1305M325F0020 P26004 SSJ FE_Redacted.pdf

This Sole Source Justification (SSJ) document is for a modification to an existing Task Order 1305M325F0020 with A.I.S., Incorporated (AIS) to extend observer services for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SFSC). The extension will run from December 21, 2025 through March 31, 2026, with AIS continuing to manage recruitment, selection, supervision, and outfitting of sea-going personnel needed to fulfill federal fisheries obligations in coastal states from North Carolina through Texas, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The services are part of the National Observer Program, authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and require collecting environmental, biological, and fisheries operations data. The extension is sole-sourced due to the unique and highly specialized nature of the services, with AIS being the incumbent contractor capable of immediately deploying qualified observers without service interruption. Market research indicated multiple potential sources for a future competitive contract, but given the short-term extension, only the incumbent can perform without risking a lapse in critical fisheries monitoring services. Other interested companies like Riverside Technology, Saltwater, and FLOAT expressed interest in a future competitive contract, which is anticipated to be set aside for a small business.