Marel Marine Scale Maintenance- Redacted J&A

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration intends to award a sole-source follow-on contract to JBT Marel Corporation for maintenance, calibration, upgrade, and repair services for marine digital motion-compensating scales used by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center under contract 1305M326C0019, awarded on September 18, 2026.

The justification rests on JBT Marel's unique qualifications as the only authorized contractor capable of performing maintenance while preserving equipment warranty, which requires certified technicians and obligates customers to use only approved parts and seller-authorized repairs. A Notice of Intent to Sole Source posted to SAM.gov on June 24, 2026 closed July 9, 2026 with no responses received. Market research confirmed no alternative vendors possess the capability to maintain JBT Marel scales. The requirement covers maintenance services for up to 200 scales, consisting of 140 M1100/PL2262 models and 10 M1100/PL3260 models, with an option to service an additional 50 M1100/PL2262 scales. Period of performance runs from November 1, 2026 through October 31, 2031 on a firm-fixed-price basis. Services support the Fishery Monitoring & Research Division's Observer Program, which collects catch weight data required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act and regional fishery management plans for quota monitoring and discard rate calculations. Prior service was provided through Fusion Marine (Network Innovations) under contracts covering November 2018–October 2025, with JBT Marel providing direct services under the current one-year contract through October 2026. The contracting officer will determine fair and reasonable pricing through comparison with historical contract pricing and an Independent Government Estimate. The Government plans to conduct annual market research and recompete this requirement in five years if additional sources become available.