UMRB - Plains Snow and Soil Moisture Monitoring Network

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Omaha District has prepared a solicitation and intends to issue a Request for Quote to the University of Wyoming (UW), University of Montana (UM), and South Dakota State University (SDSU) in accordance with Title 41 U.S.C. §1901(e)(2) as implemented in FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii), sole source (including brand name) under the authority of the simplified procedures for certain commercial items.

The Omaha District plans to execute three new Single Award Task Order Contract (SATOC) for supplies, which will be titled Upper Missouri River Basin Plains Snowpack and Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in the State of Wyoming (WY), Montana (MT), and South Dakota (SD). The District intends to award a Firm- Fixed-Price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract for three years on a sole source basis to UW, UM, and SDSU. Anticipated award date is 15 December 2025. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement or quote, which shall be considered by the agency.

The purpose of this project is to establish a network of stations to monitor snowpack and soil moisture throughout the plains area of the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB). The plains area of the UMRB (above Sioux City, IA) in the U.S. totals 270,000 square miles. The site density is estimated to be approximately one site every 500 square miles.  Existing sites will need upgraded equipment and instrumentation installed to provide standardized performance across the basis. There are approximately 162 new sites remaining that will need the required equipment and instrumentation installed once the sites have been identified. The MESONETs are a mesoscale network of automated weather and environmental monitoring sites. The instrumentation on the existing sites is not consistent but will be standardized and included in the network.

UW, UM, and SDSU staff have the technical capability to install the equipment, as they were responsible for the purchase and installation of the original equipment at the existing sites. UW, UM, and SDSU also own, operate, and maintain the existing sites and will own, operate, and maintain the new sites once identified. UW, UM, and SDSU will be responsible for selecting the new sites, based on their own criteria. UW, UM, and SDSU have already obtained the real estate access for the existing sites and will be responsible for obtaining real estate access for all new sites. UW, UM, and SDSU have established relationships with landowners that will be leveraged when performing work on existing and new sites, once identified. UW, UM, and SDSU have the necessary infrastructure already in place and have been a product of support and commitment from USACE, NOAA, USBR and other state Mesonet offices.  UW, UM, and SDSU have knowledge of operational efficiencies and the technical protocols required by the Mesonet Program to conduct and oversee upgrading existing and new sites. UW, UM, and SDSU’s continued efforts are important to maintain consistency, continuity, and data integrity to ensure the necessary equipment is installed correctly and the data can be analyzed, therefore concerting the data to information on which to base management decisions. UW, UM, and SDSU already possess experience in installing the full range of equipment and site-specific knowledge, which minimizes any mobilization/start-up costs and delays in becoming familiar with the equipment and installation procedures, and data transmission to support the Mesonet Program. UW, UM, and SDSU are the proposed sole source contractors. UW, UM, and SDSU have the unique inherent knowledge of the Mesonet Program resulting in increased efficiency and data quality.