This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE ORDER and is not a request for competitive proposals. The Department of Commerce/NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service has a requirement for a Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) and accessories, as well as 1 roll of 70 division silk (to be used in the CPR) and intends to negotiate with and issue a sole source, firm-fixed price award to The Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science of The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, England PL1 2PB. The award will be made using other than full and open competition procedures pursuant to FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(A), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, and Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(2).

The Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for Ocean Sciences has been providing CPR bodies and silks to the NEFSC Continuous Plankton Recorder survey since the 1960's. The consistency of bodies, internal mechanisms and silks is critical to the data quality of the CPR program; this data is used widely both within and outside NOAA to understand long-term changes in the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Ecosystem.

The requirement of this purchase order is for a new Continuous Plankton Recorder, Internal mechanism, and division silks for the Ship of Opportunity Program.

The CPR bodies, internal mechanisms, and silks provided by the Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for Ocean Sciences are the same that are used by the global Continuous Plankton Recorder program, thus the data collected in the Northeast U.S. continental shelf is comparable to that collected globally. This comparability must be maintained. The need for consistency and comparability is only met by ordering the CPR, internal mechanism and silks from the same vendor. These are unique products designed and sold exclusively by the Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation, and no other vendors of similar products have been identified.

The associated North America Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541712 and the business size standard is 500 employees.

Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by responding to this requirement or submitting a capabilities statement containing sufficient detail to determine if the party can meet all of the foregoing requirements.

For any questions concerning this Notice of Intent, please direct correspondence to Lauren Kirkpatrick via email at [email protected] or by fax to 508-495-2004. All correspondence must reference NFFM7120-13-03437.

Posting date of this notice is July 16, 2013.

NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED

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