Nortek Acoustic Wave and Current (AWAC) Profiler

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division-Boulder (WAD), 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 NortekUSA, Inc located in Boston, MA for the purchase of two (2) Acoustic Wave and Current (AWAC) profilers to be delivered to Ann Arbor, MI.

The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s requirement that Nortek Group is the only vendor that manufactures their AWAC profilers, and NortekUSA, Inc is the only authorized distributor for the U.S. Nortek’s AWAC profiler includes a prolog board and necessary firm ware to compute large amounts of raw data and output only the final values.

The AWAC profilers are unique in their ability to provide on-board wave processing, without the need to transmit large amounts of data via Iridium or CDMA modems to the laboratory for processing. This allows the GLERL to use the current meter as part of their underwater instrumentation platforms. Other equipment within the GLERL’s current array of instrumentation has Nortek’s proprietary software which is used to process the information retrieved from the equipment, and render known results.

Using any other brand of products within the existing network would require GLERL to reprogram a multitude of equipment and purchase additional software. The entire ReCon Network for the Great Lakes is built around and compatible with Nortek equipment and software. Delivery by December 1, 2024.

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.