The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is issuing notice of intent to negotiate a sole source procurement with Guildline Instruments for a laboratory salinometer. The equipment is needed to measure salinity from seawater samples to calibrate conductivity-based salinity measurements made during research vessel and ship of opportunity surveys. The North American Industry Classification System code is 334519. The small business size standard is 500 employees. Accurate salinity measurements are critical to ensure the best possible measurement of salinity by the NEFSC for use in description of environmental conditions throughout the northeast U.S. continental shelf ecosystem. To meet NEFSC needs, the measurement range of the salinometer must be over at least 5-37 Equivalent Practical Salinity Units (PSU), the accuracy must <±0.002 (PSU), and the technology must be proven. The NEFSC has used a Guildline salinometer for over 10 years and successfully measured salinity from thousands of seawater samples. No other salinometers have a comparable accuracy and the Guildline salinometer is used around the world to measure seawater salinity when accuracy is crucial. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 41 USC 253 (c) (1), Only One Responsible Source. Interested parties may identify their interest and must provide evidence of their capability to provide comparable and compatible equipment by September 6, 2005. No other information will be provided. Telephone requests will not be accepted. Capability statements and supporting documentation may be faxed to (757) 441-3786. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Numbered Note 22 applies.

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