Lockheed Martin Sippican Inc. Deep Blue XBT Probes

****NOAA’s Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) with Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc.

****The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) OER in North Kingstown, RI and its need to procure Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc.’s XBT Deep Blue probes.

The XBT probes were developed by Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc., and they are the only manufacturer/distributor of this type of oceanographic instrument globally.

There is no other provider of these parts or services in the world as this is a highly specialized and technical oceanographic sensor produced by Lockheed Martin.

The NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer (EX) is the only federal vessel dedicated to Ocean Exploration. As part of her exploration mission, EX collects multibeam sonar bathymetry data on a regular basis. To correct the bathymetry data for sound speed variations, sound speed profile information is needed. Since 2008, the ship has relied on XBT probes, that to monitor the sound speed variations in the water column. XBTs are deployed at regular interval (2-6 hours) to measure the water temperature from the sea surface to a maximum depth of 750 m. The data is also archived at NOAA/NCEI and distributed for other scientific studies.

Delivery by:  Six months from date of award.

***This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available.  However, firms that believe they can provide the service as described that fully meets 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.