Charter Vessel to Conduct a Longline Survey in the Eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Region, and Gulf of Alaska

This is a Sources Sought notice for a Charter Vessel to conduct a Longline Survey in the Eastern Bering Sea, the Aleutian Islands Region, and the Gulf of Alaska. 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A SOLICITATION AND IS BEING USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF MARKET RESEARCH ONLY. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government. Respondents will not be entitled to payment of direct or indirect costs incurred in responding to this notice. In accordance with Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) 15.101(c), responses to this notice are not quotations and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The attached draft Statement of Work (SOW) is for reference only; the final SOW may change.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD), located in Seattle, WA, is conducting market research to assess the current and near-future marketplace and potential vendors capable of performing a Longline Survey for sablefish and other groundfish in the Eastern Bering Sea, the Aleutian Islands region, and the Gulf of Alaska for the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC). Information provided in response to this notice will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available to determine how to proceed in the acquisition process. This notice requests interested parties to describe their technical capabilities and demonstrated facilities, processes, and service capabilities. All interested contractors are requested to provide written responses to the questions below. Responding to this notice is necessary to assist NOAA Fisheries in determining the potential levels of interest, adequacy of competition, market maturity, and technical capabilities within the business community to provide the required capabilities.

The Government is seeking industry input to determine the feasibility of this charter and the availability of qualified sources with the technical capability to fulfill the requirements outlined in the draft SOW. The Government welcomes industry comments, questions, and suggestions that will aid it in understanding industry capabilities, developing its acquisition strategy, and finalizing the SOW.

The purpose of this Sources Sought notice is threefold:

1. To determine the capability, interest, and availability of vendors in the marketplace;
2. For vendors to provide input on compensation structures and cost-recovery arrangements (e.g., daily sea-day and fuel rates offset by catch sales) that ensure contractors are adequately compensated; and
3. To encourage vendor/Government dialog that allows exploration of alternative approaches that may reduce cost and operational risk.

If a solicitation is generated by the Government from this notice, the Government reserves the right to use all of the information, use none of the information, or change all or part of the information noted and contained in the attached draft SOW. The Government may utilize the information provided to refine its acquisition strategy to maximize competition among viable alternatives. 

This notice is being published in accordance with RFO 10.001(b), which requires conducting market research before soliciting quotations for acquisitions with an estimated value in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. The Government does not intend to disclose vendor proprietary information or trade secrets to the public. However, the Government may use the information submitted by vendors during the market research period in preparing its solicitation and finalizing the SOW, provided this can be done without disclosing proprietary vendor information protected from disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and other laws and regulations.

Responses to this Sources Sought notice are due to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. Contact information is as follows:

Contracting Officer: Carina Topasna, •••••@•••••.•••Sign up to see this detail

Contract Specialist: Novelle Key, •••••@•••••.•••Sign up to see this detail 

Responses must be submitted via email to the above individuals no later than November 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is requested with your submission. Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is not necessary to respond to this notice. If the information in this notice leads to a solicitation, registration in SAM.gov will be a requirement for doing business with and entering into a contract with the Government.

All questions regarding this procurement should be sent via email to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. If appropriate, an amendment will be posted to provide relevant questions and answers to all interested vendors.

This Sources Sought notice is being issued under NAICS: 483114. All interested prospective firms are invited to respond. A determination from this notice may lead to a small business set-aside in accordance with RFO Part 19 if this notice results in a future solicitation. All prospective firms who respond to this notice will be contacted if/when a solicitation is posted to SAM.gov.

Cost Recovery and Compensation Mechanism:
Under the updated 2027–2031 SOW model, the vessel cleans, processes, and freezes all commercially marketable catch not retained for biological sampling to standards that ensure the highest revenues. Catch is sold by the Contractor within three months of the final day of fishing. Rather than the historical threshold-retention model, the contract utilizes a cost-offset structure:

1. Revenue generated from the sale of retained catch is credited and deducted from the total charter reimbursement cost.
2. The Contractor invoices for Sea Days and fuel following Government review and approval of the mandatory Post-Survey Sales Report.
3. After the first cruise leg, the Contractor provides actual fuel consumption, catch data, and cost-recovery projections; if revenues or agency funding fluctuate, the Government maintains the option to adjust remaining survey days to keep the contract within available funds.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS (CAPABILITIES STATEMENT)

Prospective firms should notify the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist of their interest by submitting a Capabilities Statement that includes their company size, descriptive literature/vessel specifications, and responses to the following items:

1. A statement confirming your firm has the capability to meet the requirements and perform the services outlined in the draft SOW. 
2. Your firm's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
3. Your firm’s Small Business Administration (SBA) certified status.
4. A brief description of your firm’s recent past experience (within the past three years) performing relevant work.
5. Suggestions or comments regarding the proposed cost-recovery offset model so contractors do not operate at a loss.
6. Suggestions for alternative survey arrangements that increase operational efficiency or decrease operating costs. Specifically, are there modifications to the draft SOW that would increase your firm's interest in submitting a quotation?
7. A Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate and commentary regarding key cost drivers that should be considered for the attached SOW.

All information received in response to this notice shall be treated as Business Sensitive or confidential to the responder, exempt from public release under FOIA.