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A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Women-Owned, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) ... A market survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate Small Business, SBA certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), Women-Owned, or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) contractors available for a proposed project who meet the specific criteria outlined below. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a solicitation Announcement or Request for Quote. It does not constitute any commitment by the Government. No award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified sources and to determine the capability of Small Business and/or Large Business companies to provide the supplies/services described below. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. Department of Agriculture (ARS) requests responses from ALL socioeconomic categories in order to gain a more complete understanding of the market for these products and service. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will not award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to limit competition to 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, Women-Owned, or other small business firms, or to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition. The NAICS code for the expected acquisition is 334513, with a Size Standard of 750 employees and the PSC Code is 6680. Any subsequent procurement will be conducted as a commercial item purchased in accordance with FAR Part 12 and as a Simplified Acquisition Procedure in accordance with FAR Part 13. The Department of Agriculture (ARS) has the need for the following product: 001) Multi-Parameter Water-Quality Sonde Scope of Work: The USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment (NLAE) in Ames, IA is seeking sources for a multi-parameter water-quality sonde. Background: Multi-parameter water-quality sonde for in-situ monitoring of water-quality parameters during long-term deployments. Current network of water-quality sondes used for the research projects consists of eight OTT Hydromet HL7 water-quality sondes with customized sensors. An additional HL7 sonde was acquired in FY20 for deployment at a research site. An additional compatible sonde has become necessary as research needs have expanded. Continuation of long-term water-quality monitoring of multiple ARS benchmark CEAP watersheds. Technical Requirements: Sonde must be compatible with existing network of OTT Hydromet HL7 water-quality sondes. Data output (especially turbidity) must be consistent with data output from turbidity sensors currently in use Sonde must have ability to integrate into existing Campbell Scientific datalogger network for data output continuity and uniformity Sonde must allow for continuous, extended, unattended deployment Sonde must have communications interface options of SDI-12, RS-485, RS-232, and USB Sonde must have internal and external battery power capability Sonde must include stainless steel temperature sensor Sonde must include integrated self-cleaning turbidity sensor with wiper capable of a measuring 0-3000 NTU Sonde must include integrated high-precision optical luminescent dissolved oxygen sensor capable of measuring 0-60 mg/L Sonde must include integrated open cell conductivity sensor capable of measuring 0-100 mS/cm Sonde must include integrated pH/ORP sensor with integrated reference capable of measuring 0-14 pH and -999 to 999 mV Sonde must include integrated stainless steel chlorophyll a sensor Sonde must include central wiper/brush for minimization of biofouling Sonde must include SDI-12 communications module Sonde must include 15m deployment cable Sonde must include calibration cable Quoted unit shall include minimum one-year warranty Evaluation Factors: The government intends to award a firm-fixed price award based on the lowest price technically acceptable service. The lowest priced service will be evaluated first; if not found acceptable, the next lowest priced service will be evaluated, and so on until an acceptable service is identified. The government will not review higher priced services if the lowest priced service is determined to be technically acceptable. For a vendor’s services to be considered technically acceptable, they must meet all of the technical requirements identified in the solicitation. Key Deliverables: A Multi-Parameter Water-Quality Sonde Delivery: Delivery is to be made to USDA-NLAE 1015 N. University Blvd. Ames, IA 50011 within 90 days of date of award. The vendor shall provide all items F.O.B: destination. Location of the Government site is aboard USDA-ARS Ames, IA and will be identified in the contract. The Government anticipates award of a Firm Fixed Price contract. Capability Statement: Companies who have the experience, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a Capabilities Statement which, for this notice, is not expected to be a proposal, but rather short statements regarding the company’s ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice. Companies should also indicate whether they are a Small Business, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), SDVOSB, or Women-Owned Small Business. To be eligible, all vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a current and active registration. A DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number is required in order to register in SAM. A vendor can contact SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220 or e-mail at www.sam.gov. NO EXCEPTIONS. Vendor must include their DUNS# on their capability statements. To be eligible, all vendors must also be registered in SAM under the specific NAICS code listed as part of this sources sought. If a prospective vendor is not registered under the specified NAICS code and would qualify to be registered under it then they must update their SAM registration prior to providing a capabilities statement. Finally, to be eligible, all vendors must be NDAA 889 Certified. If they do not currently have a NDAA 889 Certification, then they must complete the attached NDAA 889 Certification form and submit it to aaron.dimeo@usda.gov so that they can be added to the list of NDAA 889 Certified vendors. Submitting a Capability Statements: Responses should be submitted via email to aaron.dimeo@usda.gov by Monday, September 6, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Disclaimer: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Respondents are also advised that under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information or provide feedback about any of the information received. After review of the responses received, the Government may issue a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation. No proprietary, sensitive, confidential or classified information shall be included with your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.