marine mammal tagging and data collection

The Government intends to solicit and negotiate on a sole source basis with Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation for the following requirement:. To provide NOAA Northeast Regional office with data collected and analyzed from the SPOT5 Argos transmitter using up to three successfully rehabilitated and released marine mammals from their rehabilitation facility. The post release monitoring and data collected will be applied to the current undergoing analysis of stranding data correlating marine mammal stranding and sea temperature through a grant provided to the NOAA Northeast Region Marine Mammal Stranding Program by the NART climate change team. The proposed research will occur only in the RFMRP's authorized area of response which encompasses the state of New York's marine beaches, harbors and waterways. They will fit up to three marine mammals with these transmitters and remotely monitor their movement and data collected using the SPOT 5 . They will provide NOAA NERO with periodic progress reports and a final report. Riverhead Foundation is a member of the NOAA Northeast Region Stranding Network and is the only federally authorized rehabilitation facility to respond to stranded marine mammals in New York coastal zone and surrounding waters . Deliverables to be delivered to NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service,55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. In order to comply with the debt collection improvement act of 1966, all contractors must be registered in the central contractor registration (CCR) to be considered for an award of a federal contract. For information regarding registration in CCR contact the CCR website at www.ccr.gov/index.cfm. Authority: 41 USC 253(c)(1). The FSC for this is R499 and the NAICS Code is541940, small business size standard is $7 million. The government intends to award a firm-fixed price purchase order for this requirement. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302(c)(1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit a proposal. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received by 10AM. Sept 2, 2009 will be considered by the government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. Evidence must be provided of ability to perform the required study. Responses to this notice, if any, must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the government. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to francena.monell-simard@noaa.gov.