B -- Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract.

The contract involves a sole source agreement between the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Washington State University (WSU) to conduct an in-depth analysis of survey data related to macro-invertebrates and their habitats. WSU will be responsible for various tasks including digital video extraction, image analysis, data entry, verification, database management, statistical analysis, and report writing. Additionally, WSU will support activities such as video transecting, data collection, and the identification of voucher specimens. The university's expertise in macro-invertebrate studies and their associated environments makes it uniquely qualified to perform the required work. This simplified acquisition has an estimated value of under $100,000 and is intended to streamline the contracting process. The contract falls under the Department of Commerce, specifically the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) office located in Seattle, Washington. The notice was posted in July 2002 and emphasizes the intent to negotiate directly with WSU without a competitive bidding process due to their specialized qualifications.