Two Sea-Bird 24-Position Carousels

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisitions Division-Kansas City office intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc., for two 24-position Sea-Bird Electronics carousels for the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL. The following equipment is required: - Two (2) 32P.xxxx CAROUSEL WATER SAMPLER (full size) PYLON-includes electronics/release pylon with mounting hub - Two (2) 32P.24xx Aluminum housing 6800 meter, 24 bottle capacity - Two (2) XSG/AG connector and Modem Interface compatible with SBE 9Plus CTD and 1lplus Deck Unit, or SBE 9Plus CTD and SBE 17plus V2 or SBE19/19plus V2/25/25 plus CTD and AFM Sole Source Justification AOML's Physical Oceanography Division (PHOD) currently owns six Sea-Bird 911 Plus Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) systems and seven 24-position carousels. The CTD system is used to collect vital oceanographic data that is required to meet the goals of field projects. The required 24-position carousels will be used on upcoming cruises. These carousels are required as they are fully interchangeable with the existing carousels and have the required specifications to match the existing carousels and complementary equipment owned by NOAA/AOML/PHOD. To keep the CTDs running at sea where spare parts are not easy to obtain having full compatibility and interchangeability is important and paramount. The purchase of these carousels will reduce time spent training personnel and maintain continuity and consistency in the data collected. Furthermore, NOAA/AOML/PHOD owns four Seabird 11 deck boxes which provide the real time data acquisition and control for the 24-position carousel. The software used by NOAA/AOML/PHOD to control the Seabird 11 deck box is proprietary software developed by Seabird. The software via the SBE 11 deck box issues the commands to the 24-position carousel actuators so bottles will open and close at desired depths. The ability to determine depths for water collection assists in gaining accurate data for the chemical makeup of local water. Using a carousel that is not fully interchangeable could cause damage or malfunction to the CTD. The cost to replace a CTD is $30,000. Because of the complications that would arise, there would certainly be errors in hardware and software and thus the data collection of the field projects would be compromised . Using a carousel that is not identical would cost approximately 1 years' worth of a programmer's time to establish duplicate software routines to operate. Control/quality assurance software would need to be rewritten to handle a different data format and many hours of testing would be needed. NOANAOML/PHOD knows of no other company able to supply an identical carousel. Sources Sought This sources sought notice is not a request for competitive offers and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide the required carousels may submit substantiating documentation in writing within ten days of this notice. Responses can be faxed to Shelley Smith at +1 (555) 000-0000 or sent via e-mail to contact@example.gov. 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 response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. DOC, Eastern Region Acquisitions Division-Kansas City requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov. To register, all contractors must have a Dun and Bradstreet number. A Dun and Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun and Bradstreet on-line at http://www.dnb.com/eupdate or by telephone at +1 (555) 000-0000.