Statement of Work - Specs of Salient Characteristics of Water Quality Probe.pdf

Specifications Project: High-frequency, Multi-parameter Measurement of Agricultural Waters

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: We will conduct high-frequency sampling with two different strategies

(Lagrangian, Eulerian) in order to quantify NO3- export from an agricultural watershed and identify locations and times that are biogeochemically important for influencing watershed scale processing of NO3-. We also study processing and export of additional water constituents such as dissolved carbon and suspended solids.

2.0 Background: Agricultural landscapes in the Upper Midwest can be responsible for export of excess sediment and nutrients to streams and rivers which leads to water quality problems at local and national scales. Reduction in nutrient losses can be achieved by installing edge-of-field practices that intercept and treat tile drainage effluent via denitrification prior to discharge into surface waters. Denitrification requires a carbon source; monitoring both nitrate and carbon concentrations in the influent and effluent of these practices is necessary to understand processes and optimize performance. Using advanced instrument technology to simultaneously measure nitrate and carbon concentrations (and other water parameters) at fine timescales (sub-minute) would greatly enhance our research capabilities.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

We require a multi-parameter water quality probe that can conduct high-frequency measurements in a laboratory or field setting.

The probe must be able to measure NO3- as well as additional water parameters including: organic carbon, turbidity, and temperature as well as additional data about light transmittance across multiple wavelengths (190-750 nm) with the ability for data retrieval and in-house development of additional calibration curves.

The probe must show long-term stability with minimal to no maintenance.

The multi-parameter probe must be able to communicate wirelessly with common mobile devices and have on-board memory capable of logging data from potentially extended deployments (up to 6 months).

The sensor must have an optical path length of 35 mm to facilitate inclusion of a flow-through cuvette designed to work with receiving sample waters from multiple sources in a flow-through format.

The sensor, software to drive it, and all data produced by it, must be compatible with sensors that are currently in use by scientists in our unit. More specifically, we need a multi-parameter water quality probe that matches our current in-house lineup of Spectrolyser_V3 sensors produced by s::can.

Market Analysis:

There are many water monitoring probes available from a variety of manufactures. They have a variety of features for different intended applications, which can make it difficult to compare them.

One similar product is the YSI EXO sonde: https://www.ysi.com/exo2; the sonde must be combined with a variety of single parameter probes such as: Nitrate, pH, turbidity, fDOM, chlorophyl. The need for multiple single-parameter probes does not confirm with our technical specifications for this Statement of Work which requires a single probe capable of measuring multiple parameters.

4.0 Government Furnished: NA

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

USDA-ARS, 1991 Upper Buford Cr, 439 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108; Delivery: 30- 60 days after receipt of order

Two (2) D-330-230 com:cub V3 Industrial Monitoring Station Control Terminal 100-240 VAC, including display & touch screen along with necessary accessories

6.0 Travel: NA

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel: NA

8.0 Security Requirements: NA

9.0 Data Rights:

Data produced by these sensors will be maintained by Dr. Baker and other scientists at the Soil and Water Management Research Unit in accordance with their data management plan.

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards: NA

Attachment: Estimate