Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS)

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has developed and demonstrated a Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS) consisting of acoustic micro-transmitters (tags) and autonomous, cabled, and portable/mobile acoustic receivers for evaluating behavior and survival of juvenile salmonids migrating through the Columbia River Federal Power System (FCRPS). Receivers have been deployed at large hydro-electric dams, free flowing sections of the FCRPS as well as the estuary of the Columbia River. Self-contained autonomous receivers that detect, decode, and store decoded messages are typically deployed in areas within the Columbia River basin where a power source is not readily available and cable runs not feasible for a variety of reasons. Cabled receivers detect, decode, and store decoded messages, time of arrival, and message waveforms as received on up to four hydrophones at large hydro-electric dams within the FCRPS. Receiver clocks are synchronized across all receivers with time obtained from GPS receivers. Cabled receivers are used for estimating route and time of passage including 2D and 3D position estimates for tagged fish. Portable receivers detect, decode, store, and display transmitted signals for in laboratory transmitter testing and for displaying and entering transmitter codes at the time of tagging. A mobile receiver consisting of a single-4 hydrophone cluster deployed from a single boat has been used to provide 2D and 3D position estimates on actively migrating tagged fish. In 2010, the USACE intends to award a multi-year (one year with four option years) firm-fixed price single award task order contract for the manufacturing and delivery of the above receiver types. In addition to manufacturing this contract will include line items for the repair or upgrade receivers as well as a line item for technical support. All functional specifications for the JSATS are government owned and will be provided in the solicitation package. Where applicable, the design specifications and drawings for existing JSATS receivers will be provided. Government furnished hydrophone assemblies designed specifically for JSATS receivers will be recommended for use in the cabled, mobile, and portable receivers.

This procurement action shall be conducted in two phases, an evaluation phase and a production phase. In order to be eligible for award, and as part of the evaluation criteria, the offeror must demonstrate that their JSATS receiver meets the functional and design specifications provided in the solicitation. The USACE will use lowest price, technically acceptable protocols for selection of up to two qualified firms. These firms will be awarded contracts to enter into the evaluation phase (Phase I) of this action. The evaluation phase shall consist of the preparation of two fully functional prototype autonomous receivers that will be evaluated for performance by a USACE contractor. Following acceptance testing of prototype receivers the USACE will use Tradeoff/Best Value protocols to select a single company to enter into the production phase (Phase II) of the contract. Evaluation and rating factors will be included in the solicitation when issued. The solicitation (RFQ) outlining receiver specifications will be posted on or around 15 June 2010.

The primary Contracting Point of Contact is Lea Zumwalt. She can be contacted at (503) 808-4608, or by e-mail lea.m.zumwalt@usace.army.mil.

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has developed and demonstrated a Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS) consisting of acoustic micro-transmitters (tags) and autonomous, cabled, and portable/mobile acoustic receivers for evaluating behavior and survival of juvenile salmonids migrating through the Columbia River Federal Power System (FCRPS). Receivers have been deployed at large hydro-electric dams, free flowing sections of the FCRPS as well as the estuary of the Columbia River. Self-contained autonomous receivers that detect, decode, and store decoded messages are typically deployed in areas within the Columbia River basin where a power source is not readily available and cable runs not feasible for a variety of reasons. Cabled receivers detect, decode, and store decoded messages, time of arrival, and message waveforms as received on up to four hydrophones at large hydro-electric dams within the FCRPS. Receiver clocks are synchronized across all receivers with time obtained from GPS receivers. Cabled receivers are used for estimating route and time of passage including 2D and 3D position estimates for tagged fish. Portable receivers detect, decode, store, and display transmitted signals for in laboratory transmitter testing and for displaying and entering transmitter codes at the time of tagging. A mobile receiver consisting of a single-4 hydrophone cluster deployed from a single boat has been used to provide 2D and 3D position estimates on actively migrating tagged fish. In 2010, the USACE intends to award a multi-year (one year with four option years) firm-fixed price single award task order contract for the manufacturing and delivery of the above receiver types. In addition to manufacturing this contract will include line items for the repair or upgrade receivers as well as a line item for technical support. All functional specifications for the JSATS are government owned and will be provided in the solicitation package. Where applicable, the design specifications and drawings for existing JSATS receivers will be provided. Government furnished hydrophone assemblies designed specifically for JSATS receivers will be recommended for use in the cabled, mobile, and portable receivers.

This procurement action shall be conducted in two phases, an evaluation phase and a production phase. In order to be eligible for award, and as part of the evaluation criteria, the offeror must demonstrate that their JSATS receiver meets the functional and design specifications provided in the solicitation. The USACE will use lowest price, technically acceptable protocols for selection of up to two qualified firms. These firms will be awarded contracts to enter into the evaluation phase (Phase I) of this action. The evaluation phase shall consist of the preparation of two fully functional prototype autonomous receivers that will be evaluated for performance by a USACE contractor. Following acceptance testing of prototype receivers the USACE will use Tradeoff/Best Value protocols to select a single company to enter into the production phase (Phase II) of the contract. Evaluation and rating factors will be included in the solicitation when issued. The solicitation (RFQ) outlining receiver specifications will be posted on or around 15 June 2010.

The primary Contracting Point of Contact is Lea Zumwalt. She can be contacted at (503) 808-4608, or by e-mail lea.m.zumwalt@usace.army.mil.