69--Notice of Intent to procure from single source a DS5X Water Quality Instrument. Contractor: HACH/Hydrolab of San Refael, California.

Notice of Intent to procure from single source a DS5X Water Quality Instrument. Contractor: HACH/Hydrolab of San Refael, California. I. DESCRIPTION OF ITEM: The Hydrolab DataSonde Multiprobe is scientific equipment that is designed to utilize attached sensors (pH, dissolved oxygen, conductance, and turbidity sensors ) to measure water quality parameters under field conditions. II. PURPOSE OF ITEM: Hydrolab DataSonde Multiprobes and pH, dissolved oxygen, conductance, and turbidity sensors with internal memory are needed to measure water quality parameters in salt ponds on a continuous basis as required by regulatory agencies to fulfill the stipulations of our RWQCB discharge permit. Meters will be deployed continuously to monitor water quality of pond discharge. III. CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT: The Hydrolab DataSonde is compatible with our existing Surveyor 4 hand-held interface unit. Purchase of a competitor's unit would require the purchase of a new interface unit. The Hydrolab DataSondes will be used for continued monitoring of salt ponds using an existing protocol that was established with a Hydrolab MiniSonde in 1999 and continued using five Hydrolab DataSondes during 2004; thus, similar units should be used for future measurements to ensure consistent data quality over time and an accurate assessment of temporal changes in pond water quality. Water quality meters of comparable quality lack the compatibility with existing equipment, would disrupt data consistency, and are more costly.