Notice of Intent - The USDA, ARS, SEA intends to award a sole source procurement to Campbell Scientific, 815 West 1800 North, Logan, Utah 84321, as they are the sole source for this type 3D Sonic Anemometer and Weather Station that will satisfy our research requirements, pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy agency Requirements. The 3-D sonic anemometer and weather station will be part of an existing EC (Eddy Covariance) system. Other Researchers involved in the LTAR (Long Term Agro-ecosystem Research) network in the Lower Mississippi River Aquifer region are using these same type of devices to collect their data. To assure the data we collect at our LTAR location is comparable and consistent, requires the use of this same type instrument to collect the data. The award will be for (2) 3D Sonic Anemometers and Weather Stations. Specifically, this package will be used as part of an existing Eddy Covariance systems to measure three orthogonal wind components and the speed of sound and environmental conditions. The package must include two 3D sonic anemometers and two weather stations. Parts for the weather stations include 2 data loggers, 6 soil heat flux plates, 2 radiation sensors, 2 wind monitors, 6 temperature probes, 6 relative humidity and temperature probes, 2 rain gages, one 10-ft tower, one 15-ft tripod, 4 weather-resistant enclosures, and items for installation of the sensors. The 3D sonic anemometer should be a three-dimensional sonic sensing device that measures three orthogonal wind components and the speed of sound. In eddy covariance systems, it should be able to measure the turbulent fluctuations of horizontal and vertical wind. These measurements are then used to calculate momentum flux and friction velocity. It should also be capable of providing average horizontal wind speed and direction measurements. Main measurement specifications include Outputs: ux, uy, uz, c; Speed of Sound: Determined from three acoustic paths; corrected for crosswind effects; Measurement Rate: programmable from 1 to 60 Hz, instantaneous measurements; Measurement Resolution: ux, uy: 1 mm/s rms; uz: 0.5 mm/s rms; c: 15 mm/s (0.025°C) rms; Wind direction: 0.06° rms; Offset Error: < ±8.0 cm/s (ux, uy); < ±4.0 cm/s (uz); Gain Error: < ±2% of reading (wind vector within ±5° of horizontal); < ±3% of reading (wind vector within ±10° of horizontal); < ±6% of reading (wind vector within ±20° of horizontal); Wind Direction Accuracy: ±0.7° at 1 m/s for horizontal wind; Rain: Innovative ultrasonic signal processing and user-installable wicks considerably improve the performance of the anemometer under all rain events; Digital SDM: CSI 33.3k baud serial interface for datalogger/sensor communication. Data type is 2-byte integer per output plus 2-byte diagnostic; Digital RS-232: Baud Rate: 9600, 19200 bps; Data Type: 2-byte integer per output plus 2-byte diagnostic; Number of Outputs: 4; Voltage Range: ±5 V; Number of Bits: 12; SDM and RS-232 Digital Outputs Reporting Range: Full Scale Wind: ±65.535 m/s autoranging between four ranges; least significant bit is 0.25 to 2 mm/s; Speed of Sound: 300 to 366 m/s (-50° to +60°C); least significant bit is 1 mm/s (0.002°C); Analog Outputs Reporting Range: ux: ±30 m s-1, ±60 m s-1; uy: ±30 m s-1, ±60 m s-1: uz: ±8 m s-1: c: 300 to 366 m s-1 (-50° to +60°C); Analog Outputs LSB: ux: 15 mm s-1, 30 mm s-1; uy: 15 mm s-1, 30 mm s-1; uz: ±8 m s-1; c: 16 mm s-1 (0.026°C). Specifications of the data loggers include Maximum Scan Rate: 100 Hz; Analog Inputs: 28 single-ended or 14 differential, individually configured; Pulse Counters: 4; Switched Excitation Channels: 4 voltage, 3 current; Digital Ports: 3 SDM and 8 I/Os or 4 RS-232 COM2; Continuous Analog Outputs: 2; Communications/Data Storage Ports: 1 CS I/O, 1 RS-232, 1 parallel peripheral; Analog Voltage Accuracy: ±(0.04% of reading + offset), 0° to 40°C; Analog Resolution: 0.33 µV; A/D Bits: 16; Power Requirements: 10 to 16 Vdc; Protocols Supported: PakBus, Modbus, DNP3, FTP, HTTP, XML POP3, SMTP, Telnet, NTCIP, NTP, SDI-12, SDM; Temperature Range: -40° to +85°C. Specifications of the radiation sensors include Pyranometer Spectral Response: 305 to 2800 nm; Pyrgeometer Spectral Response: 4.5 to 42 μm; Response Time: < 18 s; Temperature Dependence of Sensitivity: < 4% (-10° to +40ºC); Sensitivity Range: 5 to 20 μV W-1 m2; Output Range: Pyranometer: 0 to 15 mV; Pyrgeometer: ±5 mV; Non-Linearity: < 1%; Tilt Error: < 1%; Directional Error: < 20 W m-2 (pyranometer); angles up to 80° with 1000 W/m2 beam radiation; CE Compliance: Conforms to the CE guideline 89/336/EEC 73/23/EEC; Operating Temperature: -40° to 80°C. Specifications of the wind monitors include Operating Temperature: -50° to +50°C; Wind Speed Range: 0 to 100 m/s; Accuracy: ±0.3 m/s or 1% of reading; Starting Threshold: 1.0 m/s; Output: ac voltage (three pulses per revolution); 90 Hz = 8.8 m/s; Wind Direction Range: Mechanical: 0 to 360°; Electrical: 355° (5° open); Accuracy: ±3°. Specifications of the soil heat flux plates include Sensor Type: Thermopile with film heater; Sensitivity (nominal): 50 μV W-1 m-2; Nominal Resistance: 2 Ω; Temperature Range: -30° to +70°C; Expected Accuracy: ±3% of reading; Heater Resistance: 100 Ω (nominal); Heater Voltage Input: 9 to 15 Vdc; Heater Voltage Output: 0 to 2 Vdc; Duration of Calibration: ±3 minutes @ 1.5 W; Average Power Consumption: 0.02 to 0.04 W. The delivery requirement for this system is 30 days after receipt of order. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price Purchase Order on or about March 06, 2015, using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This Notice of Intent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 4:00PM central time, March 05, 2015.
Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries should be mailed to the Contracting Officer at the following address:

Contracting Office Address:
USDA-ARS-MSA
141 Experiment Station Road
Stoneville, MS. 38776-0225

 

Bid Protests Not Available