purposes:

manufacturers these sensors and embedded interfaces for proper data reti·ieval and data collection.

These sensors have been tested in hai·sh winter environments and have proven to be reliable and cost effective.

4. Description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.

Mai·ket research has been conducted to dete1mine that there are NO comparable vendors or products available for purchase and this is the standai·d of the NRCS Snow Smvey and Water Supply Forecasting Program. Presently, the temperature sensing cables are the only product on the mai·ket which meets the requirements of digital modbus output, user custoinized heights for temperature measurements, suitable aimoring for withstanding the forces generated by being suspended in the snowpack and have been tested in harsh alpine environments.

These temperature sensing cables are the only suitable option found on the market after years of mai·ket research, discussions with other agency personnel, and ai·e the only sensor a1rnys that have been tested in alpine snow dominated environments. Based on this mai·ket research, there ai·e no suitable alternatives identified and the use of any other product, approach or services would result in significant data loss, Page 1 Version 12202021

Page 2 Version 12202021 leading to mission-failure. The critical forecasting activities by NRCS would not be able to be accomplished and would not meet published NRCS policy for standards and specifications required.

5. Estimated price, including all options, if applicable.

6. Recommended source(s).

Certifications

The information provided for this justification has been reviewed and certified accurate and complete.

Contracting Officer (less than SAT). I have reviewed this justification and certify it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Control No. (if applicable) _FY24-FPAC-Justification-078