Machine Vision Services for the national Technology and Development Center

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

This notice is being published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

Subpart 5.101 requiring dissemination of information for proposed contract actions. This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract, and is not a request for competitive quotes/proposals. The statutory authority for this sole source procurement is prescribed by FAR 13.501(a).  The U.S. Forest Service intends to issue a five year (one 12-month base year; and four 12-month option years); firm fixed prices; sole source award contract to the Holtz Forestry, LLC company. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement demonstrating the ability to provide the requested services, which shall be considered by the agency before the intended award date. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. The Government shall not reimburse interested sources for any information provided. No requests for capability briefings will be honored. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Interested vendors must respond to this notice on or before June 22, 2021 at 1 pm Central Standard Time by sending an email to Robert.sigler@usda.gov. NAICS Code: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).

BackGround:  The government contracted under a sole source award to Holtz Forestry, which holds the patent for a machine vision system for identifying, locating and determining dendrometric attributes of trees in the forest for use in the forest management.  This is a follow on contract to complete the work.  A complete system will be comprised of two parts: the first will be capable of assisting foresters in identifying and designating individual trees for harvest by analyzing tree diameter, taper and sweep.  Additionally, the system can build maps which include the attributes and their global position in the forest stand.  The second part will provide forest equipment operators with information needed for determining the optimal selection of trees according to a silvicultural prescription.