MVP200 Tow Body and Accessories

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

NOAA's Marine Operations Center, Acquisition, Accountability, and Analysis Branch, negotiated on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with AML Oceanographic's sole US distributor Subsea Technologies, 1323 Price Plaza Katy, Texas 77449-3723 for the replacement of the tow body and associated parts for the MVP200 system on the NOAA Ship Fairweather. The Moving Vessel Profiler MVP-200 System is an in-situ sound velocity profiling system used during hydrographic survey missions to periodically collect and update the sound velocity profile applied to Multibeam Echo Sounding Sonar Systems used during hydrographic survey operations. The water column temperatures can vary significantly during periods of operations causing erratic acoustic system performance and reduced accuracy of the collected hydrographic survey data. The MVP-200 system can be deployed to conduct a water column sound velocity profile while the ship is underway, reducing the time it takes to update the sound velocity data applied to the sonar system if the ship had to stop survey operations to perform a stationary manual water column profile.

The sole source determination is based on the requirement of the Fairweather to have a functional MVP to meet mission requirements. AML Oceanographic is the OEM for this equipment and has only one US distributor (Subsea Technologies), and is the only company capable of providing the parts and service that will guarantee proper operation and meet warranty requirements.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment or service that fully meets the Government's future 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 future procurements on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

.