Single Source Justification_26-298_Redacted.pdf

This is a Single Source or Brand Name Determination document using Simplified Acquisition Procedures for a federal contract action not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.

The Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office, NMFS Office of Management and Budget for the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami, Florida is procuring coded acoustic receiver and acoustic release equipment. The requirement includes 5 VEMCO VR2AR-69khz Coded Acoustic Receivers with Acoustic Release units and 16 VEMCO VR2AR-X-69khz Coded Acoustic Receivers with Acoustic Release (Extended Life) units, with an estimated total cost that is redacted. The equipment will support NOAA's moored archival acoustic recorder deployments for monitoring fish, invertebrate, and cetacean vocalizations in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The procurement also includes 1 VR100 Transpoding Hydrophone with 50m cable, 10 VR2AR redeployment part kits, and a Vemco VR100 - 8 Channel DSP Manual Tracking Acoustic Receiver transmitting deck box with VHTx 69kHz Transpoding Hydrophone to enable deployment recovery of moorings with acoustic data collection capabilities lasting up to one year.

The sole source determination identifies InnovaSea (Vendor contact: Tristan Norman, 902-450-1700, Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada) as the only available source. The justification cites that the VEMCO VR2AR represents the only reliable and cost-effective acoustic release capable of receiving, decoding, and logging transmissions from active acoustic tags, with compatibility requirements for existing SEFSC equipment and the ability to double-duty by recording tag transmissions. The supporting rationale notes no alternative vendors offer combined acoustic release and receiver capabilities meeting all specified technical requirements, compatibility constraints, and operational needs. The document is signed by Melissa Soldevilla (Research Fishery Biologist), Trika Gerard (Deputy Director, SEFSC), and Contracting Officer Amy Adams, all with dates in March 2026.