NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT This is a notice of intent to negotiate a sole-source contract pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), only one responsible source, which applies when the supplies/services required by the agency are only available from one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Government intends to negotiate a contract with Harry A. Stiller (HAS) Images, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Remote Sensing Division (RSD) to fulfill a requirement for aerial photographic services, processing, and storage, as described herein. It is the Government's belief that only HAS can provide these unique long-term storage and processing requirements. HAS has provided these necessary full range of analog and digital aerial film services for over 20 years. The RSD of the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is tasked to provide aerial photographic and electronic digital scan products in support of Government programs as well as private sector requests. Since the late 1940's, the National Geodetic Survey's Remote Sensing Division has acquired precision aerial photography for a variety of mission-specific, geo-positioning applications. These include: delineating the shoreline for Nautical Chart creation, measuring water depths (photobathymetry), topographic mapping, mapping seabed characteristics, and locating features or obstructions to ensure the safety of marine and air navigation. The photographic images acquired prior to the 1960's represent overhead depictions prior to any satellite reconnaissance. Some of the early film is very delicate and must be handled by trained professional to ensure these one-of-a-kind assets are not irreparably damaged and lost forever. With a mix of historical and contemporary assets, over 6000 rolls of film are in NGS' library. Unlike 35mm film that many were accustom to until the advent of digital photography, aerial film is much larger in stature and requires considerably more space, special processing, storage with rigorous environmental controls, careful transfer and handling procedures. A comprehensive range of aerial photographic and digital products and services is required for this solicitation for processing, printing, scanning, and storage services of color, black-and-white panchromatic, and color and black and white infrared aerial film supplied by NGS. Specialized photographic equipment is necessary to process aerial film and to produce contact prints, scaled enlargements, film diapositives, roll film duplication, and conversion of analog images to metric-quality standards. Requirements include proper background, training and knowledge on historic aerial film handling, cataloging and record keeping, full-service photographic laboratory and chemistry facility, film development and product generation of various media including film, paper, and electronic data, special services such as electronic or hand titling, research, splicing, and mounting, and the capacity to properly and securely store the thousands of undeveloped and developed film in rigorous environmental conditions, specifically long-term freezer storage. Efforts to solicit from other sources have been conducted on numerous occasions in the past, including the Sources Sought Notice posted by this office on May 30, 2014; however, no other firm has had an interest in these unique services or has had the requisite capability to do so. As such, as noted here, the Government intends to negotiate a contract with Harry A. Stiller Images, Inc. Responses to this notice must be provided within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of this notice. Vendors who believe they can meet this requirement are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the requirement. All written responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the requirement. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirement. Failure to submit such documentation will result in the Government proceeding as previously stated. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 2:00 P.M. local time, July 3, 2014. The responses may be submitted via e-mail to Katie Carter, Contract Specialist, at katie.carter@noaa.gov.