At-Sea Observer

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE OFFICE OF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 6.103-1, WITH POINT BLUE CONSERVATION SCIENCE FOR AT-SEA OBSERVATION TO BE PERFORMED AT MONTEREY BAY. NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 541690.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT POINT BLUE CONSERVATION SCIENCE IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THIS SERVICE. ALL PREVIOUS DATA COLLECTED FOR THIS DISTINCT PROJECT AT DAVIDSON SEAMOUNT WERE COLLECTED BY POINT BLUE. THEIR MARINE MAMMAL AND SEABIRD OBSERVERS ARE WELL-QUALIFIED AND PROVIDE A CONSISTENT HIGH LEVEL OF IDENTIFICATION THAT WILL ALLOW MBNMS TO BETTER COMPARE PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED DATA.

PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED DATA IS ALREADY WITH POINT BLUE AND WILL ENABLE THEM TO MAKE DIRECT COMPARISONS TO PREVIOUS YEARS, AND ENABLE THEM TO PRODUCE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE ANALYTICAL PRODUCT FOR DATA ACROSS MULTIPLE EXPEDITIONS. PART OF THIS CONTRACT REQUIRES SYNTHESIZING ALL HISTORICAL DATA THAT WERE COLLECTED BY POINT BLUE WITH DATA TO BE COLLECTED ON THIS EXPEDITION.

IN ADDITION TO WORK FOR MBNMS, POINT BLUE HAS ALSO PROVIDED SIMILAR SERVICES FOR CORDELL BANK AND GREATER FARALLONES NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES USING THE SAME MARINE MAMMAL AND SEABIRD OBSERVATION METHODS. THEREFORE, FUTURE PRODUCTS GENERATED AS A RESULT OF COMPARING DATA ACROSS ALL THREE SANCTUARIES WILL BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: DATE OF AWARD TO JANUARY 31, 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.