Marel 200L scales

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, ALASKA FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER (AFSC) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH MAREL INC OUT OF BELLVUE, WA FOR THREE (3) MAREL AUTOMATED, MOTION COMPENSATED 200 L MARINE HOPPER SCALES.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT MAREL INC IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF MAREL SCALES IN NORTH AMERICA. The requirement is to provide 3 motion-compensated marine hopper scales. This will allow the Alaska Fisheries Science Center to accomplish its mission of an industry-based cooperative rockfish survey in the Gulf of Alaska’s untrawlable habitats for the Science-Industry Rockfish Research Collaboration in Alaska (SIRRCA).

 Marel is uniquely qualified to provide these services to the Alaska Fisheries Science Center based upon the following:

*They have the capacity to supply a product that we require, specifically large (200L), automated, marine-grade, motion-compensated hopper scales.

*Marel also has have extensive experience working with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in these scales. The AFSC has relied on Marel scales for at-seause for decades. They are the sole contractor for providing our at-sea scales.

*Marel scales are widely regarded as the industry standard because of their accuracy and durability. In our experience, the scales rarely malfunction under the challenging conditions of being exposed to salt water, vibrations, unreliable electricity, and significant vessel motion.

*Marel has the experience, quality, and reputation to supply these scales.

Other potential sources were examined and found not to meet SIRRCA’s requirements; specifically, other vendors did not have scales models that were large, automated, suitable for marine industrial sampling, and motion compensated.

EXTENSIVE MARKET RESEARCH WAS DONE TO DETERMINE available capabilities from industry for motion-compensated marine hopper scales. Several responses were received and after review of the received capabilities, the Alaska Fisheries Science Center determined that adequate competition to provide motion compensated marine hopper scales was not available.

This contract is necessary to avoid a break in service for this critical mission requirement. Marel scales possesses the ability to provide automated, motion-compensated marine hopper scales required to perform this requirement.

MAREL INC DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS/RESELLERS IN NORTH AMERICA.

***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.