This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12561520Q0036 is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2020-06. This solicitation will be a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside.  The associated NAICS code is 336411, Aircraft Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,500 employees and the PSC code is 1550.

The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following products:

001) DJI Matrice 200 or Equivalent (Hexacopter Drone)

Scope of Work:

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Dairy Forage Research Farm in Prairie du Sac, WI is requesting quotes on a DJI Matrice 200 Hexacopter Drone with a MicaSense Altum Sensor Kit. Scientists and personnel at the US Dairy Forage Research Center have identified the need for a UAV equipped with GPS-integrated sensors that are capable of acquiring high-resolution, research-grade multispectral and thermal imagery for research programs and to inform farm management decisions.

Background:

Research programs at the US Dairy Forage Research Center are interdisciplinary, and include assessment of the economic and environmental performance of crop-dairy livestock systems. A UAV equipped with integrated multispectral and thermal imagery sensors will facilitate adoption of precision agriculture and aspirational land management at Prairie du Sac research station, and inform research programs at Prairie du Sac and Marshfield as scientists measure production outcomes and ecosystem services generated under varied cropping systems and land management decisions.

Technical Requirements:

Specifications

1. General

• Vendor must be able to demonstrate experience with research-grade application of UAV and sensor technology, and UAV/sensor assembly and calibration.

2. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

• UAV must be compatible with the sensor specifications and data acquisition process for research purposes.
• UAV must be appropriate to sensor payload, and offer flight stability/control for data acquisition flight patterns.
• Dual battery system or sufficient battery for longer (>20 minute) flight times.
• UAV must have mounting kit compatible with sensor specifications.
• Acquisition must include drone carrying case.
• UAV with gimbal mount(s) that remain attached during transportation (travel between research sites) preferred, for ease of use in the field.

3. Sensor(s)

• Sensor or sensor package must be capable of high-resolution capture of blue, green, red, red edge, near-infrared (NIR), and thermal infrared spectral bands, and integration of all spectral data for development of orthorectified mosaics (e.g., RGB, NDVI, thermal IR field maps).
• Capture rate of 1 capture per second for all bands.
• Ground sample distance (GSD) of 5.2 cm per pixel at 400 feet above ground level for electro-optical sensor.
• GSD of 81 cm per pixel at 400 feet above ground level for infrared sensor.
• Minimum 3.2 megapixel resolution for electro-optical sensor.
• USB 3.0 compatible storage.
• Sensors must provide all raw data directly for download by USDA researchers (i.e., rather than algorithm outputs or maps).

4. Data processing software

• Sensors must be compatible with software used for processing data to generate digital surface models, crop stand counts, species/functional group classification, plant health imagery, drought stress maps, inform precision fertilizer applications, and facilitate land surface temperature and soil respiration mapping (examples of software or equivalent: Agisoft Metashape, Pix4D).

5. Assembly of the UAV with sensors

• Vendor must have demonstrated experience with assembly and calibration of sensors on research-grade UAV.

Key Deliverables:

1. Deliverable: Assembly and calibration of UAV with multispectral and thermal sensor(s). Objective: Sensors are mounted and calibrated on the UAV for research-grade data acquisition. Due: Prior to shipping.
2. Deliverable: Assembled drone arrives at the US Dairy Forage Research Center. Objective: Drone is packaged appropriately, shipped and arrives at the S8822 Sunset Drive, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578. Due: July 1, 2020, or as negotiated.                    

Delivery:

The UAV and sensors (as described in the technical requirements specifications above) will be assembled, calibrated, and shipped by the vendor to S8822 Sunset Drive, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578 by July 1, 2020, or as negotiated.

The vendor shall provide all items F.O.B: destination. Location of the Government site is aboard USDA-ARS Prairie du Sac, WI and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract.

Contractor’s Key Personnel:

Assembly and calibration of the sensors on the UAV must be completed by trained professionals who specialize or have a depth of experience in use of UAV and sensor technology for agricultural and ecological research. Vendors must have an established record of providing drone and sensor assembly and calibration for research (e.g., record of sales to university and government research scientists).

Data Rights:

Procurement is for the hardware and software required for acquisition of multispectral and thermal infrared data at field sites associated with the US Dairy Forage Research Center’s research programs. Companies that sell sensors that do not provide access to the raw data to the USDFRC scientists will not be considered for the procurement.

Submitting a Quote:

To be eligible for an award, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A contractor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. A DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number is required in order to register. Vendor must also include their DUNS# on their quote.

The submission and payment of invoices on the resulting contract will be made through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). As such, vendors must be currently registered or register in IPP in order to be able to submit and receive payment on invoices for the resulting contract.

Offerors responding to this announcement shall submit their quote on SF-18 (see attached). The quote should include all fees, delivery charges, and/or surcharges. This will be a tax-exempt purchase. 

Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please email all quotes in writing on the SF-18 to [email protected] by no later than Friday, June 19, 2020 at 3:00 PM Central Standard Time.

Questions in regards to this combined synopsis/solicitation must be submitted through email and are due no later than 3:00 PM CST on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Answers to any questions received by that time will be posted as an amendment to this combined synopsis/solicitation.