B--NOI for Noncompetitive Procurement, San Diego Zoo

The Government intends to negotiate on a noncompetitive basis with Zoological Society of San Diego at San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG) in San Diego, California in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) and the procedures of FAR Part 12, entitled, Acquisition of Commercial Items. The Geological Survey (USGS), Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) conducts research on juvenile desert tortoises in the head-start program at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) as part of the multi-year Interagency Agreement between the EAFB and the USGS titled, United States Geological Survey Desert Tortoise Head Start Program Research at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The juveniles were released in late September and early October 2020. The USGS has a requirement for support to continue the tracking of the ~120 newly released juveniles for health, changing expiring and non-functional radio transmitters, recording data twice monthly during the active season and once monthly during the active season. This requirement is an urgent and essential component for the mission of the USGS research program. The SDZG is the only entity with knowledge of sites, tortoise locations and behaviors. They have a skilled team of a project leader and field biologists with specialized qualifications and expertise and familiarity with the locations of the released individuals, knowledge and demonstrated ability to conduct high quality research on juvenile desert tortoises and find tortoises, replace dying radio transmitters, detect predators and predation events, and record data comprehensively and accurately. SDZG also holds the required federal and state permits for the project, as well as approved access and permitting for entry into EAFB. No other entity has the individual knowledge for locations, behaviors, and shelter sites chosen by the juvenile tortoises nor the sizes and required frequency approvals for radio transmitters. SDZG also has the team required to produce high quality, scientific reports in a timely manner. If one of the juveniles is injured, SDZG has veterinarians with expertise on reptiles and tortoises to assist in the project. Other interested concerns having the ability to perform this work may submit a capabilities statement to the Contracting Officer via email at cjfejarang@usgs.gov no later than - February 8, 2021 - the closing date of this announcement at 12:00 local time. All submissions will be evaluated to determine if competitive opportunities exist. All responses must be in writing, by email, to the Contracting Officer.