V -- Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole Source Contract

The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is initiating a sole source contract negotiation with the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative (PWCC) to support a collaborative juvenile whiting survey conducted by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC). This partnership aims to enhance the cooperative survey efforts by sharing costs and responsibilities more evenly than in previous years, with NWFSC now contributing significantly to vessel expenses and data collection during the cruise. The cooperative nature of this contract means that no alternative vendors are suitable, as the services require a close working partnership with PWCC. This contract, valued under $100,000, represents a simplified acquisition and builds on past collaboration where NWFSC provided travel, scientific expertise, and survey design assistance. The effort continues to be a joint initiative aimed at improving fishery data collection through industry-government cooperation. The contract will be managed through NOAA's Seattle office, reflecting the agency’s commitment to sustainable fisheries research and cooperative resource management.