Oceanographic Drifter Buoys

Notice Type: Sources Sought Synopsis Title: Oceanographic Drifter Buoys Response Date: December 27, 2023 This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is not a pre-solicitation announcement. The purpose of this Market Research and Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified U.S. Domestic businesses, which could include Small Business, HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Women Owned Small Business firms and even Large Businesses. Responses to this Sources Sought Synopsis will be used by the Government in making appropriate acquisition decisions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), Ecosystems & Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (EcoFOCI) studies the physical oceanography of Alaskan waters. This involves studying ocean currents. Expendable satellite tracked, drogued drifter buoys are one way that they study the ocean currents. The EcoFOCI group needs to purchase six (6) new MetOcean Telematics satellite tracked Argos drifter floats. INTENDED USE/PURPOSE: The MetOcean SVP Iridium drifter has been designed and thoroughly tested to track ocean current and provide environmental data at a designated depth beneath the ocean surface. The buoy utilizes the dependable bi-directional Iridium satellite system to communicate and to transmit essential scientific data. An SVP drifter buoy like the MetOcean SVP Iridium drifter is required to meet the needs of the EcoFOCI group. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/ESSENTIAL SALIENT FEATURES: The buoys must meet the following specifications/characteristics: QUICK SPECIFICATIONS Size (diameter) 15.50 inches (39.5 cm) Mass 40 lbs. (18.1 kg) Operating Life Up to 18 months Drogue Type Holey sock BUOY DIMENSIONS - Surface Unit Diameter: 15.50 inches (39.5 cm) - Mass (in air): 40 lbs. (18.1 kg) BUOY CONSTRUCTION - Surface Unit: Injection molded high impact ABS - Tether: Plastic coated stainless steel cable - Drogue: No rip nylon DROGUE - Length: 210 inches (5.3m) - Diameter: 24.00 inches (60 cm) - Style: Holey sock TETHER - Length (to center of drogue): 590.5 inches (15m) OPERATION - Air temperature: -20C to 50C (-4F to 122F) - Water temperature: -2C to +45C (28F to 113F) - Relative humidity: 0 to 100% marine environment - Barometric pressure (optional): 800 to 1060 mbar - Sea state: SS5 - Operating life: Up to 18 months* - Storage life: Up to 24 months - Storage temperature: -20C to +55C (-4F to 131F) - Time reference: UTC and Julian hour STORAGE - Storage temperature: -20C to +55C (-4F to 131F) - Storage life: Up to 24 months SURVIVAL - Temperature: -40C to +70C (-40F to 158F) - Sea state: SS6 - Deployment free fall height: 33 ft (10m) into water ELECTRONICS - MetOcean's Global Platform Transceiver Controller TM - Navman Jupiter 32 Global Positioning System module - Iridium 9602N Short Burst Data transceiver - Strain gauge drogue presence system DATA COLLECTION - As per the Drifting Buoy Cooperative Panel DBCP-2 format (standard) - Can be customized depending upon customer requirement (optional) DATA TRANSMISSION - Bidirectional communication ability allows the end user to select on demand Iridium transmission interval to suit operational requirement. - Transmissions can be set up at predetermined schedule intervals and/or poll the unit for immediate results. Data latency is less than 60 seconds from start of transmission DELIVERY SCHEDULE: Deliver by March 30, 2024. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 334519 with a size standard of 600 employees. Interested firms shall provide, in writing, a brief narrative (no more than 3 pages in length) and documentation to support your firm's capability and experience meeting the requirements herein and include your firm's name, address, point of contact, telephone number, UEID Number, CCR CAGE Number, business type and size (i.e., small, large, non-profit, educational, etc.). Any response that does not include this information will not be considered. The Government will review your response to determine if your firm has the experience, knowledge and capability to provide the items as specified above. This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. Nor does this request for information constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that any procurement action may be issued for the Government's requirements. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise because of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. All contractors doing business with the Government are required to be registered and active with the System for Award Management (SAM) website. NOTE: THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded based on responses received to this notice.