CATS Multi Sensor Tags

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE (AGO), WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-SEATTLE (WAD), NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS), INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH CUSTOMIZED ANIMAL TRACKING SOLUTIONS (CATS) LOCATED IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA FOR CATS CAMERA-ENABLED MULTI SENSOR TAGS TO BE DELIVERED AT WOODS HOLE, MA.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT CUSTOMIZED ANIMAL TRACKING SOLUTIONS (CATS) IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THIS CATS CAMERA-ENABLED MULTI SENSOR TAGS.

NO OTHER COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE TAG HAS THE REQUIREMENTS WE NEED: TRI-AXIAL SENSORS, PRESSURE SENSOR, FLOAT AND ROBOT ATTACHMENTS, GPS AND SATELLITE-ENABLED, WITH AN APPROPRIATE HYDROPHONE AND HIGH-RESOLUTION DEPTH-RATED CAMERA FUNCTIONAL IN LOW LIGHT, AND PROGRAMMABLE AT DELAYED AND DESIRED INTERVALS WITH A SALTWATER AND LIGHT METER ACTIVATION TRIGGERS. CUSTOMIZED ANIMAL TRACKING SOLUTIONS (CATS) CUSTOM DESIGNS AN ANIMAL-BORNE VIDEO SYSTEM (AVS) TO RECORD THE FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES.

EACH UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH A HD VIDEO RECORDER, PRESSURE SENSOR (TO MEASURE DIVE DEPTH), 3-AXIS ACCELEROMETER, 3-AXIS MAGNETOMETER, TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND LIGHT SENSOR. THE UNITS WILL ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH HIGH POWER OUTPUT IR LED SO PREY CAPTURE ATTEMPTS CAN BE RECORDED AT NIGHT AND AT DEPTH. THE INSTRUMENT IS CONFIGURED SPECIFICALLY FOR WHALES WITH A LOW PROFILE TO REDUCE FRONTAL SURFACE AREA (DRAG) AND TO HAVE A SMALL OVERALL CONFIGURATION.

THE UNITS ARE DESIGNED TO RECORD FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND HAVE A PROGRAMMABLE CAMERA TRIGGER. THESE UNITS MUST BE IMPERVIOUS TO WATER, RESISTANT TO PHYSICAL ABUSE, AND CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING SUBSTANTIAL PRESSURE FROM ANIMALS DIVING TO 100M (OR MORE). IN ADDITION, TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS ON SWIMMING/DIVING ANIMALS, INSTRUMENT CONFIGURATION (SIZE AND FRONTAL PROFILE) MUST BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

SUPERFICIALLY FOR THIS STUDY WE REQUIRE AN INSTRUMENT THAT CAN: WITHSTAND DEPTH UP TO 200M, RECORD 8-12 HOURS OF HD VIDEO, PRODUCE LIGHT DURING VIDEO RECORDING, TRIGGERED TO TURN ON/OFF BASED ON ANIMAL DEPTH, RECORD ANIMAL DEPTH AT 1 SECOND INTERVALS, AND A DELAYED START OPTION. NO OTHER COMPANIES MEET ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS. CUSTOMIZED ANIMAL TRACKING SOLUTIONS (CATS) HAS NO AUTHORIZED PARTNERS/RESELLERS IN THE UNITED STATES. DELIVERY WITHIN 240 DAYS FROM DATE OF AWARD.

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 SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. 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.