B01_-_NOI_-__Emulsion_Breaking_Performance_11_10_26_1.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF AN

UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT

SUPPORT

This notice is issued in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 5.3, Synopses of Contract Awards. The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Marine Minerals Administration (MMA), formally Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Acquisition Operations Branch, is the contracting office for this procurement. The purpose of this notice is to announce the government’s intent to negotiate a sole source contract as a result of an Unsolicited Proposal received entitled, “Initial Evaluation of the Impact of Weathering on Emulsion Breaker Performance” with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, based on the offeror’s demonstrated unique capability in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source.

The overall objective of the project is to work with the MMA Response Research Branch to perform a study that will establish a controlled experimental framework to evaluate how photochemical weathering impacts the performance of emulsion breakers. The goal is to generate preliminary data that quantifies the interplay between oil weathering state and chemical treatment efficiency. If successful, possible future projects will leverage this experimental framework into a larger effort aimed at establishing the mechanistic controls of these processes, with an aim towards informing operational use of emulsion breakers.

The unsolicited proposal demonstrated the unique knowledge and skillset of Woods Hole Ocean-ographic Institution’s key personnel’s research and professional experience in Environmental Science, Marine Chemistry, and Geochemistry. In addition, the lead key personnel has published ten (10) relevant publications which include subjects that address: “Forecasting Photo Dissolutions for Future Oil Spills, Sun-Light Driven Dissolutions of Oil at Sea, Improving Testing Protocols of Studies Examining the Photo-Induced Toxicity of Petroleum and Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, and Partial Photochemical Oxidation’s Impact in Deepwater Horizon Surface Oil.”

Other relevant activities of the key personnel include: review of various scientific, environmental, and marine letters and research communications; Committee Member of the NASEM Gulf Research Program’s Gulf-Alaska Knowledge Exchange, and Co-Chair and Speaker at events which featured discussions concerning “Physical, Photochemical, and Biological Processes and their impacts during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill as well as Photochemical Reactions at Sea and on the Shoreline.” The efforts detailed are unique to Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution which were submitted in their unsolicited proposal substantiating their qualifications for this effort.

This posting is NOT a request for competitive quotes. This Notice of Intent is for informational purposes only. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement or proposal, which shall be considered by the agency if received by the Point of Contact (POC) listed below by 5:00 p.m. ET, November 25, 2026 (reference “Unsolicited Proposal - Initial Evaluation of the Impact of Weathering on Emulsion Breaker Performance”). A determination by the Government not to compete this action based on this notice is within the discretion of the Government. The government POC for this effort is Chrischanda S. Smith, Contracting Officer, MMA/OSMRE, Acquisition and Property Management Branch, 45600 Woodland Rd., Sterling, VA 20166. Any response to this notice shall be emailed to the Contracting Officer, Chrischanda S. Smith at chrischanda_smith@ios.doi.gov.