SOLE SOURCE: Hobu Inc. for development of libraries and opensource software, including GDAL, PDAL, PROJ, QGIS

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 6.103-1, WITH HOBU INC. FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARIES AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING GDAL, PDAL, PROJ, QGIS, ETC FOR THE NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE (NOS), OFFICE OF COAST SURVEY (OCS), FOR THE PERIOD OF 1 YEAR (09/11/2026 – 09/10-2027) THE NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION CODE (NAICS) FOR THIS ACQUISITION IS 541519, OTHER COMPUTER RELATED SERVICES, WITH A BUSINESS SIZE STANDARD OF $34 MILLION.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT HOBU IS THE ONLY SOURCE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES REQUIRED AT THE LEVEL OF QUALITY REQUIRED BECAUSE THE TECHNICAL SERVICES ARE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED. HOBU INC. IS THE ONLY COMPANY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE, AND STANDING TO PROVIDE THE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT NEEDED BY THE OCS NATIONAL BATHYMETRIC SOURCE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES. OCS DEPENDS ON GDAL TO CONTINUE OPTIMIZATION OF OCS BATHYMETRY WORKFLOW.

OCS REQUIRES FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MANY LIBRARIES, INCLUDING GDAL, BUT ALSO PDAL, LIBLAS, SHAPELY, ETC. HOBU, INC., IS A FREQUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO MANY OPEN-SOURCE PROGRAMS AND HAS A VOICE ON THE PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEES FOR GDAL, PROJ, AND PDAL. HOBU INC. HAS NO AUTHORIZED PARTNERS OR RESELLERS WHO CAN PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 09/11/2026 – 09/10/2027.

THIS PRESOLICITATION NOTICE 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 OR A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE.

SUCH REQUESTS AND 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.