The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research Laboratory (CRREL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to PCB Piezotronics, Inc. upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.106-1(b). ERDC-CRREL’s Signature Physics Branch in Hanover, NH requires two (2) Class 1 sound level meters, systems with fast Fourier transform (FFT), real-time band analysis, audio recording, integrated meteorological logging, and GPS time-sync capabilities to measure acoustic signals. The purpose of the data acquisition system is to conduct scientific-grade acoustical measurements in cold and remote environments. This research will apply the system to characterize acoustic propagation in Arctic environments. Specifications : The following specifications are essential to support the Government’s research for on an on-going project to understand counter-UAS capabilities in Arctic environments, as well as other research/development efforts at ERDC-CRREL: Specification: Minimum Performance Requirement (Each System) Sound Level Meter Class: IEC 61672-1 Class 1 (or equivalent, such as BS EN 61672-1 Class 1 or ANSI S1.4 Type 1) Housing: Sturdy plastic, metal, or carbon fiber material case, suitable for outdoor and field use Operating Temperature: -20°C to +40°C unprotected -40°C to +50°C in an environmental enclosure Operating Humidity: 0% to 90% RH, non-condensing Ingress Protection: Splash-resistant, include covers for unused connections Sound Level Meter Class: IEC 61672-1 Class 1 (or equivalent, such as BS EN 61672-1 Class 1 or ANSI S1.4 Type 1) Housing: Sturdy plastic, metal, or carbon fiber material case, suitable for outdoor and field use Operating Temperature: -20°C to +40°C unprotected -40°C to +50°C in an environmental enclosure Operating Humidity: 0% to 90% RH, non-condensing Ingress Protection: Splash-resistant, include covers for unused connections System Power: Line AC, internal batteries, and external DC (12 V is optimal, 5 V is acceptable) Operation: Autonomous/standalone, runs without an external host computer or external display Display: Integrated backlit display with on/off control or a keypress timer to preserve power. Display contents must be clearly visible over the operational temperature range. LED-type displays are strongly preferred over LCD displays due to temperature. Onboard Storage: Internal or removable storage capacity of at least 32 GB. (Capable of holding >48 hours of uncompressed uncompressed recordings from 1 channel digitized at 24 bits and 48 kS/s, plus all ancillary sound level measurements, weather data, calibration logs, setup files, and metadata. Additional space or field-swappable storage is optimal.) Computer Interface: Gigabit Ethernet or USB (2.0 or faster) Data Offload: Able to export raw data files to a computer running Windows 10 or MacOS 10.15 Catalina GPS Time Synchronization: Acquire, decode, and log a time signal from an external GPS or IRIG antenna. Synchronize & time-stamp all data files, including sound pressure levels, recorded audio, and meteorological measurements. Accuracy should be comparable to IEEE 1588-2008 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) or better. Signal Input: Acquires signals from ½-inch acoustic measurement microphones with LEMO-type connectors without using external microphone power supplies. Microphones must be able to be attached directly to the sound level meter body and by a microphone extension cable. Number of Channels: 1 acoustic signal channel, 1 GPS channel, sufficient aux channels to log meteorological quantities listed below Microphone: Include ½-inch free-field microphone capsule & preamplifier, with operation temperature & frequency ranges stated for the sound level meter, compatible with hydrophobic foam windscreens of 7-inch diameter or larger Mic Cable: Include compatible microphone extension cable of at least 5 m length Frequency: Cover 3.15 Hz to 20 kHz 1/3-octave bands Dynamic Range: 20 dBre 20 uPa to 140 dBre 20 uPa Time Response: Slow, Fast, and Impulse Frequency Weighting: A, C, and Z. Simultaneous A and Z networks are optimal. Levels: A-wt, C-wt, and Z-wt sound pressure levels in octave bands, 1/3-octave bands, and overall. Statistics should be displayed in Z-weighting. Real-Time: FFT and real-time frequency analysis in octave & 1/3-octave bands Modes: Manual start & stop, times/scheduled start & stop, automatic interval logging with no gap in data record between intervals. Intervals should align with beginning of GPS/clock time steps. Logging Intervals: 1 second to 1 hour, <1 second if available, report weather data on same intervals Autosave: Regularly and automatically save data without operator intervention (write to file immediately instead of upon button press). Data must be preserved if power is lost. Audio Recording: Record & time-stamp uncompressed acoustic time signals Audio Sampling: 40 kHz or higher (before Nyquist) to capture signals up to 20 kHz Audio Bit Depth: 24 bits or higher Met Sensor Operating Temp: -40°C to +50°C unprotected Met Sensor Protection: Resilient to icing or protected from precipitation. Integrated heaters are optimal, if available. Resilient to heat or protected from the sun. Wind Sensor: Sonic anemometer to measure horizontal wind direction in 360°, 1° resolution, ±5° accuracy Thermal Sensor: Air temperature from -40° C to 50° C, 1° C resolution, ±1° C accuracy from -10° C to 20° C Hygrometer: Relative air humidity from 0% to 100%, 2% RH resolution, ±5 % RH accuracy, or corresponding specific humidity or absolute humidity. Barometer: Atmospheric pressure from 700 to 1100 hPa, 1 hPa resolution, ±1 hPa accuracy Met Cable: Include compatible cable to interface weather sensor(s) with sound level meter. At least 5m long, 10 m is optimal. GPS Hardware: Include compatible external GPS antenna & cable, if available. Cable must be at least 5 m long; 10 m is optimal. Accessories: AC power supply & cable, DC power supply & cables, data & interface cables, mounting hardware, field/storage case. Calibrator: Include compatible Type 1 speakerphone sound pressure level field calibrator. Firmware: Install required options to achieve the stated capabilities. User/Tech Manual: Provide in printed (if available) and electronic (pdf) form. Online manuals are not sufficient. Calibration: Include current certificates for all components subject to calibration. Delivery: Complete system must be delivered to CRREL on the date specified in the Delivery Timeline section. Warranty: Provide warranty and support policies to cover system problems or malfunctions. Bid Longevity: Bids received must remain valid for at least 5 months Quantity Required: CRREL requires the vendor to provide two (2) complete Class 1 sound level meter systems for 1 acoustic signal channel, GPS time synchronization, and meteorological logging under this contract action. Larson Davis Inc., a subsidiary of PCB Piezotronics, Inc, manufacturers the only products reasonably available to satisfy the Government’s requirement in its entirety. Larson Davis supplies the Model 831C sound level meter, an IEC Class 1 and ANSI Type 1 device. It has an operation temperature range of -30 °C to 50 °C, and an extended weather option expands the range to -40 °C to 70 ºC when the system is certified with the CER-831-E option. FFT, real-time octave and 1/3-octave band analysis, and audio recording are available as firmware options. GPS support using the GPS001 antenna automatically time-stamps and includes the GPS information in all data files. The SEN031 weather sensor kit includes a mast-mounded Vaisala WXT536 sonic anemometer with an integrated thermometer, hygrometer, barometer, and precipitation sensor. Logging of this data is available as a firmware option. Some similar systems’ operating temperature ranges are consistent with IEC requirements for Class 1 sound level meters and may likely be deployed in an insulated environmental enclosure but lack meeting both the GPS and operation temperature requirements. Similar systems true operational temperature ranges with the enclosure would have to be tested before deployment. CRREL has facilities to test the cold end of the range, but the testing would require additional configuration time between the delivery and field shipment. The Government’s specifications are vital to enable the unit system to take accurate measurements and function seamlessly while deployed in extreme weather field experiments. PCB Piezotronics, Inc., through their subsidiary Larson Davis Inc., provides the only system that, if procured, would avoid the excessive cost associated with testing new products which would create substantial duplication of cost to the Government and cause unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency requirements. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334513 – Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables – was determined to best represent this requirement. The small business size standard is 750 employees. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CDT, 10 September 2021 to
[email protected] Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.