Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole-Source Contract - Chelonia Ltd. FPOD Echolocation Recorders for NMFS - Marine Mammal Laboratory

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service – Alaska Fisheries Science Center, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1); with Chelonia Limited UK (The Barkhouse - North Cliff, Mousehole, Cornwall TR19 6PH United Kingdom), for the purchase of twelve (12) F-POD Echolocation recording units/loggers. Chelonia Limited has an exclusive long-term deployment echolocation logging device for use in tracking populations of dolphins and porpoises for scientific research.

Sole Source Justification

The sole source determination is based on restrictive rights of the original equipment manufacturer; Chelonia Limited. The source has proprietary and limited rights in data, patent rights, OEM required certifications, copyrights, or secret processes with regard to the supplies or services required. Chelonia Limited UK is the original equipment manufacturer for the agency’s current fleet of echolocation loggers. These units are used to track populations of porpoises and dolphins in the Bering and Chukchi seas. These units are deployed for one to two years at a time in the marine environment around mid-northern Alaska. Researchers use the information obtained to track the target species and how they react to human activity in the marine environment.

Special Notice

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment or service that fully meets the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation 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. Responses can be sent via e-mail to jason.jenks@noaa.gov.  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.

All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement in accordance with the solicitation, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 1600 PM PDT on Sep 04, 2025.  The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Incomplete statements do not warrant consideration.

All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read:

Announcement Number: ACQ-SAP25SAT-25-1000
Project Title: Marine Mammal Laboratory Chelonia Limited FPOD Echolocation Loggers

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company unless registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov. To register, all contractors must have a valid Tax ID number and obtain a government-provided Unique Entity Identifier, which is available through SAM.gov.