Individual 5 MHz Transducers/Electronics for Ultrasonic Ranging System

This is a Sources Sought Notice only.  This Sources Sought Notice does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract.  The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is for market research purposes only.  Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The USDA/Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is conducting market research to support the USDA/ARS/SEA, Watershed Physical Processes Research Unit (WPPRU), Oxford, MS location.

Seeking contractor to provide:

1. 32 individual 5 MHz transducers.  Transducers housed in stainless steel 0.5 inch in diameter, 1.0 inch in height.
2. Electronics for ultrasonic ranging system.  Includes all required electronics to run the microprocessor-controlled transducers described above as well as a data logging system.
3. The items above must be compatible and able to be integrated with a SeaTek acoustic multibeam system into the automated measurement system for sediment transport flume that is suitable for research use in laboratory flumes.  The system includes a high-voltage signal generator that is sent to the transducers with echo from the channel bottom being sensed through the transducers and digitized.  System that can multiplex the data from 32 acoustic transducers so that it can be logged/recorded on one computer.
4. Capable of measuring the flume bottom or soil in shallow water conditions (~2 inches or less); operating frequency dependent.
5. Needs to be an array of transducers such that more than one location of the flume bottom or soil can be measured simultaneously.
6. The transducers themselves need to be as small as possible to not cause large interference with the flowing water; in other words, should not alter the large-scale hydraulic structure. Actual dimensions are proportionate to the flume or hydraulic structure in question.

Responses should include:                                                                                                                         

• Organization Name, address, contact phone number and e-mail address, and web site address.
• Business size with regard to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334511 per the standard described in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19.102.  DUNS number.  (Small business versus large business), other socio-economic categories such as Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB).                                                                                                                                                                           
• Tailored capability statements addressing the salient characteristics listed, with appropriate documentation supporting capability.

Responses to this Notice must be in writing.  Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.  Interested parties should e-mail responses to monte.jordan@usda.gov on or before Thursday, April 16, 2020 no later than 3:00 pm CDT.  Hard copies of the responses are not required and will not be accepted.