R -- Notice of Intent to negotiate a sole source contract with the University of California.

The Department of Commerce, NOAA office in Seattle, Washington, intends to negotiate a sole source contract with the University of California for a research project focused on early life history studies in rockfish. This simplified acquisition is valued at less than $100,000 and reflects a targeted effort to engage the university’s expertise for specialized scientific research. The solicitation was posted on July 8, 2002, under the reference number WASC-2-1328. This contract opportunity does not include specific set-aside designations or NAICS codes and involves no identified place of performance beyond general information. The sole source nature of the contract indicates a direct negotiation without competitive bidding, suggesting that the University of California possesses unique qualifications or capabilities essential to the early life history research objectives. The project aligns with NOAA's mission and underscores the agency’s commitment to advancing marine science through collaborative research partnerships.