NOAA Fisheries Special Notice of Intent to a Single Source-Echoview Software Maintenance

Special Notice: ACQ-26-0810 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 Echoview Software PTY LTD., of Battery Point, Australia, to procure the following:

Provide Echoview software Maintenance and Technical Support (MATS) for AFSC Echoview licenses AFSC-1, AFSC-2, AFSC-3, AFSC-3A, AFSC-4, AFSC-9, and EV0245. The NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) group conducts hydroacoustic trawl surveys in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. These surveys support the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1881) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361).

MACE scientists rely on Echoview software to process survey data and estimate fish abundance, distribution, and biomass. Additionally, Echoview is essential for researching new technologies and analytical methods aimed at improving survey accuracy and efficiency, in alignment with Executive Order "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness" (Section 4c). The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541519, with a Small Business size standard of $34.0M.

Echoview is the industry standard for post-processing hydroacoustic data in fisheries research and management. Currently, no comparable commercial products exist; the only historical alternative, the Large Scale Survey System (LSSS), is no longer commercially supported. While open-source applications like Sonar4/5, ESP3, and MatEcho are available, they lack the comprehensive features necessary for NOAA’s mission-critical operations.

Furthermore, these open-source tools are typically maintained by foreign research agencies whose development priorities often diverge from NOAA’s mandates. Given the rapid evolution of hydroacoustic instrumentation and analytical techniques, reliable professional support is essential. Echoview consistently meets these needs through its responsiveness to NOAA’s technical support and feature requests, enabling MACE scientists to deliver accurate, timely stock assessment results in support of NOAA’s mission.

The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract. This Special Notice of Intent to a Single Source 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 July 1, 2026, 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 Echoview Software PTY LTD., of Battery Point, Australia, can provide the requirements stated above. Attachment Redacted Single Source Determination