Notice of Intent to Single Source to Advanced Telemetry Systems

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office (AGO), NMFS Field Delegates, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Advanced Telemetry Systems located in ISANTI, MN for purchase 379 JSATS Acoustic Micro Transmitters (supplies) to be used to tag and track Chinook salmon in California, to aid in the fulfillment of NOAA’s obligations to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Endangered Species Act. to be delivered no later than 4/1/2026.

The sole source determination is based on NOAA’s requirement that Advanced Telemetry Systems is the only vendor that manufactures and distributes this JSATS Acoustic Micro Transmitters.Compatibility to existing systems or equipment - The required supplies must be compatible in all aspects (form, fit, and function) with existing systems or equipment, and the source is uniquely qualified to meet the requirement.

We need to purchase fish transmitters that operate on the same frequency as the Interagency Telemetry Advisory Group’s existing receiver array. This receiver array (see map https://oceanview.pfeg.noaa.gov/CalFishTrack/pageREAL.html) is deployed year-round and allows the tracking of fish transmitters with existing infrastructure, and at no cost to the researcher.

However, this receiver array is only compatible with JSATS fish transmitters operating at a frequency of ~417kHz (https://www.nature.com/articles/srep08111). Only two vendors produce JSATS fish transmitters at a frequency of ~417kHz, and of the two, only Advanced Telemetry Systems is acceptable. Brand Name – This particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs.

The required tags are technically very specific (JSATS model SS300 and SS400 Acoustic Micro Transmitter). These tags will be used in a multiagency study whose success depends on the best quality and most reliable tags possible. The awarded vendor's tags must have passed the USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers) acceptance test. ATS is the only vendor to have this acceptance . Delivery within 6 months from date of award

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.