Notice of Intent to Sole Source to ELUSIVE ENDEAVORS

In compliance with FAR Subpart 13 coupled with the provisions set forth by FAR Subpart 5.101(a)(1), this Notice is hereby published to inform of the following: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) intends to negotiate on a single source basis with Elusive Endeavors to utilized unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) to search for and detect manta rays in the coastal waters around the West Delta and Southeast Pass of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, and to deploy satellite tags on said mantas for habitat use, movement and connectivity studies. Due to the nature of these areas, flights will be performed from a small shallow draft vessel. The SEFSC requires a contractor capable of both operating UAS for the location and tracking of manta rays in coastal Louisiana, while concurrently deploying satellite tags on mantas once located. Tags will predominantly be deployed while freediving above the mantas. Vendor to provide non-personal services to include all labor, supplies, equipment to complete the following tasks. 1) The contractor will provide two personnel certified to operate UAS and effectively search for and find manta rays in coastal Louisiana waters 2) The personnel must also have the ability to tag mantas either free diving or from the vessel 3) The contract personnel must provide all their own gear for tag deployment, all their own freediving gear, as well as their own UAS for locating and tracking mantas while directing the vessel to their location 4)The contract personnel must be available for a five-day trip the week of September 4th-8th, 2023.As applicable, the contractor shall work with government personnel to determine any additional deployment days.The period of performance is base: Date of Award through August 31st, 2024 with a CLIN for optional quantities that can be exercised at any time during the Base period of performance. The first trip is estimated to occur the week of September 4th through 8th, 2023. CLIN 1001 Option 1: September 1st, 2024 through August 31st, 2025. The government reserves the right to exercise any option.The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) the owners/operators of Elusive Endeavors have been using UAS to locate mantas in the coastal waters of eastern Florida for nearly a decade utilizing a wide array of research techniques, including in-water photography, drones, aerial surveys, and satellite and acoustic telemetry, to study the biology and ecology of Florida manta rays. Based on our market research and similar work with this company in the past, non-contractual, there are no other companies that provide these services, and have the required experience using both UAS to locate the mantas, while simultaneously using freediving techniques to apply satellite tags. An Internet search for drone work on MantaRays in Florida only came up with one other source, Marine Megafauna Foundation. The program office contacted the foundation and learned they use Elusive Endeavors for all their work as they have been unable to locate any other vendors with the knowledge and abilities to support the Manta Ray drone work including in-water photography, drones, aerial surveys, and satellite and acoustic telemetry as well, and Marine Megafauna Foundation is not registered in SAM. This notice of intent 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 in writing, referencing FD-23-450, to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such 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. Attachments: Single Source