Seal-Mounted Video and Telemetry package for Hawaiian Monk Seal

MODIFICATION 01 - issued to extend the response date from September 6, 2017 to September 8, 2017 THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT. IT IS NOT A SOLICITATION, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE A SOLICITATION WILL BE ISSUED. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. Any information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Announcement is strictly voluntary. The Government will neither award a contract solely based on this notice, nor pay for any information submitted by respondents. This notice is a request by the Government to collect information from interested vendors for the purpose of market research. A Statement of Need is provided for informational purposes only. Failing to provide a response to this announcement will not prohibit/exclude an interested vendor from participating in a future solicitation. The Government is looking for vendors who can provide the following requirement: Customized video-telemetry tags that can be deployed on and recovered from free-ranging monk seals and can be recovered from Hawaiian monk seals and able to withstand wear and tear from the marine environment. This will include developing specific modifications to the systems to aid NOAA in successfully recovering the cameras after deployment. Background: The NOAA Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program is mandated to understand monk seal biology and ecology to help with the development of management and conservation activities intended to help facilitate the recovery of the species. This work includes understanding the foraging ecology and behavior of monk seals at sea. This research requires technology that can be safely mounted and recovered from the seal and can withstand a harsh marine environment (salt water, pressure at depth, percussive damage, etc.) Video data helps with understanding diet and foraging behavior. Other data including location, 3-dimensional movement, and depth helps understand habitat use, energetic cost and other components vital to understanding the ecology of the species. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 334290 with a size standard of 750 employees. Interested Contractors are requested to provide the following information in response to this Sources Sought Announcement: 1) A statement that you believe your firm has the capability to meet all above stated requirements. 2) Your firm's DUNS number & CAGE code; 3) Your firm's SBA certified small business concern status. Specifically identify if your firm is HUBZone-certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or in the SBA's 8(a) program, etc. If your firm is not small, please state that it is a large business. 4) A brief description of your firm's past experience (within past 3 years) providing similar product. The information provided in response to this announcement is limited to five pages or less. All information shall be provided free of charge to the Government. The Government will not return any data provided in response to this announcement. This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. 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. Responses shall be provided to Contracting Officer, Karen Beck via email at contact@example.gov no later than 10:00 AM (Hawaii Time) on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.