Automated soil sensor probe with a UTV mounted skid

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking a quotation for an automated soil sensor probe with a UTV mounted skid. The instrument must be capable of measuring soil organic matter, soil penetration resistance, bulk soil apparent electrical conductivity, and soil dielectric permittivity to a depth of at least 12 inches. The data must be collected instantaneously and georeferenced to generate high-resolution soil maps. The instrument should be flexible enough to be mounted on light to heavy-duty vehicles. Additional requirements include the ability to log, download, process, and transfer data to commercial software packages, as well as provide reasonable support and training. • The instrument must measure soil organic matter or total soil carbon from the surface to at least 12 inches depth. • The instrument must measure soil penetration resistance from the surface to at least 12 inches depth. • The instrument must measure bulk soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) from the surface to at least 12 inches depth. • The instrument must measure soil dielectric permittivity to enable soil water content determination.