LBAO Aerial Snow Surveys

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) NOR A SOLICITATION
The US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), California Great Basin, intends to negotiate a contract on a sole source basis with Airborne Snow Observatories, Incorporated under the authority of FAR 13.501, Only one responsible source using Simplified Acquisition Procedures.
Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc. (ASO, Inc.) holds the exclusive data processing license for the Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) imaging spectrometer and scanning lidar system. ASO, Inc., is the pioneer of the integration of airborne lidar and spectrometer mapping of mountain snow cover to produce decision-support data on operational time scales. Its data production process, from flight through data processing and modeling to data delivery and service, utilizes flight optimizations through the ASO software platform. This software implements an exclusive, purpose-built, and fast processing pipeline, to deliver data products designed in concert with operational water and land management partners.
Under this project, Reclamation requires the following services:
1) Snow depth accuracy with 5-cm precision (averaged over 50 meters) across extremely rugged mountains and underneath forest canopy at a resolution of approximately 1 point per square meter
2) Snowmelt modeling and snow density modeling to derive snow water equivalent volume and snow albedo, which requires substantial expertise in snow science
3) Ability to acquire snow surveys from February 1 through Aug 1 within 72 hours¿ notice (weather permitting), and
4) Ability to fully process data at full resolution within 72 hours and produce a report on current snowpack state.
Firms which can provide the services above must submit written notice to the Contracting Office and must provide evidence in sufficient detail to demonstrate the respondent¿s ability to meet the stated requirement. This is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
Responses shall include the firm¿s Dun and Bradstreet number and Tax Identification Number. Firms shall identify business size (small, other than small, etc.) in accordance with the size standard $16.5M.for NAICS code 541370 (Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services. This notice is the only official pre-solicitation notice of this requirement.

Please note that any prospective offeror must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov in accordance with FAR Subpart 4.11.
The following information is pertinent to this notice:
1. Responses shall be submitted by 1000 PT, July 23, 2021 to the point of contact below.

2. Point of Contact/Contracting Office Address:
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, California Great Basin
Acquisitions Division, Supply and Services Branch
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825
Sarah Kibathi, Contracting Officer
skibathi@usbr.gov

3. Period of Performance: October 30, 2021 ¿ September 30, 2022