Aqua Troll Sensors and Spare Parts

NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE (NOS) CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (CO-OPS) NEGOTIATED, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 12.102(a), WITH IN-SITU INC. OUT OF FORT COLLINS, CO FOR AQUA TROLL SENSORS AND PARTS THAT ARE ON THEIR GSA CONTRACT.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT THE AQUA TROLLS SENSORS ARE UNIQUE TO THE WORK PERFORMED; NO ALTERNATIVE INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN FOUND TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED. THE IN-SITU AQUA TROLL 200 WAS APPROVED FOR USE IN CO-OPS OBSERVING SYSTEMS FOR CONDUCTIVITY AND TEMPERATURE SENSING AFTER A THOROUGH TEST AND EVALUATION OF MULTIPLE SENSORS FROM SEVERAL VENDORS.

THESE TESTS EXAMINED QUALITY OF DATA, SENSOR COMPATIBILITY WITH THE CO-OPS SYSTEMS, SENSOR RELIABILITY AND ACCURACY, AND OVER-ALL COST OF THE EQUIPMENT (INCLUDING INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS, ANNUAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, AND INITIAL PROCUREMENT). THE IN-SITU AQUA TROLL 200 LEVEL SENSOR WAS SELECTED BASED ON ITS DATA RETURN RELIABILITY, MINIMAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS, AND EASE OF INTEGRATION INTO THE CO-OPS SUITE OF STANDARDIZED SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT.

THE UNIT IS THE MOST RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND EXPANDABLE OF THE MULTIPLE SENSORS TESTED, AND IS COMPATIBLE WITH CO OPS’ DATA MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS AND VALIDATION USED IN THE PORTS DATA MANAGEMENT COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION. THIS PURCHASE IS TO SUPPORT MAINTENANCE EFFORTS AT STATIONS WITHIN THE CO-OPS PORTS NETWORKS THOUGH OUT THE UNITED STATES AND TO MAINTAIN THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE CURBY SYSTEMS THAT CO-OPS AND OR&R MAINTAIN TO RESPOND TO EVENTS IN THE GULF OF AMERICA REGION.

IMPLEMENTING A DIFFERENT SENSOR WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL COST AND RESOURCES AND WILL AFFECT THE CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF THESE SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE RESULTING DELAYS FOR TESTING, TRAINING, AND PURCHASE OF SUPPORT EQUIPMENT. UNDER THE CURRENT CO-OPS OPERATING SYSTEM ANY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT THAT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED MUST BE SUBJECTED TO A SERIES OF TESTS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE DATA AND THE DURABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE INTENDED USE.

THESE TESTS USUALLY INCLUDE BENCH TESTING USING CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL MEASUREMENT, CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING TO CHECK RELIABILITY UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, AND LONG-TERM COMPARISON TESTING WITH ACCEPTED EQUIPMENT AT MULTIPLE REAL-WORLD LOCATIONS. THESE TESTS AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTING DATA TAKE A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME, MONEY AND RESOURCES TO CONDUCT. IN-SITU INC. IS THE SOLE GSA CONTRACT HOLDER WITH THE AQUA TROLL SENSORS ON THEIR GSA CONTRACT. NO OTHER VENDORS WERE FOUND ON GSA WHEN SEARCHING AQUA TROLL SENSORS.