Special Notice Number: SWFSC-20-SN01

Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Location: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Fisheries Ecology Division, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), to Nortek USA, Inc. for (2) self-contained acoustic current doppler profilers with integrated wide-band echosounders and (8) replacement batteries.  

The sole source determination is based on National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) requirement to investigate links between the physical environment, krill, and krill-dependent predators (e.g., penguins and pinnipeds), and to understand the ecosystem effects of commercial krill fishing. Basic data requirements necessary for the effective management of the krill fishery must include local measurements of the ocean circulation in the region where the fishery operates and where predators forage; these measurements were not made at the appropriate space and time scales during the large-scale acoustic surveys previously conducted as part of the U.S. AMLR Program.

NOAA purchased eight of these units from Nortek, Inc. in 2017 and 2018 and two in 2019.  NMFS has invested considerable resources in developing techniques to analyze data returned from these instruments. Additionally, the integration of data into existing management frameworks requires that equipment deployed be identical to ensure consistency of data. Varying instruments will vary data quality that will adversely impact the ability for the AERD to provide high quality advice to the CCAMLR and to the U.S. Department of State as required by law.

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.  Submissions are due no later than March 19, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.  Responses may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to Karen Beck at (858) 546-7004.  A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only Nortek USA can provide the requirement stated above.