Big Fin Electronic Fish Boards

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 BIG FIN LLC LOCATED IN CARY, NORTH CAROLINA FOR BIG FIN ELECTRONIC FISH MEASURING BOARDS AND TABLETS TO BE DELIVERED TO WOODS HOLE, MA.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT BIG FIN LLC IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THIS BIG FIN ELECTRONIC FISH MEASURING BOARDS AND TABLETS. BIG FIN SCIENTIFIC IS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE DCS5 ELECTRONIC FISH MEASURING BOARD AND IS THE ONLY SUPPLIER. THERE ARE NO AUTHORIZED RESELLERS NOR ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROVIDERS OF WARRANTY/REPAIR WORK.

ALL WARRANTIES AND ALL COMMITMENTS REGARDING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SCALES WILL BE RENDERED VOID IF ANY UNAUTHORIZED MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS ARE MADE TO THIS EQUIPMENT. BIG FIN SCIENTIFIC’S EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERS THE ENTIRE SET UP FOR UP TO THREE (3) YEARS FOR THE DCS5 ELECTRONIC MEASURING BOARDS. THE DSM/PBS PROGRAMS REQUIRE AN ELECTRONIC MEASURING BOARD THAT IS BLUETOOTH ENABLED AND ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM DATA COLLECTION SOFTWARE DEVELOPED HERE AT THE NEFSC.

WHILE BFS’S DCS5 SYSTEMS DOES HAVE PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE AVAILABLE, THE SYSTEM IS COMPATIBLE WITH OUR APPLICATION OUT OF THE BOX. SOME OTHER COMPANIES WITH BLUETOOTH ENABLED MEASURING BOARDS REQUIRE THE USE OF THEIR PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE TO CAPTURE DATA FROM THE DEVICE, MAKING INCORPORATION OF DATA INTO EXISTING NEFSC SOFTWARE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE BFS DCS5 IS A MODULAR SYSTEM THAT ENHANCES APPLICATION CONSIDERABLY.

THE CONTROL BOX AND ALL ACCESSORIES CAN BE MOVED FROM MEASURING DECKS RANGING IN LENGTH FROM 50CM TO 200CM. THIS IS A FEATURE NOT AVAILABLE FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS. OTHER MANUFACTURERS DO NOT HAVE MEASURING CAPABILITY ABOVE 120CM. THE BFS DCS5 ALSO PROVIDES A FREE STYLUS (MAGNETIC DEVICE USED TO MARK FISH LENGTH) FOR MAKING MEASUREMENTS. OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE STYLUS’ THAT ARE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE BOARD AND SLIDE BACK AND FORTH FOR MEASUREMENTS.

THE BOARDS PRESENTLY BEING USED HAVE THIS FEATURE AND HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN AND OFTEN GET DISABLED FROM DIRT AND FISH SLIME. THE DCS5 PROVIDES A HIGHER LEVEL OF WATER RESISTANCE (EPA IEC 529-IP67K) THAN SOME OTHER UNITS AS WELL. THIS IS ESSENTIAL IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THIS WORK OCCURS. DELIVERY BY 10/01/2024.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS/QUOTES 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.