Opportunity: GS17PS00354 - Intent to Award - 5-gram Solar Satel

G17PS00354 ¿ Intent to Award The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for a firm-fixed price Purchase Order (PO) to Microwave Telemetry Inc., a manufacturer of bird and fish tracking solutions. The PO is for the USGS Office of Acquisition and Grants requirement for 5-gram solar satellite platform terminal transmitters for the study of Yuma Ridgway¿s rails (Rallus obsoletus yumanensis). Delivery required by May 15, 2017. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to Microwave Telemetry Inc. unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they have similar technical expertise and can provide the same service. Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Chris Kuhn, via email at ckuhn@usgs.gov no later than 12:00 PM EDT, Tuesday, April 11, 2017 with an affirmative answer. Brand Name Justification States the Following Part: Microwave Telemetry, Inc. is the sole source of 5-gram solar satellite PTTs. They have an acceptable past performance record. The USGS US Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species Recovery Permit (#TE039466-1) limits us to transmitters that weigh less than 3% of the mass of the Yuma Ridgway¿s rail. The average weight of the Yuma Ridgway's rails captured during 2016 was 224.1g, which limits us to transmitters lighter than 5.7 grams (considering our harness weighs about 1g). The paucity of information on the dispersal behaviors of this endangered species presents an additional challenge to gathering movement data. As we cannot accurately predict when or to where the rails will disperse, we are limited to transmitters that have a long operating life and offer remote upload capabilities. For this, the 5-gram solar PTT by Microwave Telemetry, Inc. offers the only solution to our study needs. This lightweight Solar PTT is small enough to apply to the Yuma Ridgway's rails and will provide the spatial and temporal coverage to document long distance dispersal events. Microwave Telemetry, Inc. is the only company currently producing solar powered satellite transmitters that weigh 5-grams or less.