Non-Personal Services For Hyperspectral Imaging Flights To Detect and Map Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, OFFICE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH (OAR) GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (GLERL), INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH AERIAL ASSOCIATES PHOTOGRAPHY INC LOCATED IN ANN ARBOR, MI FOR NON-PERSONAL SERVICES FOR HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING FLIGHTS ON A SPECIALLY EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT TO DETECT AND MAP HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABS) TO BE PERFORMED IN THE AREAS LAKE MICHIGAN, LAKE ERIE/LAKE ST. CLAIR, AND LAKE HURON.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT AERIAL ASSOCIATES PHOTOGRAPHY INC IS THE ONLY SOURCE TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED FLIGHTS THAT IS SPECIALLY EQUIPPED. THESE FLIGHTS ARE FEDERALLY MANDATED. REFERENCE HABNRCA LEGISTLATION SL 1254; PL 115-423 WHICH WAS ENACTED TO MONITOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM GROWTH AND TOXICITY IN THE GREAT LAKES-LAKE ERIE AREAS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VENDOR THAT IS ALREADY EQUIPPED AND PREPARED TO FLY ON SHORT NOTICED BASED ON UNKNOWN AND UNCONTROLLABLE ALGAL BLOOMS. AERIAL ASSOCIATES PHOTOGRAPHY INC IS THE ONLY VENDOR IN THE AREA THAT HAS A MODIFIED AIRCRAFT CAPABLE OF MOUNTING THE GOVERNMENT’S HYPERSPECTRAL DATA IMAGER.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

BASE YEAR:

DATE OF AWARD THROUGH 12/31/2024 OPTION PERIOD 1: 01/01/2025 THROUGH 12/31/2025

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.