Underwater Hydrophone Retrieval and Maintenance

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

Hydrophone Retrieval, Maintenance and Redeployment in Puget Sound

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

Solicitation number 1305M326Q0326 is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ), for Hydrophone Retrieval, Maintenance and Redeployment in Puget Sound.

This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. The associated NAICS code is 488330. The small business size standard is $47m.

This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov.

(ii) A list of line-item number(s) and items, quantities, and units of measure (including option(s), if applicable).

CLIN 0001: Services, non-personal, to provide all supervision, labor, tools, materials and equipment necessary to locate and retrieve 37 underwater hydrophones and entire mooring assembly (approximately 600 pounds each) from three locations in Puget Sound (Admiralty Inlet, Central Puget Sound, and Tacoma Narrows), then rig and deploy 27 new Nextrak receivers with upgraded retrieval systems in the same general locations. The contractor shall be required to purchase and assemble the rigging for attaching the hydrophones to the anchors. Period of performance is October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

CLIN 1001: Option Year I: Services, non-personal, to provide all supervision, labor, tools, materials and equipment necessary to perform yearly hydrophone maintenance, consisting of hydrophones retrieval and redeployment in accordance with the Statement of Work. Period of Performance: 10/01/2027 to 09/30/2028

CLIN 2001: Option Year II: Services, non-personal, to provide all supervision, labor, tools, materials and equipment necessary to perform yearly hydrophone maintenance, consisting of hydrophones retrieval and redeployment in accordance with the Statement of Work. Period of Performance: 10/01/2028 to 09/30/2029

CLIN 3001: Option Year III: Services, non-personal, to provide all supervision, labor, tools, materials and equipment necessary to perform yearly hydrophone maintenance, consisting of hydrophones retrieval and redeployment in accordance with the Statement of Work. Period of Performance: 10/01/2029 to 09/30/2030

CLIN 4001: Option Year IV: Services, non-personal, to provide all supervision, labor, tools, materials and equipment necessary to perform yearly hydrophone maintenance, consisting of hydrophones retrieval and redeployment in accordance with the Statement of Work. Period of Performance: 10/01/2030 to 09/30/2031

(iii) Description of requirements for the items to be acquired, including documentation supporting any brand name descriptions (see 12.102).

See attached Statement of Work which applies to Base Year and all Option Years 1 – 4.

The Government anticipates a firm-fixed price (FFP) contract and invoicing should be issued in accordance with completed and accepted milestones or deliverables in accordance with the Statement of Work.

(iv) Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance and f.o.b. point (see part 47).

Base Year for a twelve month period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Option Year 1: October 1, 2027 through September 30, 2028
Option Year 2: October 1, 2028 through September 30, 2029
Option Year 3: October 1, 2029 through September 30, 2030
Option Year 4: October 1, 2030 through September 30, 2031

Place of Performance is NWFSC 7305 Beach Drive E Port Orchard WA 98336.

(v) A list of solicitation provisions that apply to the acquisition (see 12.205(a)) can be found on the Request for Quote Form SF18 attachment.

RFO 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep 2023) (Deviation Jan 2026)
NOTICE TO OFFERORS: Instructions for submitting quotations under this request for quote must be followed. Failure to provide all information to aid in the evaluation may be considered non-responsive. Offers that are non-responsive may be excluded from further evaluation and rejected without further notification to the offeror.

1. Submit PDF or Microsoft Word format quotations to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the time specified in the solicitation. Quote documents shall include signed copies of the SF 18 and SF 30(s) to acknowledge the solicitation and any applicable amendments. Email quotes are required and can be sent to Nicholas.g.brown@noaa.gov.
2. Offeror shall have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM found at https://sam.gov/content/home) in order to provide a quote and be eligible for award. Must provide their UEID/CAGE CODE with their quote.
3. Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of them or their capability.
4. Offerors must provide all evaluation criteria in accordance with RFO 52.212-2. Offerors who do not provide all evaluation criteria may not be considered.
1. See 52.212-2 Addendum.

RFO 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2021) (Deviation Jan 2026)
Offers will be evaluated based on price and the factors set forth in paragraph (a).

The evaluation will consider the Non-Price Technical Solution (Technical Approach and Prior Experience) to be more important than price. However, as quotes are determined to be more equal in the non-price evaluation factor, price becomes more important and may become the determining factor for award. If, at any stage of the evaluation, all vendors are determined to have submitted equal, or virtually equal, Non-Price Technical Solutions, price could become the factor in determining which vendor will receive the award.

The Government intends to evaluate the quotes and award a purchase order based on the Offeror’s initial quote; therefore, the Offeror’s initial quote should contain the Offeror’s best terms from a Non-Price Technical Solution and price standpoint.

The Government reserves the right not to award a purchase order depending on the quality of the quote(s) submitted and the availability of funds. Furthermore, the Government may waive informalities and minor irregularities or omissions in quotes received.

The Government may make award to other than the lowest-priced Offeror or the Offeror with the highest technical rating if the Contracting Officer determines that to do so would result in the best value to the Government. The Government will not make an award at a significantly higher overall price to achieve only slightly superior performance capability.

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

Paragraph (a) is hereby completed as follows: Evaluation will be based on the following:

Factor 1 – Vessel Capability and Technical Approach: The Vendor’s Vessel Capability and Technical Approach will be evaluated to determine if the submission demonstrates an understanding of the requirements of the SOW
¿ Contractors shall describe how their proposed vessel is appropriately outfitted and configured to complete the task (s) for this requirement as described in the SOW. Specifically, the proposal should describe the cargo capacity, haulign capabilities and ability to support dive operations of the vessel.
¿ Describe procedures, control methods, new or innovative approaches, leading quality indicators, and methodology that will be utilized to satisfy the requirements of the PWS.
¿ Describe the specific assets (e.g. people or equipment) that will be applied and how the application of these resources will result in high quality products/installation, deliverables, and performance. Quoters should provide comprehensive details regarding the specific equipment to be procured along with the installation process.

Factor 2 – Prior Experience: The vendor's prior experience on related contracts will be evaluated to determine successful performance of contract requirements, quality and timeliness of delivery of goods and services, cost management, communications, proactive management, and customer satisfaction. CPARS ratings will also be evaluated.
The vendor shall describe relevant performance on three (3) other contracts or affirmatively state that it possesses no relevant past performance. The submission should include a maximum of three (3) contracts performed within the last three (3) years from the solicitation's issue date that are similar in scope, complexity, and magnitude. For each contract, provide the following:
¿ Contract Number
¿ Name of the Government Agency or Commercial Entity
¿ Brief Description of Work/Services Provided, the results achieved, and the relevance to the requirements herein
¿ Point of Contact with Current Phone Number and E-Mail Address
¿ Date of Contract Award
¿ Period of Performance

Factor 3 – Price:
The vendor shall provide pricing using their own form. Vendors must enter a total price on the SF1449 schedule for the base year and each option year. While a standardized pricing schedule will not be provided, vendors are required to submit an itemized list detailing per-unit pricing for all relevant aspects of the contract (e.g. mobilization, rigging, effort etc.), and a lump-sum amount for installation for both the base year and all subsequent option years.

The Government intends to award a trade-off, single firm fixed-price purchase order on an all or none basis with payment terms of Net 30.

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

***See Addendum to RFO 52.212-2 for additional details***

(End of provision)

(vi) A list of contract clauses that apply to the acquisition (see 12.205(b)) can be found on the Request for Quote Form SF1449 attachment.

(vii) Quotes are required to be received in the contracting office no later than 5PM MST/MDT on 8/7/2026. All quotes must be submitted electronically via email to Nicholas.g.brown@noaa.gov.

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR NON-RECEIPT OF QUOTES. IT IS THE CONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION OF THE QUOTE RECEIPT.

CAM 1352.215-72 Inquiries (Apr 2010)
OFFERORS MUST SUBMIT ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS SOLICITATION IN WRITING VIA EMAIL TO Nicholas.g.brown@noaa.gov. QUESTIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 5PM MST/MDT on 7/31/2026. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract.

(End of clause)

(viii) Any other additional information required by 5.101(c).

Per NOAA Deviation 2025-02/03: System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations. Contracting officers will not consider those representations when making award decisions or enforce requirements. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in SAM.

UTILIZATION OF FEDCONNECT® FOR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
The Department of Commerce will utilize the FedConnect® web portal in administering this award. The contractor must be registered in FedConnect® and have access to the FedConnect® website located at https://www.fedconnect.net/Fedconnect/. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect® questions please call the FedConnect® Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net. There is no charge for registration in or use of FedConnect®.

(End)