Advanced Small Stereo-Camera Instruments

NOAA Fisheries' Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering (MACE) program is seeking to procure advanced small stereo-camera instruments through a design and lease arrangement. The procurement involves developing eight specialized camera units - four shallow water units rated to 150 meters and four deep water units rated to 750 meters - equipped with high-intensity LED underwater lighting, autonomous data collection capabilities, and battery operation. The cameras must feature stereo capability with minimum 3.2 megapixel still image resolution, 1720x1080 video resolution, and compatibility with Spinnaker Software Development Kit, along with a single board computer containing a GPU. The contractor will establish a year-round equipment loan system that will initially be limited to NOAA programs for the first two years. The solicitation documents will be available for download on SAM.gov on or around August 1, 2025, with the due date for offers to be specified in the final RFP, and all procurement-related questions must be submitted in writing to Contract Specialist Rachel Stone at Rachel.stone@noaa.gov.

This procurement is designated as a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing). No current contractors or incumbents are identified in the pre-solicitation notice. While specific award values are not disclosed, the contractor will maintain equipment ownership and manage the loan pool with 3-month maximum loan windows, generating revenue through loan fees that cover maintenance, repairs, and logistics costs. The project emphasizes open-source design principles, requiring software and hardware designs to be published on platforms like GitHub. After the initial two-year period restricted to NOAA programs, the contractor will have the option to lease equipment to non-NOAA agencies, potentially expanding the revenue opportunity. Interested small businesses must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) with a unique entity identifier prior to submitting proposals.