SAM #1240BD26P0040

USDA Forest Service Intent to Sole Source Vence Solar 24V US Base Stations for Virtual Fence Infrastructure

This notice announces the USDA Forest Service's intent to award a sole-source contract to Vence Corp for proprietary base stations supporting its Virtual Fence infrastructure for livestock management. - Agency: USDA Forest Service, CSA Northwest 2 - Sole-source procurement to Vence Corp (OEM and vendor) - Products requested: - Vence Solar 24V US Base Stations (self-install and assisted-install models) - Purpose: Maintain and expand Virtual Fence infrastructure for domestic livestock grazing - Key requirements: - Only Vence hardware communicates with existing livestock collars (proprietary software lock-in) - Regional infrastructure continuity; only Vence equipment is compatible - Avoids duplicative costs of switching systems - Operates on long-range radio frequencies (no cellular network reliance) - Hardware-only purchase; recurring data costs handled externally - Interested parties must demonstrate seamless, out-of-the-box compatibility with current Vence infrastructure - No competing OEMs or products identified due to proprietary requirements

Description

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) intends to issue a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract to Vence Corp<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> (16855 W Bernardo Dr, Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92127).

The regulatory authority for this non-competitive commercial acquisition is FAR Subpart 12.2<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> (Streamlined Procedures for Commercial Products) and FAR 12.102<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> (Brand Name/Single Source Restrictions for Commercial Products). This procurement is for proprietary Vence Solar 24V US Base Stations<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> to support the agency's Grazing Action Plan across western states.

The USFS requires Virtual Fence (VF) base station towers to establish invisible containment barriers for domestic livestock grazing. This equipment minimizes physical boundaries, directly improving native wildlife habitat and migration corridors.<!--TgQPHd|||[]-->

Brand Name:<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Vence<!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Model:<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Base Station, Solar, 24V, US (Self-Install and Assisted-Install Models<!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]-->

Market research confirms that Vence is the only commercial provider capable of meeting the agency's strict technical and regional operational mandates:<!--TgQPHd|||[]-->

Proprietary Software Lock-in:<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Vence is the sole proprietor of the closed-source software required to communicate with and control the active livestock collar fleet deployed across the region. Alternative hardware cannot run this software.<!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Regional Infrastructure Continuity:<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> The USFS maintains a substantial capital investment in active Vence base station towers across multiple western districts. Introducing a non-Vence brand would fragment the grid, as competing architectures cannot interoperate with existing infrastructure.<!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Avoidance of Duplication of Costs:<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Procuring an alternative system would require a total, cost-prohibitive infrastructure teardown and replacement of all active field assets and collars to maintain a single management interface.<!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Zero Cellular Reliance:<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> Vence hardware functions entirely via long-range radio frequencies, eliminating dependency on commercial cellular coverage in remote Forest Service lands. Data-Cost Shifting:<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> The Vence commercial framework allows a hardware-only purchase, successfully shifting long-term recurring data subscription costs to external grazing permittees or partner non-profit<!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]--><!--TgQPHd|||[]-->

This is not<!--TgQPHd|||[]--> a request for competitive proposals, and no solicitation package is available. in accordance with FAR Part 12 streamlined commercial procedures, interested parties who believe they can fully meet the exact requirements listed above may submit a capability statement. Submissions must provide verifiable proof of seamless, out-of-the-box software and hardware compatibility with the agency's existing regional Vence infrastructure network. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

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