F-pods acoustic data loggers

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH CHELONIA LIMITED OUT OF UNITED KINGDOM FOR F-PODS ACOUSTIC DATA LOGGERS TO BE DELIVERED TO SEATTLE WA.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT CHELONIA LIMITED IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THIS ECHOLOCATION LOGGERS. F-PODS MANUFACTURED BY CHELONIA LIMITED HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY EVALUATED FOR HARBOR PORPOISE DETECTION AND SEVERAL PUBLISHED STUDIES. THIS DEVICE IS NOT ONLY ABLE TO DETECT BEAKED WHALES, THE TARGET SPECIES, BUT CAN DETECT ALL ODONTOCETE SPECIES, EXCEPT SPERM WHALES, FACILITATING ACOUSTIC MONITORING OF MULTIPLE SPECIES WITH ONE SINGLE INSTRUMENT POWER AND MEMORY CAPACITY ALLOWS EXTENDED DEPLOYMENT PERIODS WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE YEAR-LONG DEPLOYMENTS OF THIS PROJECT. F-PODS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DEPLOYED WITH SUCCESS IN OTHER AREAS OF ALASKA. THE DEEP WATER RATED F-POD MAKES THIS INSTRUMENT VERY SUITABLE TO THE PROJECTS NEEDS. AQUATIC GROUP LTD, UK, MANUFACTURES A SIMILAR DEVICE, AQUACLICK 100, BUT IT HAS A MUCH LOWER CAPACITY (LOWER MEMORY AND BATTERY AUTONOMY) AND LACKS THE REQUIRED DEPTH RATING OF 1000M. THEREFORE THIS IS WHY WE DID NOT CONSIDER THIS DEVICE FOR THIS PROJECT. CHELONIA IS THE ONLY COMPANY MANUFACUTURING ECHOLOCATION LOGGERS APPLICABLE TO OUR STUDY AND THE DEEP RATED FPOD MUST BE RATED TO A MINIMUM DEPTH OF 1000M FOR THIS PROCUREMENT.

DATE OF DELIVERY: 07/15/2023.

***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.