Seismic Station Solar Enclosure Systems

The U.S. Geological Survey's Office of Acquisitions and Grants has issued a Special Notice regarding the procurement of Seismic Station Solar Enclosure Systems under a total small business set-aside. This Notice of Intent, posted on August 13, 2025, with a due date of August 15, 2025, concerns the acquisition of six solar-powered enclosure systems for autonomous seismic monitoring stations. The procurement falls under NAICS code 335999 for Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing and PSC code 6117 for Solar Electric Power Systems. The requirement is divided into two categories: four compact systems and two VSAT systems, each with specific technical specifications for seismic monitoring applications. All systems must be compatible with the existing ShakeAlert network and will be shipped to Pasadena, California.

The purpose of this procurement is to obtain specialized solar-powered enclosures that will support USGS seismic monitoring operations with autonomous power capabilities. The systems require specific technical features including 24V DC power, Victron Energy monitoring devices, Ethernet connectivity, low voltage disconnect protection, and pole mounting capability, all designed to operate in temperatures up to 130°F with Bureau of Land Management-specified powder coating. Based on market research, USGS has determined that Solarcraft, Inc. is the only vendor capable of providing systems fully compatible with the ShakeAlert network requirements. The compact systems must handle a 12W continuous load with 5 days of autonomy using approximately 380W solar arrays, while the VSAT systems require 60W continuous load capacity with 2 days of autonomy using approximately 800W solar arrays and pure sine wave inverters. The procurement is restricted to small businesses, with contractors having until August 15, 2025, to respond to this notice of the government's intent to proceed with direct procurement from the identified sole source vendor.