Special Notice for NOAA Fisheries AFSC California Sea Lion Observation Services

Special Notice: 24-3768 NOAA / NMFS / AFSC The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with the University of California Santa Cruz of Santa Cruz, California, to procure the following:

Provide observation and data collection services of California Sea Lion (pinniped) from Año Nuevo Island, California. The NOAA Fisheries AKFSC Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML) conducts research to determine the status of California sea lion population. One element of the research is to estimate survival rates that are used in population models that inform Stock Assessment Reports.

Each year up to 500 California sea lion pups are marked and survival rates are estimated from the observations them throughout their breeding range in California. Most sea lions return to San Miguel Island where they were marked and where AFSC conducts observations.

Because a substantial proportion of marked juvenile sea lions migrate northward to hauling grounds at Año Nuevo Island, California (ANI) and are not observed at San Miguel Island where MML staff conduct observations, it is important to obtain observations of those animals to precisely estimate survival rates of juveniles in the population.

The government will benefit by this procurement by improving its ability to assess the status of the California sea lion population and meet its responsibilities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which mandates that the government enhance the recovery of listed marine mammal species and maintain them at optimal sustainable populations and identify their role in the ecosystem.

The vendor will individually marked California sea lions from Año Nuevo Island, California between June and September and provide observation data and photographs to the MML. The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541990, with a Small Business size standard of $19.5M.

The University of California Santa Cruz has extensive experience and resources to conduct these services with over 25 years of experience with conducting observation of California Sea Lions and is the sole source responsible for management, protection and access to Año Nuevo Island, California. The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract. This Special 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. Submissions are due no later than August 30, 2024 at 5pm Eastern Time. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses may be emailed to Christie.Lang@noaa.gov. 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 compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only can the University of California Santa Cruz of Santa Cruz, California, can provide the requirements stated above. Attachment Redacted Single Source Determination