II.G. Sole Source Justification_for RFP_Redacted.pdf

v1.6_FEBRUARY2021

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

Deep Sea Data Collection

PR 1

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, requires engineering services support for a deep sea data collection in/near Bermuda. This request for engineering services is to obtain personnel and equipment support for at sea data collection of deep sea biology (the deep scattering layer) to support a NUWC-led, portfolio. The requirement is for the preparation, development, and completion, and subsequent data analysis of at sea data collection of biological oceanographic data relevant to deep scattering layer biology at 200-2000 meters depth near the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) Research Station in summer 2021 during periods of known high biological activity (i.e. July new moon). The project requires data collection in midwater at depths of up to 2000 meters and unique equipment designed to sample oceanographic features, record biological activity, and image deep sea biology with an ultra-low light camera. The anticipated dollar value of this contract

The requirements are listed in the table below.

Required Features:

Active heave-compensated electric winch, wound with 3300m of fiber optic cable and capable of hoisting up to 1500lbs.

SIMRAD EK80 multi-beam fisheries echosounder Deep (1000 meters +) housing for Canon ME20F-SH low light camera Custom battery-powered midwater observation payload capable of taking an EK80 fisheries echoshounder, Canon ME20F-SH low-light camera, and dimmable lights Working Relationship with BIOS Field Station Locality proximate to NUWC Newport to facilitate collaboration, experiment preparation, and subsequent data analysis.

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

The University of Rhode Island (URI) is the only university or vendor with the required equipment, expertise, and location to execute the required at sea data collection. The URI Ocean Engineering Department possesses several pieces of custom built equipment designed for deep sea biological research that are required for this project. No other known universities, oceanographic institutions, or private companies have this type of equipment available. URI’s equipment has already been designed, custom built, and fielded. Should another university be interested in doing this type of work for NUWCDIVNPT, they would have to invest approximately for the development and building this unique equipment. While some equipment requirements (e.g., SIMRAD EK80) could be met by a number of research