SOLE SOURCE: ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT INC. (ERM) FOR MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE OIL EXPOSURE, PHASE 2 OF A 2-PHASE PROJECT

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 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT INC. (ERM) FOR MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE OIL EXPOSURE, PHASE 2 OF A 2-PHASE PROJECT. NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 562910, ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION SERVICES.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT ERM IS THE ONLY SOURCE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES REQUIRED AT THE LEVEL OF QUALITY REQUIRED BECAUSE THE TECHNICAL SERVICES ARE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED. ERM SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED INITIAL WORK ON MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE OIL EXPOSURE (PHASE 1), DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING THE ANALYTIC CHEMISTRY METHODS THAT ARE THE BASIS FOR THE CURRENT WORK (PHASE 2).

THE METHODS DEVELOPED IN PHASE 1 ARE UNPUBLISHED AND ERM IS THE ONLY GROUP WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO APPLY THEM AS REQUIRED FOR PHASE 2. THIS PARTICULAR SOURCE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE REQUIREMENT.

FOR PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT, THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS FOR THE STUDY, TROY BAKER AND DR. SARAH ALLAN (BOTH OR&R/ARD) QUERIED NIST LABS, MULTIPLE NOAA SCIENCE CENTER LABS, AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMERCIAL AND ACADEMIC ANALYTICAL LABORATORIES WITH SOME LEVEL OF OIL AND PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANT EXPERTISE TO ASSESS INTEREST, AVAILABILITY, AND REQUIRED CAPABILITIES. NO OTHER PROVIDER OF ANALYTICAL AND FORENSICS EXPERTISE WAS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT ARD FOR THIS PROJECT.

MARKET RESEARCH ON COSTS WAS ALSO CONDUCTED AT THAT TIME. FOR PHASE 2, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT TIME AND COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH WORKING WITH THE LABORATORY AND EXPERTS THAT ALREADY HAVE THE OPTIMIZED, VALIDATED METHODS FOR ANALYZING MARINE MAMMAL TISSUES RUNNING WITH A DEMONSTRATED HIGH LEVEL OF PRECISION AND ACCURACY.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: DATE OF AWARD THROUGH ONE (1) YEAR.

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.