Notice of Intent to Sole Source: RM Young Anemometers

The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) intends to solicit, negotiate and award on a sole source basis a purchase order with RM Young Company for the procurement of 262 RM Young Anemometers for the National Weather Service (NWS), National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) at Stennis Space Center, MS.

The Government intends to utilize the authority under the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements, unless, as a result of this announcement, acceptable responses to this notice are received and a determination is made by the Government to issue a competitive solicitation. The Government intends to award a purchase order to RM Young Company for the procurement of proprietary Anemometers for the NWS, NDBC Division based on their compatibility in form, fit and function with already existing systems. The NAICS code for this requirement is 334519. 

Sole Source Justification

The Self-Containted Ocean Observations Payload (SCOOP) and the Coastal-Marine Automated Network (CMAN) stations were designed around the selection of the R.M. Young propeller anemometers. The anemometers must mount on a standard one-inch pipe. The SCOOP and CMAN data acquisition systems have firmware algorithms and constants to convert the propeller anemometer outputs to wind speed and wind direction. The wind direction is transmitted by a 10K ohm precision conductive potentiometer. With a constant voltage applied to the potentiometer, the output signal is an analog voltage directly proportional to wind direction angle. The RM Young propeller wind monitors technology uses magnetic induction for measuring wind speed which requires no energy input. The magnetic induction on the model 05108 Wind Monitors produces a wind speed signal in the form of an AC sine wave signal that reflects an output of 0.166 m/s per Hz signal. Further, no power is required to be provided to the Wind Monitor to obtain the wind speed. Essentially you get the wind speed for free with respect to power requirements. Further, the directional portion of the sensor only requires 0.6mW of power. That is 100 times less power requirement than an ultrasonic anemometer. This low power wind measurement is imperative in a battery-operated remote buoy station. The 05108 anemometer has ceramic bearings that increase its reliability where the sensor may be deployed for more than a year at a time. The propeller anemometer also provides for the measurement of wind gusts over 100 m/s where no ultrasonic anemometer technology can currently measure in that range. The NDBC helped develop the R.M. Young propeller anemometer which is now considered the industry standard. Further, the R.M. Young Company is willing to work with all customers in developing cables, connectors, and mounts that meet their needs. No other propeller anemometer available matches the reliability of the R.M. Young propeller anemometer. Hence, replacement wind sensors must meet these same requirements.

Manufacturers that propose a solution using other than RM Young Anemometers must furnish detailed specifications and descriptions to demonstrate their capability to provide the required supplies that satisfy the Government’s needs. To be considered, interested parties must be able to demonstrate their ability to provide comparable anemometers that meet the specific characteristics outlined above. Capability information shall include, at minimum: name, telephone number, address of customers for which you have previously furnished the required supplies, and a detailed narrative that describes your ability to provide the required supplies as specified. The Government will give price preference to US made products. Interested parties must respond via email to kari.webler@noaa.gov prior to the closing of this notice. 

This is not a request for quotes or proposals and there is no solicitation available at this time. The Government reserves the right to solicit quotes based on the receipt of affirmative responses to this posting without further notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to open competition to businesses other than RM Young Company.

All contractors doing business with EAD must be registered with a valid Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number with the System for Award Management (SAM) website. Vendors can register with SAM at the following website https://www.sam.gov.