The USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is conducting market research to support National Forage Seed Production Research Center for two identical pH integrated probe instruments in order to collect and compare temperature, depth, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH readings in two locations and/or two habitats simultaneously.

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information.  North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition, 334516. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

The government is seeking capability statements from businesses capable of meeting the below minimum specification requirements:

Multiprobe pH instrument:

Multi-parameter measurements

Depth Rating: 50 m

Conductivity Accuracy: ± 0.003 mS/cm

Conductivity Measurement Range: 0–70 mS/cm

Conductivity Resolution: 0.0001 mS/cm

Dissolved Oxygen Accuracy: larger of ± 0.07 ml/L or ± 2%

Dissolved Oxygen Resolution: 0.2 µmol/kg

Dissolved Oxygen Range: 120% of surface saturation

Pressure Range: 100 m

Pressure Resolution: ± 0.002% full scale range

pH Accuracy: ± 0.05

pH Range: 6.5–9

Temperature Accuracy: ± 0.002 °C from -5–35 °C;
± 0.01 °C from -5–35 °C

Temperature Range: -5–45 °C

Temperature Resolution: 0.0001 °C

Field-proven CTD-DO sensor

Ion-selective field effect transistor

Internal data storage and batteries

RS232 or USB interface

Respondents shall furnish sufficient technical information necessary for the Government to conclusively determine that they are capable of meeting the technical requirements identified above. Firms believing they can meet the requirements are encouraged to respond electronically with no less than the following information:
• Business name, DUNS number, business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number, and email address;
• Sufficient descriptive literature that unequivocally demonstrates that offered equipment will meet or exceed above specifications;
• Descriptive material necessary for the government to determine whether the service offered meets the technical requirements;

Interested Parties must respond with capability statements by email to [email protected] on or before February 18, 2020 at 3:00 PM Central Standard Time.

Personal visits for the purpose of discussing this requirement are strongly discouraged and will NOT be scheduled. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. The government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, not identified in the response. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in beta.SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.