SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE GPS EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE - Request for Information (RFI)
- Notice Date
- 4/18/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334511
— Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Aerial Photography Field Office, 2222 West 2300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84119-2020
- ZIP Code
- 84119-2020
- Solicitation Number
- USDA-APFO-RFI-0005
- Point of Contact
- Michelle C. Clifford, Phone: (801) 844-2909, John R Mootz, Phone: (801) 844-2916
- E-Mail Address
-
michelle.clifford@slc.usda.gov, john.mootz@slc.usda.gov
(michelle.clifford@slc.usda.gov, john.mootz@slc.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Request for Information USDA-APFO-RFI-0005 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE GPS EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE A. INTRODUCTION The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is investigating the use of commercially available GPS equipment and software to support FSA's compliance, reporting and other program needs nationwide. The objective of this RFI is to survey commercial GPS vendors on the range of available GPS equipment and software that would be optimal for satisfying FSA program requirements. FSA recognizes that one size does not fit all needs and requirements, but FSA does not have the capacity to support an unlimited number of feasible devices. Therefore, we are looking for the best units for meeting a broad range of program requirements. This RFI is being issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Proposals (RFP), a Request for Quotations (RFQ) or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. In accordance with FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes, the Government will not pay for any information/items submitted in response to the RFI. No determination as to the viability of this requirement has been made at this point and there is currently no solicitation for this effort. Any solicitation resulting from this RFI will be announced separately. B. BACKGROUND FSA State and County offices utilize current imagery to maintain agriculture field boundaries to support many different farm related programs. For many years, FSA used large 24"x24" black & white hard copy photo maps with hand drawn boundary lines. This transitioned to the use of digital ortho imagery with the introduction of geographic information system (GIS) applications in the mid 1990's. Currently, FSA contracts for new imagery that is acquired on a three-year or better cycle under the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). FSA, as part of its information technology (IT) modernization program, purchased GPS units, differential receivers, cables, batteries and other peripherals starting in 2003. These units have been used regularly by the 2200+ FSA State and County offices to support and manage farm program delivery. This equipment is now significantly out of date and difficult to support. It is also now clear that for current and future applications a single device type is unlikely to meet all of FSA requirements in a cost effective manner. C. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (Requirements) For purposes of the RFI, FSA requests information on commercially available GPS equipment and software to support FSA's compliance, reporting and other program needs nationwide. This could include different levels of horizontal and vertical accuracy. Certain programs requirements could require accuracy of 1 meter or better, whereas others could be in the 1-3 meter range. Please do not submit information for GPS equipment with less than 3 meter horizontal accuracy (3 meter or better). Information about equipment designed for recreational uses (hiking, jogging, car navigation, etc.) with insufficient accuracy and capabilities should not be included. Achieving these different levels of accuracy could include both real time and post processing options. Please respond to the following questions: GPS Equipment Questions: 1. Ease of use, especially for staff that may have limited technical experience. 2. Ability to generate custom menus, pull down options, and templates. 3. Equipment and software options and information for achieving real time and post processing accuracies at 1 meter or better or 1-3 meter. 4. For both real time and post process are signals or data other than GPS and GLONASS used? If so, list options and recommendations. 5. Accuracy levels for both moving and stationary collection, including time on site requirements. 6. Is post-processing required for highest accuracy or not. If so, what software is recommended? 7. Data input and output options. Formats with native support and conversion options. 8. Current or planned support for precision agriculture formats and data. 9. Number of channels and current or planned support for signal sources (GPS, GLONASS, others). 10. Options or capabilities for achieving desired accuracy levels in areas with vegetation canopy, mountainous or uneven terrain, or other limits to GNSS or support signal access. 11. Battery specifications (battery life, proprietary/commercial, rechargeable/not, replacement cost, etc.). 12. Map reference data included (refresh cost/frequency, proprietary, level of detail). 13. Distance and area calculations and other internal or post processing functions. 14. Unit size, weight, screen size, I/O connectivity (wireless, Bluetooth, USB, etc.), included and optional cables and accessories. 15. Are devices handheld only, used with an external antennae and tripod, both, other? 16. Ruggedized or not (waterproof, drop distance, etc) 17. Internal camera, microphone, speaker, OS, internal/external memory. 18. Operating manuals (hardcopy, digital, or online) 19. Support within and between different devices. For example can data, processes, and software work with higher end (≤ 1 meter) and mid-range (≥ 1 meter) equipment? 20. Backward and forward compatible. Support of older/newer equipment with older/newer devices, data, processes, software. GPS Software Questions: 1. Compatibility with GIS systems such as Esri products and formats 2. Process for uploading waypoints and tracks 3. API for integration with custom applications 4. Post-processing options and requirements 5. Data input and output options and format types 6. Other software required to input, output, or process data such as Windows Mobile Device Center 7. Operating manuals (hardcopy, digital, or online) Contractual/Pricing Questions: 1. GSA pricing, quantity discounts, bulk purchasing agreements 2. Multi-year, multi-generation, multi-device pricing, support 3. Warranty, service plans 4. Software licensing (cost, desktop, server, dongle, etc) D. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS Responses to this RFI are due no later than 4:30 P.M. (Mountain Time) on May 2, 2014. Please submit responses electronically to michelle.clifford@slc.usda.gov The following instructions establish the acceptable minimum requirements for the format and content of the responses: - Please address all questions and requirements and include feedback on all related topics, including application implementation costs, licensing costs, schedules, and risks. In addition, please feel free to provide other recommendations or suggestions on related subjects or issues. - The electronic copy of your responses must be in an Adobe Systems(R) PDF (Portable Document Format) format and readable by the Adobe Acrobat Reader(TM). - The first page of the submission must state the RFI title and provide the name, e-mail address, and telephone number for the individual that can be contacted for clarification or questions regarding this submission. - To aid in Government review, the total pages for the entire submission are limited to not more than 10 pages and file size shall not exceed 20 MB. - Any proprietary data that is included in the response must be marked appropriately at the paragraph level (page level is acceptable for full page table, graphs, etc). Any response marked proprietary at the document level will not be considered. E. CONTACT INFORMATION Clarifications or questions regarding this RFI must be submitted in writing to david.davis@slc.usda.gov. All clarifications or questions must reference this RFI. A PDF version of this RFI is attached to this notice.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/FSA/APFO/USDA-APFO-RFI-0005/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03342854-W 20140420/140418234746-5649cb4c4a35ed589e34de0fbcd31eed (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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