***NOAA's Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with The College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey for assisting the National Marine Fisheries Service in assessing the effects of ocean acidification of microhardness of mineralized tissues in crabs.

***The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requirement for microindentation hardness testing of the cuticle using a Vicker's microhardness tester with digital image capture system, measurement of cuticle structural properties including the thickness of the endocuticle, exocuticle, and Bouligand structures, quantitative fracture analysis using a materials microscope with darkfield and polarized light capability, and determination of cuticle elemental composition. The College of New Jersey houses the only lab in the world assessing the effects of ocean acidification on microhardness of mineralized tissue in crabs. Their lab is the only institution that conducts a combination of mechanical and structural assessment of crabs, and, more specifically, Blue King Crab and Tanner Crab, so the results will be able to be quantitatively compared among species. The period of performance is from August 31, 2018 through February 28, 2020.

***This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.