Office of Law Enforcement VMS Units Sources Sought

SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT REQUEST ONLY to identify sources, including small and socioeconomic small business concerns, capable of performing the key criteria of the requirement. The information provided in this notice is subject to change and is not binding to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA has not made a commitment or an authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

Responses must be received no later than February 05, 2026 by 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, sent via email to kristen.picariello@noaa.gov and jack.huckleby@noaa.gov. Responses must be received in a supported Adobe or Microsoft Office file format. These formats are the only acceptable methods of submitting a response electronically. Zip Files, Cloud storage providers, google docs, web-based drop boxes, OneNote/OneDrive, URLs, web-based format, or any other virtual/web-based memory service are NOT acceptable methods of submitting a response electronically.

A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

1.0 Description

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Acquisition Division (WAD), on behalf of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), is seeking possible sources able to provide Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) transceiver hardware. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334511, Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing. The small business size standard for this NAICS code is 1,350 employees.

2.0 Background and Objective

The Pacific Islands Division (PID) of the OLE, NMFS, NOAA, Department of Commerce (DOC), is a Government agency charged with the mission of enforcing laws, regulations and conservation measures supporting stewardship for living marine resources.         

A critical component of managing this task is to conduct reasonable, regular, sustainable, life-cycle replacement of at-sea-deployed VMS hardware. The standard for replacement of such at-sea electronics gear is generally 3-5 years (varying depending upon conditions of use, hardware component durability, and other factors). In PID’s life-cycle management plan, we have opted for the most fiscally conservative end of this range (5 years, or approximately 20% of inventory each year). This rate currently supports an annual procurement of thirty (30) units.

The PID provides administrative and technical support to manage and operate the Pacific region portion of the national VMS used by the US Government to monitor commercial fishing and other vessels required by Federal Regulations for the purpose of enforcement. Under regulations at CFR Title 50, Subpart A, Section 665.19, OLE is required to procure, install, maintain, repair, and replace VMS transceivers for the Hawaii and American Samoa Longline Limited Entry permit holders that are NMFS type-approved, and transmit positions to the NOAA OLE VMS. The vast majority of those permit holders are also required, under regulations at CFR Title 50, Subpart O, Section 300.219 (b), (c), and (c)(iii), to transmit their positions by VMS to the WCPFC VMS. Most of those permit holders are also required, under mandatory federal regulations at CFR Title 50, Subpart A, Section 665.14 (b), (1), (ii), (A), to transmit their electronic logbook data by VMS daily to the PIFSC.
 

3.0 Requested Information

Interested firms shall submit a capability statement which shall demonstrate how the firm will meet the key service requirements as listed in this notice. 

The submitted capability statement shall include the following:

1. Company Overview
   1. Company Name and Address including website
   2. Social-economic status, business size, and size standard within NAICS code 334511.
   3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI/SAM) number.
2. Any additional information