Rain Gauges and Cable Assembly

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has issued a Competitive Proprietary Solicitation (IFB-4576) for the procurement of specialized meteorological equipment and associated components. The solicitation seeks 60 units of 12-inch tipping bucket rain gauges (MetOne 380D model), 60 cable assemblies for signal transmission (10-meter length, Part Number 1566), 20 lightning protection diode arrays, 20 bearing block assemblies, and 20 reed switch cartridge assemblies, along with associated manuals and calibration certificates. The rain gauges must conform exactly to specified technical requirements, including a 12-inch funnel diameter, standard 0.01-inch calibration, temperature range of -58°F to 158°F, and 1% accuracy at 1 inch per hour rainfall rates at 70°F. The equipment features white gloss textured powder coat and clear anodized aluminum construction with a Reed switch rated at 10 milliamps and 28 volts direct current maximum. The question and answer period ran from January 21-23, 2026, with bids due by January 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time, submitted via email to Bid-Room@twdb.texas.gov. Vendors must submit their full business information, W-9 form, itemized cost breakdown by quantity, and confirmation of compliance with applicable Texas Government Code specifications. All items must be shipped FOB Destination to 1903 Hydro Drive, Austin, TX 78728, with payment terms of Net 30 days.

The solicitation operates under competitive proprietary procurement rules, meaning only bids conforming exactly to the specified brand names and model numbers will be considered for award, significantly restricting eligible vendors to those offering the MetOne 380D rain gauge and specified compatible components. The procurement is governed by the Texas Water Development Board's General Terms and Conditions agreement, which imposes comprehensive affirmations and certifications on all contractors, including representations regarding antitrust compliance, debarment status, human trafficking prohibitions, child support obligations, and compliance with specialized Texas statutes covering energy company boycotts, Israel boycotts, firearm entity discrimination, and foreign business engagement. Vendors must verify compliance with federal E-Verify employment verification systems and Texas product procurement preferences for service contracts. The solicitation documents do not specify a contract award value, budget range, or pricing information, though the itemized nature of the procurement (totaling 180 items across five categories) suggests a moderate to substantial purchase order. All contractors must comply with Public Information Act disclosure requirements, state auditor access rights, and records retention obligations as outlined in the General Terms and Conditions agreement.