Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) - Plains, Snow and Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in ND

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Omaha District has prepared a solicitation and intends to issue a Request for Proposal to North Dakota State University (NDSU) in accordance with 41 U.S. Code 1901 as incorporated in FAR Subpart 13.5 procedures. The Omaha District plans to execute a new Single Award Task Order Contract (SATOC) for supplies, which will be titled Upper Missouri River Basin Plains Snowpack and Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in the State of North Dakota (ND). The District intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract for five years (five-year base ordering period with no options) on a sole source basis to NDSU. Anticipated award date is 25 September 2020. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. The purpose of this contract is to establish a network of stations to monitor snowpack and soil moisture throughout the plains area (MT, WY, ND, SD, & NE) of the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB). The plains area of the UMRB (above Sioux City, IA) in the United States (U.S.) totals 270,000 square miles. In ND, there are 51 existing monitoring stations operated by the NDSU Mesonet office that need upgraded equipment installed and approximately 26 new sites in ND that will need the required equipment and instrumentation installed once the sites have been identified. The Mesonets are a mesoscale network of automated weather and environmental monitoring sites. The instrumentation on the existing sites is not consistent but will be standardized and included in the network. NDSU staff have the technical capability to install the equipment, as they were responsible for the purchase and installation of the original equipment at the existing sites. NDSU also owns, operates, and maintains the existing sites and will own, operate, and maintain the new sites once identified. NDSU will be responsible for selecting the new sites, based on their own criteria. NDSU has already obtained the real estate access for the existing sites and will be responsible for obtaining real estate access for all new sites. NDSU has established relationships with landowners that will be leveraged when performing work on existing and new sites, once identified. NDSU has the necessary infrastructure already in place and has been a product of support and commitment from USACE, NOAA, USBR and other state Mesonet offices. NDSU has knowledge of operational efficiencies and the technical protocols required by the Mesonet Program to conduct and oversee upgrading existing and new sites. NDSUs continued efforts are important to maintain consistency, continuity, and data integrity to ensure the necessary equipment is installed correctly and the data can be analyzed, therefore concerting the data to information on which to base management decisions. NDSU already possesses experience in installing the full range of equipment and site-specific knowledge, which minimizes any mobilization/start-up costs and delays in becoming familiar with the equipment and installation procedures, and data transmission to support the Mesonet Program. NDSU is the proposed sole source contractor. NDSU has the unique inherent knowledge of the Mesonet Program and NDSU, resulting in increased efficiency and data quality.