Purchase and installation of 2 split beam transducers and to complete the hull-mounted array of 4 wide-bandwidth transducers

SPECIAL NOTICE NFFR71002201920SRG *** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Ocean Gold Seafoods, Inc. of Westport, Washington, United States for the continuation of the baseline for the Cooperative Research with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) under the management control of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. This requirement has needs for additional equipment for the mission needs and will be purchasing and installing 2 split beam transducers and to complete the hull-mounted array of 4 wide-bandwidth transducers (Simrad ES70-7C and ES120-7C) to complete the hull-mounted array of 4 wide-bandwidth transducers. ***The sole source determination is based on the NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for ongoing need for testing and sampling to be added to the current baseline and maintain continuity of results already paid for and time utilized. Another vendor could not be used without losing these established baseline for scientific results and this is a continuation of what has been in place since 2019. The approved vendor and vessel have already had multiple installations of equipment and retrofitted equipment. Any change in vendor would mean loss of the baseline, loss of time for required lengthy approvals, duplication of cost for equipment to be removed and retrofitted and not meeting the Mission. Purchase and installation due by 6/30/2022. ***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 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.