Veterinary epidemiological and unusual mortality event (UME) support services

The US Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the statutory authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), with University of California, Davis for Veterinary epidemiological and unusual mortality event (UME) support services. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, with a business size standard of 1,000 employees. Background This requirement supports the epidemiological investigations of marine animal health events such as unusual mortality events (UMEs). To assist with mentoring and advising NMFS biologists and veterinarians on wildlife health issues. To assist with response to marine animal health emergencies, especially coordination of responses to disasters and oil spills impacting (or with the potential to impact) protected marine animals. To provide assistance with development and implementation of the national or regional disaster and oil spill wildlife response guidelines for protected marine species. This may include the development of regional annexes and regional plans, basic and advanced trainings on elements of the Marine Mammal Oil Spill National Guidelines, development and implementation drills and exercises, development and implementation of online training courses in oil spill response for stranding network members, assistance in tracking training of stranding network members and other appropriate personnel, consultation and input on disaster and oil spill response documents such as Wildlife Response Plans, and scientific endeavors to fill identified science needs. This contract is important to NMFS Office of Protected Resources to detect, investigate, and respond to marine animal health and emergency response issues and to provide advice and expertise to management regarding epidemiological and disaster and oil spill wildlife response to support NOAA's mandates for species conservation and recovery under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. Sole Source Justification The University of California, Davis-One Health Institute (UCD-OHI) works through a variety of Centers, programs, projects, and initiatives to address complex health problems recognizing the linkages between wildlife, domestic animals, and people. Through a global, comprehensive, holistic, collaborative and trans-disciplinary approach, the UCD-OHI is uniquely qualified to collaborate with NMFS in the investigation of health of protected marine species. Components of the UCD-OHI include the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center (WHC), which includes the Oiled Wildlife Care Network and the SeaDoc Society. NMFS Office of Protected Resources works throughout the United States and abroad to detect, investigate, and respond to marine animal health and emergency response issues. Specifically, the veterinary services under the WHC will be used regarding epidemiological support and expertise in disaster and oil spill wildlife response. The WHC is a multidisciplinary program within the School of Veterinary Medicine. The WHC has significant expertise in wildlife epidemiology, particularly complex issues such as large-scale outbreaks and zoonotic diseases. Within the field of epidemiology, the WHC is unique in its approach from a one health perspective, recognizing the crucial interconnectedness of animals, people, and the environment, and having a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and educators to address these complex issues from many perspectives. The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) is an internationally recognized leader in the field of disaster and oil spill response for wildlife. The OWCN is the only oiled wildlife response organization in the United States (and one of only a very few worldwide) with experience coordinating response to and investigation of oiled marine mammals, and was significantly involved in the response to several recent spills including Deepwater Horizon (2010-2011), Texas City Y (2014) and Refugio (2015). No other organization has this understanding of disaster and oiled marine mammal response, particularly when working with the MMHSRP and the marine mammal stranding network. The OWCN has a 10-person staff with multiple veterinarians, animal recovery and care specialists that provide a depth of relevant experience for the work being sought with regards to disaster and oil spill preparedness. If this contract could not be awarded to the WHC then several emergency response and oil spill preparation activities that NOAA's Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) is preparing to support and train the marine mammal stranding network would be impacted. This lack of preparedness and planning would impact the ability of the MMHSRP to effectively respond to morbidity and mortality events and emergencies such as oil spills that can impact marine mammal populations. Planning and preparedness for emergency events supports NOAA's mandates for species conservation and recovery under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. The OWCN is the only network of this kind in the United States and no other academic or private entity can provide the disaster and oil spill expertise in development of regional annexes and regional plans, basic and advanced trainings on elements of the Marine Mammal National Oil Spill Guidelines, development and implementation drills and exercises, development and implementation of online training courses in disaster and oil spill response for stranding network members, assistance in tracking training of stranding network members. Special Notice This special notice is not a solicitation for competitive quotes, nor will one be posted on Contract Opportunities. However, if an interested party believes that it is capable of meeting the requirements and be in compliance with the above justification, they may submit substantiating documentation in writing within the open period of this notice. Responses can be 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. All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement in accordance with the solicitation, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 11:00 AM EDT on August 9, 2023. The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read: Announcement Number: 1333MF23Q02965 Project Title: Veterinary epidemiological and unusual mortality event (UME) support services with expertise in disaster and oil spill wildlife response. It is the Offeror's responsibility to ensure that any submission transmitted to the specified Government representative(s) is received prior to the due date specified herein. Offerors are highly encouraged to contact the Government representative(s) specified above prior to the solicitation's stated time and date for receipt of offers to ensure the Government has received the submission. Offers received after the date and time specified in this solicitation may be excluded from consideration. DOC/NOAA/NMFS/OPR 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 Unique Entity ID (UEI). A UEI may be acquired free of charge by registering at http:// https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration. The notice will remain open from 07/25/2023 to 08/09/2023.