Notice of Intent to Sole Source.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT

This is a notice of intent to negotiate a sole-source contract pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C.

253(c)(1), only one responsible source, which applies when the supplies/services required by the agency are only available from one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.501. The Government intends to negotiate a contract with Micro-G Lacoste, Inc. for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Services (NOS), National Geodetic Survey (NGS) who has a requirement for purchasing three (3) Scintrex-MGL Land Gravity Monitoring Systems and one (1) A10 Portable Absolute Gravimeter.

The Government’s objective is to define, maintain, and provide access to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Gravity data is a key component of the NSRS and terrestrial (measurements on the surface of the earth) gravity data is an important component. NGS requires the capability to measure terrestrial gravity continuously and accurately to support the NSRS. The need is demonstrated through a couple of current projects, including Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) and the Geoid Monitoring Service (GeMS) projects. Also, terrestrial gravity measurement supports various other projects and surveys. The ability to temporarily deploy a continuous relative gravity meter in remote locations allows us to monitor signals that are highly localized.

The Scintrex-MGL Land Gravity Monitoring System is a spring-based gravimeter that allows for high accuracy observations, lower power consumption, low operating costs, and high portability for remoteness. The three (3) necessary Scintrex-MGL Land Gravity Monitoring Systems are comprised of a gPhoneX Relative Gravity Meter and the Odin Leveling Platform. NGS requires relative gravity meters that can be placed in a lab setting and moved to a different lab setting every six (6) to 24 months to monitor long term/seasonal changes to the gravity field over time. To do this, NGS will rely on state, federal, academic, and other partners to provide space in their facilities for the relative gravimeters to be placed. It is critical that the relative gravimeter be easy to pick-up and move without a forklift, require minimal power consumption, and not require frequent maintenance or refilling with chemicals such as helium in order to maximize efficiency and incur the least amount of disruption to facilities.

The A10 Portable Absolute Gravimeter is robust and portable and is capable of being operated from a vehicle or any other mobile 12-volt DC source. This gravimeter has the ability to set up at remote sites indoors and outdoors during mild to moderate inclement weather conditions. The A10 Absolute Gravimeter must be easy for one (1) person to carry and set up by them self and be capable of meeting NGS’s accuracy requirements. Worldwide, only one company manufactures an instrument capable of meeting these requirements, the US based Micro-g LaCoste, with their model A10 Portable Absolute Gravimeter.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 334513, Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables, and the business size standard for this NAICS code is 750 employees.

Responses to this notice must be provided within ten (10) calendar days from the date of this notice.

Vendors who believe they can meet this requirement are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the requirement. All written responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the requirement. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirement. Failure to submit such documentation will result in the Government proceeding as previously stated. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time, May 25, 2023. The responses must be submitted via e-mail to Kyle Lawrence, Contract Specialist, at kyle.lawrence@noaa.gov and Heather Coleman, Contracting Officer, at heather.l.coleman@noaa.gov.

mailto:kyle.lawrence@noaa.gov mailto:heather.l.coleman@noaa.gov