The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $98,298 firm fixed-price purchase order to Project and Construction Welding, Inc., doing business as IMS, Inc., on June 10, 2025, to provide mechanical overhaul and electrical upgrade parts for the sliding watertight doors aboard the NOAA Ship Henry Bigelow. The contract, which carries no small business set-aside designation despite being advertised as a total small business opportunity, procures specialized components for five critical life-safety watertight doors that are essential for marine vessel operations. As the original equipment manufacturer of these proprietary door systems, IMS, Inc. is the sole authorized provider of service and spare parts in the United States, justifying the sole-source procurement conducted under simplified acquisition and commercial items procedures. The work is to be performed in Cape Coral, Florida, with all deliverables required by September 30, 2025, to support the NOAA Ship Henry Bigelow's fiscal year 2026 dry docking.
IMS, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of sliding watertight doors and industrial products serving the maritime and offshore industries, with an established history of federal contract awards from the Department of the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, and NOAA. The company's expertise in marine equipment certification and OEM technical support positions it uniquely to execute this upgrade, which requires maintaining type approval and ensuring proper functionality of the vessel's critical safety systems. This contract supports NOAA's mission to maintain and upgrade its research vessel fleet infrastructure.