This is a Request For Information - This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. No contract will be awarded as a result of this Sources Sought announcement. The United States Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Grants is soliciting information from qualified sources; the results of this announcement will be evaluated to determine if there are businesses capable of performing the proposed work. The US Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Grants seeks responses from vendors that possess the capability to supply 2g solar Argos Satellite Transmitters to be placed on Buff-breasted Sandpipers. The USGS requires these transmitters to track year-round movements of Buff-breasted Sandpipers who are small shorebirds (80 grams) that migrate each year between breeding areas in the high Arctic of North America and wintering areas in southern South America. This tracking capability is necessary because the sandpipers are too small to carry the next largest satellite transmitter on the market (5 grams). Satellite transmitters are necessary, instead of similar-sized datalogger tracking devices, because the location data collected by satellite transmitters can be obtained remotely (i.e., it is transmitted from the tag and we download the data in near realtime from the Argos tracking system). In contrast, location data collected by dataloggers are not transmitted and can only be retrieved by re-capturing individual tagged birds and downloading the stored data from their dataloggers. The chances of being able to re-capture the same individual Buff-breasted Sandpiper across time is virtually zero because this species is not site faithful in any season (i.e., these birds do not return to the same areas) and they occur over a vast range. Minimum specifications: - Weight/size = equal or less than 2g; appropriate for Buff-breasted Sandpipers. - Waterproof - Attachable by backpack harness - Must transmit data remotely; no requirement to re-capture the bird to download data - Compatible with the Argos satellite telemetry data collection system - Solar-powered with a minimum operation life of one year - Sensor to measure its own battery voltage with voltage information relayed via the Argos system - Capable of providing multiple Argos locations on most days for the life of the tag. For further information, interested parties may contact the Contracting Officer, Charlan Cabalsi at (916)278-9329 or [email protected] by the due date, August 14, 2017 at 9:00am PT.

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