19 -- Water Sampling Vessel

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation to procure a 24-foot fiberglass over wood, tunnel hull mullet skiff to accommodate a 1500 HP four-stroke or two-stroke outboard motor having 27 inch sides, self-bailing deck, beam of 8.5 feet, splash rail, cavitation plate deflector, aluminum skegs, and a 50-gallon fuel tank. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office located in Annapolis Maryland is in need for a 24-foot shoal water sampling vessel with the ability to operate at idle or on full plane in extremely shallow waters (10-12 inches) carrying a large and heavy, specialized payload including multiple 600 foot nets, various benthic and water column sampling devices (e.g., benthic grabs, WQ profiling equipment), and 3-5 field scientists and technicians. The mullet skiff design with the outboard engine mounted in a specially-designed engine well located in the forward third of the vessel, and a large raised center console and stern net well, which provides the performance and sampling characteristics required. Working efficiently in ultra-shallow water is infeasible with traditional sampling platforms. The solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2005-12. The provisions and clauses may be downloaded at http://www.acqnet.gov/far. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-l, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items. The Government shall award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror conforming to the solicitation which will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. FAR 52-212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. All interested contractors must be actively registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at the CCR website (www.ccr.gov). These services will be acquired using simplified acquisition procedures, FAR Parts 12 and 13, as supplemented with additional information in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. All responsible sources may respond to this combined synopsis/solicitation with a quotation addressed to Robin Prather, NOAA Acquisition Division, 1305 East West Highway, Room 7146, Silver Spring MD 20910, to be received no later than 1:00 p.m., September 11, 2006. Responses may be faxed to 301-713-0806 or emailed to Robin.Prather@noaa.gov. Responses must be no more than 10 pages. The Government reserves the right to make a single award, multiple awards, or no award as a result of this RFQ. It is the responsibility of the contractor to confirm NOAA's receipt of quote.