NexSens CB-950 Data Buoy

***THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 6.103-1, WITH FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL INC. FOR NEXSENS CB-950 DATA BUOY SPARE PARTS. NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 334511.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL INC IS THE ONLY AUTHORIZED RESELLER OF NEXSENS PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES. FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS OR RESELLERS WHO CAN PROVIDE NEXSENS PRODUCTS.

THE NEXSENS CB-950 BUOYS ARE THE STANDARD SYSTEMS USED BY THE CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (CO-OPS) FOR BUOY APPLICATIONS SUPPORTING PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC REAL-TIME SYSTEMS (PORTS®), CURRENT SURVEY PROJECTS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEPLOYMENTS, AND TEST AND EVALUATION PROJECTS. ONLY NEXSENS COMPONENTS ARE COMPATIBLE IN ALL ASPECTS (FORM, FIT, AND FUNCTION) WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS IN CO-OPS INVENTORY. CO-OPS EMPLOYS STANDARDIZED SURVEY SYSTEMS TO HELP MAINTAIN A ROBUST, RELIABLE, AND COST-EFFICIENT NETWORK OF COASTAL AND GREAT LAKES OBSERVATORIES.

THIS PURCHASE INCLUDES SPARE PARTS FOR CB-950 BUOYS TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY RESPONSE CURBY SYSTEMS THAT CO-OPS MAINTAINS FOR NOAA”S OFFICE OF RESPONSE AND RESTORATION (OR&R). THESE SYSTEMS ARE DEPLOYED IN PORTS AND COASTAL REGIONS AFTER AN EVENT TO AID RECOVERY EFFORTS BY PROVIDING CRITICAL REAL-TIME OCEANOGRAPHIC CURRENT AND MEREOLOGICAL OBSERVATION IN THE AREA OF OPERATION. THE EQUIPMENT IN THIS PURCHASE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CO-OPS USE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND TYPE OF MEASUREMENTS BEING MADE. CO-OPS HAS MADE A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN NEXSENS SYSTEMS TO ENSURE DATA CONSISTENCY, FIELD RELIABILITY, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. PURCHASING DIFFERENT PARTS INSTEAD OF THE NEXSENS CB-950 SPARE PARTS WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL COST AND RESOURCES TO PURCHASE, INTEGRATE, TEST, AND EVALUATE A NEW BUOY SYSTEM. UNDER THE CURRENT CO-OPS OPERATING SYSTEM ANY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT THAT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED MUST BE SUBJECTED TO A SERIES OF TESTS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE DATA AND THE DURABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE INTENDED USE. THESE TESTS USUALLY INCLUDE BENCH TESTING USING CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL MEASUREMENT, CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING TO CHECK RELIABILITY UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, AND LONG-TERM COMPARISON TESTING WITH ACCEPTED EQUIPMENT AT MULTIPLE REAL-WORLD LOCATIONS. THESE TESTS AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTING DATA TAKE A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME, MONEY, AND RESOURCES TO CONDUCT.

CO-OPS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO OPERATE WITH THE COMPONENTS IN THIS PURCHASE. IMPLEMENTING DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WILL RESULT IN COMPATIBILITY ISSUES AND REQUIRE MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXISTING SYSTEMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW COMPONENTS. FIELD PERSONNEL AND CONTRACTORS ARE TRAINED IN THE USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT IN THIS PURCHASE. ADDITIONAL COST WILL INCUR FROM HAVING TO TRAIN FIELD PERSONAL AND CONTRACTORS ON THE USE AND MAINTENANCE OF NEW EQUIPMENT. CO-OPS ALSO HAS THE ABILITY AND EQUIPMENT TO TEST AND TROUBLESHOOT THE EQUIPMENT IN THIS PURCHASE. IF NEW EQUIPMENT IS PURCHASED ADDITIONAL PARTS AND EQUIPMENT WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED TO SUPPORT THE NEW EQUIPMENT. ADDITIONAL TRAINING WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED FOR THOSE TASKED WITH TESTING AND REPAIRING THIS EQUIPMENT.

DELIVERY DATE: 90 DAYS FROM DATE OF AWARD.

***THIS PRESOLICITATION NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION OR A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE. SUCH REQUESTS AND DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.