Histological Processing Reproductive Tissue Samples

***THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE (AGO), WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-SEATTLE (WAD), NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS), INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, LOCATED IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA FOR HISTOLOGICAL PROCESSING OF REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE SAMPLES TO BE PERFORMED AT VENDOR’S LOCATION.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT WITH SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT IS A PROVIDER IN THE U.S. SOUTHEAST REGION FOR HISTOLOGICAL PROCESSING OF FISH REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE SAMPLES. THE SOUTHEAST REGION HEADBOAT SURVEY (SRHS), A PROGRAM WITHIN THE SOUTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER'S FISHERIES STATISTICS DIVISION, IS CONDUCTING A GRANT FUNDED FISH REPRODUCTIVE DATA COLLECTION FOR THE HISTOLOGICAL PROCESSING OF REPRODUCTIVE FISH TISSUE SAMPLES. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAS THE ONLY FACILITY IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION WITH THE TECHNICAL ABILITY AND EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE THE QUALITY OF REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE SLIDES REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE FIXATIVE SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH REEF FISH AND COASTAL SPECIES COMMON TO THE SOUTHEAST REGION. OTHER POTENTIAL PROVIDERS OF HISTOLOGY PROCESSING IN THE REGION ARE FOCUSED ON PROCESSING OF MAMMALIAN TISSUE FOR MEDICAL AND VETERINARIAN PURPOSES AND DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH FISH REPRODUCTIVE TISSUE WHICH IS NEEDED IN THE CURRENT RESEARCH IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 09/01/2024 THROUGH 08/30/2025.

***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.