B--Conduct a Mussel Genetics Study at Savannah River

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to award a noncompetitive contract to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources for conducting a Mussel Genetics Study at the Savannah River. This decision is justified under federal regulations allowing sole-source procurement without competition, specifically under 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and corresponding FAR parts 6.302-1, 6.303, and 6.304. The agency has issued a notice of intent to inform other potential providers but is not soliciting competitive proposals. Interested parties wishing to be considered for competition are allowed to submit written statements detailing their qualifications by 10:00 a.m. local time on August 14, 2007. These submissions may be sent via fax or email, though it is the sender’s responsibility to ensure timely receipt. All inquiries or concerns regarding this procurement must be sent in writing to the designated point of contact at the Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency will evaluate any statements of capability solely to decide whether to open the procurement to competition, but the final decision to proceed noncompetitively rests entirely with the government. This contract is managed through the FWS Headquarters office in Falls Church, Virginia. The overall objective is to support environmental and biological research focused on mussel genetics in the Savannah River area, contributing to conservation and natural resource management efforts.