NOAA/NMFS/OPR Sea Turtle Sediment Fingerprinting

Notice of Intent to Award a Sole-Source Contract

Announcement Number: 1333MF2-22-Q-02304

Project Title: Sea Turtle Sediment Fingerprinting

The US Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the statutory authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), with Old Dominion University Research Foundation (ODURF) for services to determine the source of mortality for sea turtles recovered from the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOMX) coastline that have no other identifiable source of mortality and contain sediment in their respiratory system. The required work scope and deliverables will permit OPR to acquire data and perform analysis of sediment samples to understand sea turtle mortality in the GOMX Region. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, with a business size standard of $16.5 million.

Sole Source Justification

Old Dominion University (ODU) provides a highly specialized service of chemical fingerprinting sediments for source determination. These multifaceted analyses conducted by the researchers at ODU are the only precise and efficient methods available to determine sediment sources. The entire success of the research project is contingent on the specific analyses that can only be completed at ODU. OPR’s mission is to manage endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and this research is critical to understanding mortality related to fisheries threats. It is critical that ODU conducts these analyses for the success of the research project.

Special Notice

This special notice is not a solicitation for competitive quotes, nor will one be posted on Contract Opportunities.  However, if an interested party believes that it is capable of meeting the requirements and be in compliance with the above justification, they may submit substantiating documentation in writing within the open period of this notice.  Responses can be sent via e-mail to natasha.thieman@noaa.gov.  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 response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.

All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement in accordance with the solicitation, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 11:00 AM EDT on June 9, 2022.  The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. 

All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read: 

Announcement Number: 1333MF2-22-Q-02304

Project Title: Sea Turtle Sediment Fingerprinting

It is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure that any submission transmitted to the specified Government representative(s) is received prior to the due date specified herein. 

Offerors are highly encouraged to contact the Government representative(s) specified above prior to the solicitation’s stated time and date for receipt of offers to ensure the Government has received the submission.  Offers received after the date and time specified in this solicitation may be excluded from consideration.   

DOC/NOAA/NMFS/OPR requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov. To register, all contractors must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI). A UEI may be acquired free of charge by registering at http:// https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

The notice will remain open from 5/24/2022 to 6/09/2022.