SSJ 143051250023_Redacted..pdf

Version 2.0

Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104

SINGLE SOURCE DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

143051-25-0023

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) and Ecosystem Science Division

(ESD).

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value). The Ecosystem Research Division of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center has the need for two (2) OceanScout 200m person portable autonomous underwater gliders equipped with a conductivity temperature and depth recorder, RBR Tridente ecopuck, and RBR Coda Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) to monitor primary production around offshore wind energy lease areas off the west coast of the United States. We expect to submit a Firm-fixed price contract, with no option years for delivery by July 15, 2025. The total estimated value of the contract is approximately .

3. Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited.

Hefring Inc.

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

• Other - Only one source is capable –

The Ecosystem Science Division of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center has an IDIQ for acquisition of large autonomous gliders through Teledyne Webb Research (TWR). These TWR gliders require multiple persons to transport, deploy, and recover. They are the mainstay of the glider fleet used by the Division. Until recently, no small, single person deployable gliders have been available. The Southwest Fisheries Science Center has repeatedly stated in all acquisition actions that finding alternative gliders that can meet changing requirements and needs is a priority.

Hefring, Inc. is the only source capable of providing these smaller autonomous underwater gliders that are self-ballasting (making the gliders neutrally buoyant without user input). As such these smaller gliders fill a sampling niche that cannot be met using our traditional gliders, which require considerable time to deploy and test at sea. Given the goal to deploy from small (< 65 ft) commercial vessels like fishing boats, the fact that these gliders do not require ballasting, increases the breadth of vessels that can deploy them, decreases the technical skill required to maintain them and simplifies data collection. No other manufacturer provides this solution across the existing two commercial glider manufacturers .