58 -- Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract

The Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Science Center, specifically the Southwest Fisheries Science Center located in La Jolla, CA, intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Simrad, Inc. This contract is aimed at procuring specialized Simrad brand equipment, including various transceivers and transducers across multiple frequencies such as 18 kHz, 39 kHz, 70 kHz, and 120 kHz, each designed for specific scientific and fisheries research applications. The equipment list comprises one unit of each specified part number, catering to technical needs for marine research. This procurement is classified as a simplified acquisition with an estimated value below $100,000, indicating it is a smaller-scale purchase intended to support ongoing research activities efficiently. The notice serves as an official announcement of the intent to enter negotiations exclusively with Simrad, Inc., underscoring the proprietary nature or unique availability of the required equipment. The contracting office is based in Seattle, WA, under the Department of Commerce, and this step is a crucial part of the acquisition process to secure necessary scientific instrumentation for the fisheries research center.