Notice of Intent to Sole Source CO2 Sensors

This special notice is in accordance with FAR 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Action. This is a notice of intent to make a sole source award and is not a solicitation or request for competitive quotes.

This award will be made utilizing Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with: Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-2)(1) For purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The requirements at 13.501(a) apply to sole-source (including brand-name) acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Midwest Area (MWA) Soil Drainage Research Unit (SDRU) has a requirement for the procurement of two (2) submersible carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors for continuous monitoring of CO2 concentrations within the waters of agricultural streams and ditches. The pair of CO2 sensors will be utilized to take continuous in situ measurements of CO2 concentrations at both the inlet and outlet of drainage ditches and headwater streams, allowing for the daily quantification of ecosystem metabolic rates, as well as the magnitude of CO2 fluxes between the ditch and stream ecosystems and the atmosphere. These quantities will enable improved understanding of biogeochemical cycling within agricultural drainage ditches and headwater streams, as well as quantification of greenhouse gas production potential of these ecosystems.

USDA-ARS MWA Procurement Office in Peoria, IL intends to make a firm fixed price sole source award under the authority 13.106-2)(1), only one responsible source, to:

Pro-Oceanus Systems Inc

80 Pleasant Street

Bridgewater, Ns

B4V 1N1, Canada

The objective of this sole source award is to procure 2 submersible CO2 sensors for continuous monitoring of in stream/ditch CO2 concentrations with the following characteristics:

• CO2 calibrated concentration measurement range of 0 to 50,000 ppmv CO2
• Ability to take measurements outside of the sensor’s initial calibration range (i.e., the sensor doesn’t saturate at 50,000 ppmv), up to 2 times the calibrated measurement range (i.e., up to 100,000 ppmv)
• Ability for the sensor to have the CO2 concentration measurement range be recalibrated to a different range
• CO2 measurement resolution of at least 0.1% of the maximum concentration measurement range
• Anti-fouling equipment for the sensor
• CO2 measurement rate of 1 sample per minute or faster.
• Ability to be connected to external power source for long-term deployment
• Long power/data cable to allow instrument to be deployed in deep ditches while power supply remains out of flood zone (between 40-50 meter long cable)
• Fast gas equilibrium rate across membrane, <4 minutes
• Ability to measure total gas pressure in addition to CO2 concentration
• Ability to record water temperature
• Ability to log and store data internally within the instrument

As such, purchase from Pro-Oceanus Systems Inc, Inc has been determined to be required as they are the only vendor available that meets all of the requirements outlined above.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1,000 Employees. The PSC code for this requirement is 6640 - Laboratory Equipment And Supplies. NO solicitation or solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive quotations; however, interested vendors that regard themselves as capable of providing a product that can fulfill the requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement by NO later than Wednesday, June 14, 2024, at 2:00PM (CT) to Debora Wells at debora.wells@usda.gov. NO phone calls will be accepted. The e-mail subject line shall include: 12505B24Q0136 CO2 Sensors.

Any submission in response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence as well as be in sufficient enough detail to show that they can provide a product that would meet the Government’s need and that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement.

Again, this is NOT a request for competitive quotes. This notice is for informational purposes only. Responses received shall be considered by the agency; however, determination by the Government whether or not to compete this proposed award upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No reimbursement for any cost connected with providing capability information will be provided