Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) Mapping Project Phase II

NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH LAB(OAR), CLIMATE PROGRAM OFFICE, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY TO COLLABORATE ON PHASE II OF THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER BASIN (UMRB) MAPPING PROJECT.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY IS THE ONLY VENDOR IN THE AREA THAT HAS THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT AS THE KEY FORMULATOR AND DRIVER OF THE 5 STATE MESONET ENGAGEMENT WITH THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. NO OTHER SOURCE HAS THE EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH THE COMPLEXITY OF THE UMRB NETWORK SOIL MOISTURE AND SNOWPACK INSTRUMENTATION AND DATA SYSTEMS.

IN ADDITION, A PRIMARY REQUIREMENT OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE UMRB DATA VALUE STUDY IS A GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE AUDIT AND THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT AT THE UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATED IN THE PRECURSOR 2015 GAO AUDIT ON THE PROJECT. NOT UTILIZING THIS UNIVERSITY WOULD JEOPARDIZE OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE FOR A FY25 REPORT TO CONGESS DOCUMENTING THE VALUE OF SOIL MOISTURE AND SNOWPACK DATA FROM WITHIN THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER BASIN TO ADDRESS MAJOR NATURAL RESOURCE APPLICATIONS. THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR THIS STUDY IS 7/28/2024 TO 4/30/2025.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.