Aquarius Software

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources (DWR), has issued a Notice of Proposed Sole Source for Aquarius Software, a software-as-a-service platform from Aquatic Informatics, with responses due October 29, 2026. The sole-source intent is the decisive constraint: DWR will award without competition unless a valid challenge is received, in which case a formal solicitation will follow. Vendors may challenge by submitting a one-page cover letter signed by authorized personnel that demonstrates capability to supply services equivalent to those offered by Aquatic Informatics. Submissions go to Amanda Schor at amanda.schor@state.co.us, with solicitation number NPSS1 PEAA 2027*073 in the subject line. The notice is not a request for proposals, quotations, or pricing, and the Department cautions that challenging without readiness to respond to a competitive solicitation is discouraged.

The platform performs scientific calculations and corrections of streamflow data for water rights administration and other scientific work, following U.S. Geological Survey processes and guidelines, ISO standards, and recommendations from the World Meteorological Organization and Open Geospatial Consortium. DWR justifies the sole source on its decades-long USGS partnership and its staff's familiarity with the GRSAT rating development module, used since approximately 2008, which it says enables data sharing with USGS and minimizes retraining.

DWR has budgeted approximately $470,318.38 for the procurement, with a contract term through June 30, 2031. A purchase order will be issued as soon as practical. The notice names no incumbent beyond the incumbent platform itself and includes no evaluation criteria, because it is not a competitive solicitation.