NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SINGLE-SOURCE CONTRACT                        
Special Notice: FD-2023-064                        
NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC                        
                        
In compliance with FAR Subpart 13 coupled with the provisions set forth by FAR Subpart 5.101(a)(1), this Notice is hereby published to inform of the following:                        
                        
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1),  with Echoview Software PTY LTD                        
                        
Using the procedures of FAR Part 13 the requirement is to procure the following: Purchase of 1) A one-year extension of Maintenance and Technical Support (MATS) from Echoview for four permanent (perpetual) licenses, with a Base year, plus Option year 1 and Option year 2; and 2) the addition of a fifth perpetual license. from 10 January 2023 to 9 January 2024 for NWFSC                                          

The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 513210 with a Small business size standard of $41.5M.                        
                        
The NWFSC/FRAM Acoustics Team (FEAT) has been using Echoview acoustic data processing software since 2002. FEAT requires continued use of Echoview Software to ensure comparability with acoustic data collected since 2002. FEAT currently owns four perpetual licenses for the software and has a one-year subscription for a fifth license. Echoview requires annual renewal fees in exchange for providing technical support and updates. Renewal of these licenses allows FEAT to continue accomplishing its missions of 1) producing biomass estimates of coastal Pacific hake through the analysis of acoustic data collected at sea on a NOAA ship during integrated ecosystem and acoustic trawl surveys, and 2) conducting research cruises so that FEAT continues using the best available science when conducting surveys. The processed acoustic data are critical components of stock assessments that are used to set Pacific hake fishery quotas, a primary mission of NOAA Fisheries.

Echoview Software Pty Ltd is the sole provider of Echoview acoustic data processing software and is the world-wide industry standard for working with and processing acoustic data collected during fisheries acoustics surveys. Echoview is used by other NMFS Science Centers and the majority of FEAT’s international collaborators. Without Echoview software, FEAT would be unable to compare acoustic data accurately to those of our collaborators, severely impacting FEAT’s ability to generate biomass estimates of Pacific hake in a timely manner, in collaboration with Canadian colleagues, as well as our research. Echoview is cited in NWFSC and NOAA Fisheries national acoustic protocols as the only software tested and accepted for data analysis in integrated acoustic trawl surveys. Acoustic data that FEAT and international colleagues collect at sea can be processed only by using Echoview software. In addition, FEAT team members have completed multiple advanced training courses in Echoview to expand their knowledge specifically for using Echoview during surveys and post-survey data processing. FEAT has invested significant time and effort in writing scripts that interface only with Echoview.

Renewal of FEAT’s Echoview acoustic data processing software licenses is vitally needed not only to avoid a break in service, but also to not miss out on needed technical support and software updates when they become available. Furthermore, FEAT wishes to add a fifth perpetual license, instead of continuing with an annual subscription, because significant cost savings can be realized long term. FEAT needs to maintain five licenses given current and projected staffing.

                       
**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.                        
                        
                      
                        
Attachments                        
Single Source Determination