Great Lakes Sensors

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking a contractor to conduct operations and maintenance services for 26 combined water level observation stations across the Great Lakes operated by the National Ocean Service, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). Prospective vendors must demonstrate expertise in shaft angle encoders, pressure sensors, microwave water level sensors, meteorological sensors, water temperature sensors, line-of-sight and satellite data telemetry systems, and data acquisition and dissemination systems, as well as proficiency with electronic test equipment, component-level troubleshooting, personal computers, and relevant software. The contract will be evaluated based on the contractor's demonstrated capability to perform semi-annual inspections, handle unscheduled repairs on a time-and-materials basis, and meet performance standards requiring 90 percent on-time delivery of products and an average quality score of 3.8 to 4.0. Interested vendors must submit responses to the Sources Sought Notice by 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Friday, March 6, 2026, with a formal solicitation anticipated to follow this market research phase.

This procurement does not include a small business set-aside, though the government has designated NAICS code 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services) with a small business size standard of $19 million for market research purposes. The contract will operate on a base period from June 1, 2027, through May 31, 2028, with four option periods extending through May 31, 2033, for a total potential five-year performance period. Contractors must furnish all vehicles, equipment, tools, materials, and supplies except for government-furnished property including sensors, data collection systems, communications equipment, and enclosures. Performance obligations include submitting preliminary site reports within 24 hours of completing visits and final documentation within 10 calendar days for scheduled maintenance or 5 days for unscheduled repairs, with unscheduled repairs to be completed within 72 hours of quote approval or five days if vessel support is required. Prospective contractors should address the Rough Order of Magnitude estimates for the identified subtasks and stations in their market research responses submitted to Theresa Smith, Contract Specialist, at theresa.smith@noaa.gov.