Irwin Sensor Measurement and Data Analysis Support

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center (ERDC), Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) intends to issue a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) single source award to NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, 2215 Reggio Pkwy, Reno, Nevada, 89512-1095 for research support.

The ERDC is currently funding a multi-laboratory, multidisciplinary Basic Research effort investigating the numerical representation of complex near-surface turbulent flows. This project involves extensive lab and field collection as well as high-fidelity computational modeling. A key task under this effort involves characterization of flow around roughness elements, such as vegetation, in the field, for later comparison with wind tunnel reconstructions. This requires high-frequency field measurements of wind shear velocity.

ERDC is developing a new set of instrumentation to measure in situ surface shear velocity. This new set of sensors incorporates modifications to improve upon previous versions developed by the Nevada System of Higher Education dbaDesert Research Institute. ERDC therefore seeks support from the Nevada System of Higher Education dbaDesert Research Institute, the only known vendor to have significant experience in the design, production, and calibration of Irwin sensors, as well as critical analysis linking Irwin-derived field measurements to the drag partition. Nevada System of Higher Education dbaDesert Research Institute’s unique expertise in the evaluation of this specific sensor is critical for an assessment of the ERDC-developed sensor performance. In particular, Nevada System of Higher Education dbaDesert Research Institute has the ability to compare performance to that of previous model versions in the same field environment.

The award will be issued in accordance with FAR 13.106(b)(1)(i). The applicable North American Industrial Classification System Code (NAICS) code is 541715 (Research And Development In The Physical, Engineering, And LifeSciences (Except Nanotechnology And Biotechnology)) with a size standard of 1,000 employees. This notice of intent is for information purposes only.  

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals.  A solicitation will not be issued.  However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.  The information submitted must be provided in sufficient detail to demonstrate the vendor’s ability to fulfill this requirement.  The contractor must also provide a description of their past experience in fulfilling requirements which are the same or similar to this requirement and references for each. 

Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.  A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.  Responses to this requirement may be submitted to Allison Hudson at Allison.B.Hudson@usace.army.mil AND Jon-Vincent Holden at Jon-Vincent.S.Holden@usace.army.mil.  The solicitation number shall be included in the subject line of the e-mail submission.  Responses must be received no later than 1:00PM CST 25 April 2023.