An apparatus for detecting Salmonella enterica bacteria using an electrochemical aptamer-based sensor array comprising: a specimen cup; a lid being removably coupled to the specimen cup; a base station comprising means for interfacing with the lid, the lid being removably coupled to the specimen cup; a sensor base plate; a capacitive array disposed on the sensor base plate in a plurality of grooved channels; a plurality of aptamer molecules disposed within the capacitive array, each of the plurality of aptamer molecules capable of binding to an indicator protein on an outer membrane of the Salmonella enterica, and wherein each aptamermolecule is immobilized to the capacitive array utilizing the Self-Assembled Monolayer method; a printed circuit board coupled to the capacitive array, the printed circuit board comprising means of interfacing and controlling the capacitive array; and a weatherproof enclosure sized and configured to accommodate the base station and cup assembly; wherein the printed circuit board and capacitive array are powered directly or indirectly to an independent power supply through a USB connection, wherein the weatherproof enclosure further comprises: a solar photo-electric cell disposed on an enclosure lid of the weatherproof enclosure; an electrochemical battery coupled to the base station and comprising means for collecting power from the solar photo-electric cell and delivering that power to the base station; an external booster antenna disposed on an outer surface of the weatherproof enclosure and coupled to the base station via the USB port on the base station; and a plurality of attachment brackets comprising means for allowing the enclosure to be coupled to the external surface of a shipping container. a specimen cup; a lid being removably coupled to the specimen cup; a base station comprising means for interfacing with the lid, the lid being removably coupled to the specimen cup; a sensor base plate; a capacitive array disposed on the sensor base plate in a plurality of grooved channels; a plurality of aptamer molecules disposed within the capacitive array, each of the plurality of aptamer molecules capable of binding to an indicator protein on an outer membrane of the Salmonella enterica, and wherein each aptamermolecule is immobilized to the capacitive array utilizing the Self-Assembled Monolayer method; a printed circuit board coupled to the capacitive array, the printed circuit board comprising means of interfacing and controlling the capacitive array; and a weatherproof enclosure sized and configured to accommodate the base station and cup assembly; wherein the printed circuit board and capacitive array are powered directly or indirectly to an independent power supply through a USB connection, wherein the weatherproof enclosure further comprises: a solar photo-electric cell disposed on an enclosure lid of the weatherproof enclosure; an electrochemical battery coupled to the base station and comprising means for collecting power from the solar photo-electric cell and delivering that power to the base station; an external booster antenna disposed on an outer surface of the weatherproof enclosure and coupled to the base station via the USB port on the base station; and a plurality of attachment brackets comprising means for allowing the enclosure to be coupled to the external surface of a shipping container. a solar photo-electric cell disposed on an enclosure lid of the weatherproof enclosure; an electrochemical battery coupled to the base station and comprising means for collecting power from the solar photo-electric cell and delivering that power to the base station; an external booster antenna disposed on an outer surface of the weatherproof enclosure and coupled to the base station via the USB port on the base station; and a plurality of attachment brackets comprising means for allowing the enclosure to be coupled to the external surface of a shipping container.