SOIL EC SURVEYOR MODULE

The USDA, ARS, MSA intends to award a sole source procurement to Veris Technologies, 601 N. Broadway, Salina, KS. 67401, as they are the sole source for this type field equipment that measures soil EC, pH, and organic matter with one pass across the field and records this information georeferenced to the collection site; pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy agency Requirements. The award will be for a Mobile Sensor Platform with 3 sensors for our specific research. Veris Technologies is the sole source of this type of Soil EC Surveyor module, and are the exclusive producer of ground-contact multiple-array soil EC mapping devises in the USA. Additional Specifications for this type of Implement are as follows: 1. A three-point-hitch implement to measure the following 3 soil properties on bedded and un-bedded land: Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Matter (OM), and soil pH. The unit needed is equivalent to the MSP3 offered by Veris Technologies of Salina, KS. 2. EC should provide bulk soil electrical conductivity measurements on a 1Hz interval at two depths -- 0 to 12" and 0 to 36" -- and logged in mS/m. 3. Organic Matter is to provide spatial variability of soil color on 1Hz intervals at depths of 1-3inches. 4. Unit must include depth-controlled, dual wavelength sensor; with optical sapphire window. Unit must also have capability to geo reference sample locations to enable calibration to percent OM from lab sample data. 5. pH is to automatically sample pH values at a depth of 2-4" in a field with a minimum sample density of 15 samples per acre at 50 foot swath widths at an operational speed of up to 6 mph. 6. Each sensor should allow for simultaneous real-time data logging to an external field laptop/Toughbook through software provided by the manufacturer. The system must allow logging of a RTK GPS location referenced to each Electrical Conductivity, Organic Matter, and pH measurement. The system should also allow for spatially accurate and real-time viewing of the data on the field laptop. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price Purchase Order on or about December 18, 2012, using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This Notice of Intent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 4:00 PM central time, December 17, 2012. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted via mail to the Contracting Officer at the following address: Contracting Office Address: USDA-ARS-MSA 141 Experiment Station Road Stoneville, MS. 38776-0225