A16_3-0034_Single_Source_Justification_Innovasea_Telemetry_2026_NOI_1.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- DOIFFBO260164
About this file
This is a Single Source Justification (SSJ) form submitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Joint Administrative Operations, Acquisitions Operations division for a sole source acquisition under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).
The Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) seeks to expand INNOVASEA (formerly Vemco) brand acoustic telemetry equipment for field operations to support fisheries management activities, including describing movement patterns and habitat requirements for species of interest, developing improved sampling protocols, and monitoring invasive species. The justification establishes that INNOVASEA is the only viable source because it is the sole supplier of acoustic receivers and tags compatible with the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System (GLATOS), funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Other manufacturers' equipment is incompatible with INNOVASEA systems already deployed in the field and would prevent integration into the GLATOS network for reporting tag detections. The proprietary nature of acoustic telemetry technology and the critical need for compatibility with existing equipment constitute barriers to competition. The acquisition was approved based on fair and reasonable pricing determined through comparison with similar previous purchases. Contractor qualifications are documented in the vendor's Statement of Work included in the contract package. The Program/Project Officer (Jacob Cochran) and Contracting Officer (Melissa Niemi) certified and approved the sole source acquisition procedures under FAR Part 13 on August 13-14, 2026.
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FWS Form (Rev. 2020) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS
Acquisitions Operations
Due to the nature of the acoustic telemetry technology and the equipment being utilized by our office, and many other FWCOs, there are no other companies capable of providing this equipment. Use of other brands of equipment would be incompatible with our existing equipment it may interfere with equipment already deployed for existing field work.
INNOVASEA is the only company that supplies acoustic receivers/tags to all other agencies/projects participating in the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System (GLATOS) funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Other company's products are not compatible with the INNOVASEA system, and would therefore not be a part of the Great Lakes wide GLATOS data network for reporting tag detections. Since this project and our current/former projects will be a part of the GLATOS network and will utilize existing INNOVASEA equipment already deployed, it is not possible to use other company's equipment.
The Lower Great Lakes FWCO is looking to expand INNOVASEA (formerly Vemco) brand acoustic telemetry work in our field work operations. The results of expanding telemetry work will assist fisheries managers describe the movement patterns and habitat requirements for these species of interest, which will result in improved sampling protocols and the development of targeted rehabilitative actions and inavsive species monitoring.
The proprietary nature of acoustic telemetry equipment and the importance of compatibility with our existing equipment prevents use of other brands.
Program / Project Officer
Contracting Officer
Price is determined to be fair and reasonable based on similar previous purchases.
JACOB COCHRAN Digitally signed by JACOB COCHRAN Date: 2026.08.13 16:01:11 -04'00'
MELISSA NIEMI Digitally signed by MELISSA NIEMI Date: 2026.08.14 10:30:14 -05'00'
Statement of work is provided by the vendor and is included in the contact package that states, among many attributes, their qualifications for providing equipment for telemetry work.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .