NexSens CB-950 Data Buoy and Components

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE (NOS) CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (CO-OPS) OFFICE INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL, INC OUT OF FAIRBORN, OH FOR NEXSENS CB-950 DATA BUOY AND COMPONENTS.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL, INC IS THE SOLE AUTHORIZED RESELLER OF NEXSENS PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE NEXSENS CB-950 BUOYS ARE THE STANDARD SYSTEMS USED BY THE CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (CO-OPS) FOR BUOY APPLICATIONS FOR PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC REAL-TIME SYSTEMS (PORTS®), CURRENT SURVEY PROJECTS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEPLOYMENTS, AND TEST AND EVALUATION PROJECTS.  CO-OPS EMPLOYS STANDARDIZED SURVEY SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO HELP MAINTAIN A ROBUST, RELIABLE, AND COST-EFFICIENT NETWORK OF COASTAL AND GREAT LAKES OBSERVATORIES. THE NEXSENS CB-950 BUOYS ARE USED IN PORTS AND COASTAL REGIONS TO RECORD OCEANOGRAPHIC CURRENT INFORMATION CRITICAL TO TIDE PREDICTIONS AND COASTAL MODELLING CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE AND USED BY COMMERCIAL SHIPPING AND RECREATIONAL VESSEL OPERATORS.  THIS PURCHASE IS TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC REAL-TIME SYSTEMS (PORTS®), EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND TEST AND EVALUATION PROJECTS OPERATED BY CO-OPS.  THE EQUIPMENT IN THIS PURCHASE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CO-OPS USE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND TYPE OF MEASUREMENTS BEING MADE.  IMPLEMENTING A DIFFERENT BUOY SYSTEM IN PLACE OF THE NEXSENS CB-950 WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL COST AND RESOURCES.  IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE RESULTING DELAY FOR TESTING, TRAINING, AND PURCHASE OF SUPPORT EQUIPMENT.

UNDER THE CURRENT CO-OPS OPERATING SYSTEM ANY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT THAT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED MUST BE SUBJECTED TO A SERIES OF TESTS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE DATA AND THE DURABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE INTENDED USE. THESE TESTS USUALLY INCLUDE BENCH TESTING USING CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL MEASUREMENT, CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING TO CHECK RELIABILITY UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, AND LONG-TERM COMPARISON TESTING WITH ACCEPTED EQUIPMENT AT MULTIPLE REAL-WORLD LOCATIONS. THESE TESTS AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTING DATA TAKE A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME, MONEY, AND RESOURCES TO CONDUCT.

CO-OPS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO OPERATE WITH THE COMPONENTS IN THIS PURCHASE.  IMPLEMENTING DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WILL RESULT IN COMPATIBILITY ISSUES AND REQUIRE MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXISTING SYSTEMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW COMPONENTS. 

CURRENTLY CO-OPS FIELD PERSONAL AND CONTRACTORS ARE TRAINED IN THE USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT IN THIS PURCHASE. ADDITIONAL COST WILL INCUR FROM HAVING TO TRAIN FIELD PERSONNEL AND CONTRACTORS ON THE USE AND MAINTENANCE OF NEW EQUIPMENT.

CO-OPS ALSO HAS THE ABILITY AND EQUIPMENT TO TEST AND TROUBLESHOOT THE EQUIPMENT IN THIS PURCHASE. IF NEW EQUIPMENT IS PURCHASED ADDITIONAL PARTS AND EQUIPMENT WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED TO SUPPORT THE NEW EQUIPMENT.  ADDITIONAL TRAINING WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED FOR THOSE TASKED WITH TESTING AND REPAIRING THIS EQUIPMENT.    

THE NEXSENS EQUIPMENT IN THIS PURCHASE ARE TO BE USED AS SPARE PARTS TO SUPPORT THE DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CO-OPS NETWORK THAT UTILIZE NEXSENS CB-950 BUOYS. FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL IS THE ONLY AUTHORIZED RESELLER OF NEXSENS PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

***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.