Intent to Sole Source- QPS/Fledermaus Software Maintenance

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through its Eastern Region Acquisition Division, has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole-source contract to Quality Positioning Services, Inc. (QPS) for annual maintenance renewal of existing Fledermaus and Qimera hydrographic survey software packages. NOAA intends to negotiate this contract using FAR Part 13 procedures under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), which allows for sole-source procurement when only one responsible source exists. The agency's market research has determined that QPS is the sole owner and distributor of these specialized hydrographic survey software packages and is the only vendor capable of meeting NOAA's requirements. The acquisition falls under NAICS code 513210 (Software Publishers) with a business size standard of $47 million. This notice is not a competitive solicitation and will not result in a competitive posting on the Contract Opportunities website.

The primary purpose of this Special Notice is to provide transparency regarding NOAA's intent to proceed with sole-source procurement while offering other potentially qualified vendors an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. Any interested parties who believe they can meet the requirements may submit a Capability Statement by 11:00 AM EST on July 30, 2025, to Contract Specialist Chelsea Vera at Chelsea.vera@noaa.gov with the subject line referencing Announcement Number 141009-25-0070. The Capability Statement must contain sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the submitting party can fulfill all requirements. While the government retains sole discretion in determining whether to consider alternative sources, all responsible sources are eligible to participate by submitting their capabilities. The notice period runs from July 15, 2025, through July 30, 2025, providing a two-week window for potential responses. This procurement supports NOAA's ongoing hydrographic survey operations through maintenance of critical software tools used for marine mapping and data analysis.