140M0126Q0021_Intent_to_Sole_Source_1.pdf

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on behalf of the Bureau of Energy management (BOEM) intends to award a firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract under the authority of FAR 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, to:

The University of Mississippi 113 Falkner

University, Mississippi 38677-9704

1. Description of Requirement

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Gulf of America Office of Resource Evaluation, requires specialized geophysical, geological, and geochemical data acquisition in the Orca Basin on the Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf. The contractor will conduct a deep‑water, AUV‑led and ROV seafloor and subseafloor survey and seafloor and brine/water‑column sampling efforts.

The requirement includes:

• High‑resolution AUV geophysical mapping, including multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, sidescan mosaics, and subbottom profiling to characterize brine pool morphology, mineralization indicators, geomorphic features, and sedimentary structures.

• Design, mobilization, cruise planning, operational execution, in‑situ QC, and post‑processing, including metadata development, equipment documentation, cruise logs, uncertainty budgets, preliminary quick‑look products, and final deliverables compliant with NOAA SOMP and HSSD data specifications.

• Target identification using AUV geophysical anomalies to locate candidate sites for subsequent geological or geochemical sampling.

• seafloor geological sampling (cores, grabs, crust sampling), sedimentological and mineralogical laboratory analyses (XRD, SEM/EDS, ICP‑MS/OES, lithologic descriptions).

• water‑column and brine sampling and laboratory analyses for critical mineral indicators (major ions, trace metals, REE, Li/B/Sr/Ba, dissolved gases, redox conditions, density/salinity).

• Delivery of all raw and processed data, integrated maps, interpretive summaries, sample catalogs, analytical results, and a final report synthesizing the implications for critical mineral potential in the Orca Basin.

This work directly supports BOEM’s statutory responsibilities under OCSLA and mission objectives related to evaluating mineral resources on the OCS.

2. Authority

This acquisition is conducted under FAR 6.103-1, Only One Responsible Source and no other supplies or services, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) – Only One Responsible Source. The Government has determined that The University of Mississippi is the only responsible source capable of providing the supplies/services required.

3. Justification Summary

BOEM intends to pursue this requirement as a potential sole-source action because the current Principal Investigator has previously demonstrated the highly specialized capabilities required to successfully perform the technical work described in this effort. This contract represents a continuation of the work initiated under Cooperative Agreement The Ecological Characterization of Marine Minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf (M23AC00006), which has already produced peer-reviewed research publications and advanced BOEM’s understanding of the Gulf of America’s brine-pool systems. The work requires a uniquely specialized combination of deepwater AUV and ROV operational capability, critical-mineral-focused geophysical and geochemical expertise, and prior field experience in Gulf of America brine pools, including the Orca Basin, which is an extreme deep-brine environment requiring specialized tools, methods, and mission planning. The selected source is the only known entity with this combination of technical capability, regional experience, and established performance on similar BOEM-funded work. In addition to the PI’s previous collaborative efforts with BOEM, the selected source is a known entity with:

• Proven integration and real‑time operation of deep‑rated AUV and ROV systems equipped with multibeam, sidescan, subbottom, optical, and chemical sensors suitable for ~2,400‑meter operations in dense, anoxic brine environments.

• Demonstrated experience conducting safe, compliant, and successful surveys in Orca Basin or other deep hypersaline basins, including environmental hazard controls and vehicle‑survivability protocols essential for this location.

• Ability to deliver geophysical datasets that fully align with NOAA SOMP, NOAA HSSD, BOEM metadata standards, S‑100 conventions, geophysical QC procedures, and OCS geological & geophysical permitting requirements.

• Integrated geological, geophysical, and geochemical laboratory capability for critical‑mineral analysis, including REE, major/trace elements, isotopes, and brine‑pool geochemistry.

• A track record of producing AUV‑grade, high‑resolution, deepwater mapping products compatible with BOEM’s resource evaluation workflows and geodatabases.

4. NAICS & Size Standard

NAICS Code: 541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services Size Standard: $28.5

5. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A SOLICITATION

This is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement which shall be considered by the agency. Responses must demonstrate the ability to meet the Government’s requirements with clear, compelling, and verifiable documentation.

6. Response Instructions

Parties who believe they can meet this requirement shall submit a written capability statement via email to:

Christina Mohamed Contracting Officer Email: Christina_Mohamed@doi.ios.gov Phone: 703-787-1449

Response Deadline: June 10, 2026, 12:00 PM EST

7. Additional Information

A decision not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received, the Government will proceed with the sole-source award.