Blue Ocean Gear Smart Buoy Subscription Services

***NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES PROTECTED SPECIES BRANCH, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH BLUE OCEAN GEAR OUT OF REDWOOD CITY, CA FOR CONTINUED SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES WHICH TRACK THE USE OF SMART BUOYS FOR SURFACE DETECTION OF ROPELESS GEAR SYSTEMS. THESE SMART BUOYS ARE COMPRISED OF A GPS RECEIVER, MICROPROCESSOR, AND COMMUNICATIONS MEANS MOUNTED INSIDE A STANDARD TRAP BUOY AND EACH ONE REQUIRES AN INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S REQUIREMENT THAT BLUE OCEAN GEAR IS THE SOLE SOURCE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THIS SMART BUOY SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. THE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE RELAYS THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE BUOYS AND ALERTS THE TEAM IF A BUOY MOVES FURTHER THAN IS TYPICAL. THE EXISTING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM COMMUNICATES THE LOCATIONS OF THE BUOYS IN THIS SET USING REAL TIME IRIDIUM SATELLITE AND LONG RANGE, LOW-POWER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS TO RELAY INFORMATION TO SMART PHONE DEVICES. CHANGING PROVIDERS WOULD MEAN SCRAPPING THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND ITS COMPONENTS AND RESULT IN UNACCEPTABLE DELAYS IN THE SERVICES.

***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.