Intend to Sole Source to Loligo Systems APS for Specialized Micro-Respirometry System Equipment

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Western Acquisition Division, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Loligo Systems. The sole source determination is based on the NOAA requirement that Loligo Systems is the sole entity capable of facilitating the requirements and objectives in conjuction with the custom-engineered compatable scientific equipment specific to the respitory system in the client's possession.

The objective of this acquisition aims to procure necessary scientific equipment needed by the National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory. Specifically, a core microplate respiration system is needed to measure oxygen respiration in various sizes of marine larval bivalves and finfish and integrate with the existing Loligo micro-respiration system. This particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs.

This particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs. The Loligo micro-respirometry system is peculiar to this one manufacturer. They are the only manufacturer that sells a complete aquatic system on tiny marine organisms.

The system also allows for the expansion to other sizes at relatively low costs to handle a variety of marine bivalve sizes while they are growing from fertilized eggs to larvae, to spat, to adults. The system is able to work in seawater systems, which not all chambers can handle. The system is stable in oxygen respiration rates and provides little noise when making measurements.

This is essential because once a system for micro-respiration is established it can be adapted to other marine aquatic organisms (fish, copepods).

The brand name is essential because of the variety of sample sizes it can handle, the precision in the measurements, it is widely accepted by the scientific community as the standard method of measuring respiration rates, and has a known record for working in seawater environments. **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 sustaining documentation in writing to the identified point of contact (below) within the alloted time frame after publication.

Such 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.

Capability statements are due no later than WED, 10 JUN at 12:00 EST. Be advised that all correspondence sent via e-mail shall contain a subject line that reads “143021-24-0221 - Micro Respiratory System”. To ensure your response along with any and all attachments are received, attachment(s) must be less than 20 MB [in total]. It is the responsibility of the offeror to contact the government to confirm receipt prior to the offer due date and time. Capability statements shall be submitted by email ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to the following POC: jacob.gray@noaa.gov 210.400.9512