Biospherical Instruments Scalar PAR sensors

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory intends to negotiate a sole source procurement with Biospherical Instruments of San Diego, California for seven underwater Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) sensors. This Special Notice, posted on July 23, 2025, announces NOAA's intention to bypass competitive bidding under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) based on compatibility requirements with existing systems. The procurement falls under NAICS code 334519 for measuring and controlling device manufacturing and PSC code 6640 for laboratory equipment and supplies. The sensors will be used for underwater PAR measurements at NOAA's long-term mooring sites in the Bering Sea as part of the Ecosystem & Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations program. NOAA has determined that Biospherical Instruments is uniquely qualified to meet their requirements due to the need for complete compatibility in form, fit, and function with existing equipment.

The procurement supports critical oceanographic research in the Bering Sea, a region that supplies over 40% of U.S. commercial seafood, where the sensors will collect high-resolution data over 6-12 month deployments to understand seasonal phytoplankton productivity and ecosystem responses to changing light conditions. The required delivery date is September 30, 2025, with interested firms having until August 6, 2025 to respond to this notice. While this is not a request for competitive proposals, companies that believe they can fully meet the government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation within 15 days of the notice publication date. Such documentation will be evaluated solely to determine whether the procurement should be conducted competitively, though the final decision remains at the government's discretion. All responses must be submitted in writing, as oral communications are not acceptable. The sensors must be fully compatible with EcoFOCI's existing mooring hardware, data loggers, and post-processing workflows to ensure consistency with ongoing long-term time series data collection.