Intent to Award Notice: NADP-NTN Network Site IA08 (Elkader, Iowa)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants has issued an Intent to Award Notice for a sole-source contract at the Big Springs Fish Hatchery in Elkader, Iowa. The contract involves atmospheric deposition monitoring services as part of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program, National Trends Network (NADP-NTN). The proposed recipient is Gary Siegwarth, a biologist at the Iowa Commission Big Springs fish hatchery, who has been providing these services since 2009. The contract's initial performance period will run from March 4, 2025 to March 3, 2026, with four potential option years for continued service. USGS has determined that Mr. Siegwarth is uniquely qualified for this work due to his expertise and authorized access to the restricted site location.

The primary objective of this contract is to conduct weekly site visits for collecting, processing, and shipping precipitation samples, transmitting precipitation gauge data, and performing maintenance at the monitoring station. Interested vendors who believe they can provide similar capabilities must contact Contract Specialist Leah Williams at lwilliams@usgs.gov by 9:00 AM EDT on March 4, 2025. While USGS typically prefers competitive procurement processes, the unique circumstances of this location—including its cooperative partnership arrangement and restricted access—have necessitated a sole-source award. The contract falls under the NAICS category of Testing Laboratories and Services (541380) and the PSC category of Support-Management: Data Collection (R702). Potential contractors should carefully review the notice and be prepared to demonstrate equivalent qualifications and site access capabilities if they wish to challenge the proposed sole-source award.