The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), located administratively within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), intends to purchase Smalltooth Sawfish and Gulf Sturgeon tags for a research study that will provide valuable information on further use and refinement of Critical Habitat for these species.  The equipment is manufactured by Amirix Systems Inc. (d/b/a Vemco), and are located in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada. 

Amirix Systems Inc. has been identified as the only known source that can provide the needed items as specified below that will also meet the Government’s intended use because an array of VEMCO VR-2W passive acoustic receivers already exist in the study areas and any additional tags must be fully compatible with existing array or essential data will not be recovered and NOAA will be unable to meet its study objectives.  Other companies that manufacture acoustic networks and tags are incompatible with VEMCO products.  If NOAA cannot tap into this network, NOAA would have to establish a similar-sized network at considerable government expense. 

The requested items (see information below) are manufactured solely by Amirix Systems Inc. and the only known qualified source of this equipment due to the proprietary nature of this product.    Any attempt to reproduce this item from a source other than Amirix Systems Inc. would require that the Government re-qualify the item at considerable cost to the Government whose cost savings could not be recovered using open competition.  If the National Marine Fisheries Service cannot procure the needed species tags, it will have a negative impact on the National Marine Fisheries Service’s research study. 

The requirements for the items are as follows: 

Ø  Rounded Case (Gulf Sturgeon)

o    Qyt:  70

o   Amirix Systems Inc. P/n V16-6x-A69-9001

Ø  Acoustic  Receivers

o    Qyt:  10

o   8 megabytes data storage

o   Receive at a frequency of  69.0 kHz

o   Minimum battery life of 400 days

Ø  Shipping Charges 

All items shall be delivered to the U.S. Department of Commerce/NOAA/National Marine Fisheries  located at 3500 Delwood Beach Rd., Panama City, FL 32408.

The Government is not aware of any other vendors that can provide this specialized equipment while also meeting all of the requirements listed above.

The intended procurement is for fish species tags for a research study.  The Government intends to acquire under the guidelines of FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisitions Procedures and FAR Part 12 Commercial Items.  The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with the only known source (Amirix Systems Inc.) under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i).  All proposals received prior to the close of this notice will be considered by the Government.  However, this is not a request for proposals and there is no solicitation available at this time.  The Government reserves the right to solicit quotes based on the receipt of affirmative responses to this notice or issue a purchase order to Amirix Systems Inc. whichever is determined to be more advantageous to the Government without further notice.  A determination by the Government not to compete 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.  In order to be considered, firms must furnish detailed information concerning their capability to provide the needed fish species tags.  Interested firms should submit its name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and a brief statement regarding its capability to provide the fish species tags that provides the same form, fit and function as the equipment specified above.  Any responses that provide for fish species tags other than that specified must be accompanied by descriptive literature and show it meets the same form, fit and function.  Please include the name, telephone number, and point of contact for businesses or other Government agencies to which your company has previously provided the proposed equipment. 

Offerors may send their proposal via email only to [email protected].  The NAICS code for this requirement is 334516.  All responsible sources may submit requested information which will be considered by the Agency.  All contractors doing business with this Contracting Office (Eastern Region Acquisition - Kansas City Division) must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) website.  Vendors can register with SAM at the following website https://www.sam.gov/