SPECIAL NOTICE
66 -- Notice of Intent to Sole Source SNOTEL Antennae and Baluns
- Notice Date
- 9/18/2013
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 332312
— Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Montana State Office, Federal Building, Room 443, 10 East Babcock Street, Bozeman, Montana, 59715-4704
- ZIP Code
- 59715-4704
- Solicitation Number
- AG-0325--S-13-0005
- Archive Date
- 10/9/2013
- Point of Contact
- Jake M. Ceartin, Phone: 4065876862, Patricia Renevier, Phone: 4065876731
- E-Mail Address
-
jake.ceartin@mt.usda.gov, Patricia.renevier@mt.usda.gov
(jake.ceartin@mt.usda.gov, Patricia.renevier@mt.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in association with the National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) intends to negotiate a sole source fixed price purchase with Hutton Communications Inc. Carrollton, TX 75006 The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition for a simplified acquisition is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1): For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT), contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonable available (eg urgency, exclusive licensing agreement, brand name or industrial mobilization). The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a need for replacement or failing antennae and baluns for use in the automated SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) monitoring network operated by the Montana Data Collection Office (MTDCO). The antennas and baluns are required to ensure "near-real-time" radio-frequency communications by the individuals SNOTEL sites with the master stations in the SNOTEL network. Communication is by MeteorBurst communications and the antenna design and frequency requirements are unique to the NRCS SNOTEL system These items require special fabrication to permit them to work properly with existing equipment owned by the Government. Thus, the needs of this office go beyond just buying various designated items or components off-the-shelf. A company that can only provide the basic item or component does not meet the Government's basic need which is to receive a final product that can be used immediately without further delays and costs and who could fabricate the item to work with the Government's equipment and prevent false readings. Hutton Communications, Inc. is not the manufacturer of these antennas and baluns, however, they are able to offer the items at a reduced cost to the Government than that of the manufacturer, Kathrein-Scala Division. Kathrein-Scala Division is the only company in the USA that produces antenna and baluns that are specifically designed for use in NRCS MeteorBurst SNOTEL communication network. Hutton Communications, Inc. is a distributor of this equipment and offers these products at a reduced rate to the government. Kathrein-Scala Division / Hutton Communications antennae and baluns meet SNOTEL network standards and specifications for accuracy and are compatible with current Government-owned data acquisition systems. Since the Government in this instance must rely on supplier or sources who not only can provide the items and/or components in their initial manufactured state/ but also fabricate them to meet the final requirements of the Government. It is determined that award of a contract to a company other than Hutton Communications would result in unacceptable products that would be integrated into existing infrastructure and thus could not be used in the NRCS SNOTEL communications network. To compete this award would create substantial duplication costs the Government would not recover. Until NRCS changes data acquisition approaches and communications equipment, Hutton Communications, Inc. will be the sole provider of SNOTEL MeteorBurst antennae and baluns. This has been researched and document by the National Water and Climate Center, and other Data Collection Offices in the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed order is at the sole discretion of the Government. Oral Communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. This is a notice and a solicitation will not be issued. NRCS will not respond to requests for for solicitation copies and will not pay for information received in response to this announcement. This notice is not a request for proposals.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/NRCS/MTSO/AG-0325--S-13-0005/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USDA / NRCS SNOW SURVEY SHOP, 1160 APPLES WAY, BELGRADE, Montana, 59714, United States
- Zip Code: 59714
- Zip Code: 59714
- Record
- SN03192615-W 20130920/130918234811-d411ce5e6688642ca15c43f66680a6af (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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