Towed Underwater Sled System

The Department of Commerce, NOAA, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) division has a requirement for developing an underwater towed sled system with depressor weight. The requirement will also have an option for additional sled modifications. The AFSC is carrying out research in Alaskan waters using underwater camera systems. The two primary purposes of this research have been to map and confirm the distribution and abundance of coral and sponges in U.S. waters and to determine methods for assessing rockfish in untrawlable habitats. Both these AFSC research priorities require stable underwater camera platforms that can be towed or drifted along predetermined transects. Fieldwork planned for FY15 will include both an underwater survey of Primnoa coral sites in SE Alaska and an experimental assessment of rockfish off the west coast of California. The research requires a towed sled system that is compatible with existing underwater cameras and lights that will be attached to the sled. The towed sled system must also be compatible with AFSC's electric winch and coaxial cable. The technical requirements for the towed sled are complex. The general design will consist of a 3 components, 1) a depressor weight or fin attached to the AFSC coaxial cable, 2) a towed body with controllable fins that houses the AFSC camera and light systems, and 3) a neutrally buoyant intermediate cable connecting the coaxial cable termination at the depressor weight to the camera and lighting system at the towed body. A solicitation will be issued on or about September 2, 2014 defining the technical description of the towed sled and components. This is a total small business set-aside. The NAICS code for this requirement is 336612 with a 500 employee size standard. The Government intends to acquire this underwater towed sled using FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures estimated not to exceed $100,000.00. Any resulting purchase order will be a Firm-Fixed-Price purchase order. Request for Quotation (RFQ) documents with platform specifications will be made available for download on or about September 2, 2014 at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Paper copies of this solicitation will not be issued. Interested parties should use the FedBizOpps features which provide a notification when the RFQ becomes available for download as well as all postings of information associated with this RFQ. Each potential offeror is responsible for checking the FedBizOpps website to gain all current information related to the RFQ. The RFQ and any further announcements regarding the solicitation will be posted only at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. The estimated response due date is September 15, 2014; however, the actual date offers are due will be stated within the RFQ documents. **** All contractors doing business with Government shall be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). Award will not be made to any contractor that is not registered in SAM. The System for Award Management portal is the single source for vendor data for the federal government. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following website: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. In order to register with SAM and to be eligible to receive an award, all offerors must have a Dun and Bradstreet number, which may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun and Bradstreet on line at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by phone at +1 (555) 000-0000. The government encourages all contractors to submit their Representations and Certifications on-line at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.