Notice of Intent to Sole Source - RAWS Portable Weather Station Upgrades for Hoosier National Forest

The USDA Forest Service seeks to award a sole‑source, firm‑fixed‑price purchase order to Forest Technology Systems (FTS) for a critical hardware upgrade of two active Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) located in the Hoosier National Forest. The upgrade includes proprietary Quick Deploy (QD2) structural enclosures, tripod legs, solar panels, mounting brackets, and wind sensors to replace cracked enclosures and maintain data integrity for fire‑management operations. Because the existing system uses FTS‑exclusive F6/G6 hardware, only the original manufacturer can supply compatible components, preventing mismatched or non‑functional replacements. • Upgrade two RAWS portable stations (IIC North and IIC South) with new QD2 enclosures and associated hardware. • Procure proprietary components (20 W solar panels, SDI‑WS‑RMY‑QD sensors, mounting brackets) to ensure compatibility with the FTS F6/DCP platform. • Sole‑source justification based on unique design and lack of alternative manufacturers; capability statements accepted for 15 days after notice.