Nortek Signature 500 Acoustic Current Doppler Profiler

*** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) intends to negotiation, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with NortekUSA, Inc, out of Boston, MA, for a Nortek Signature 500 Acoustic Current Doppler Profiler (ADCP).

***The sole source determination is based on the NOAA requirement that NortekUSA, Inc has a unit that has been vigorously tested by both PMEL and APL and determined to be the only viable option to meet all research goals. Specifically, the NORTEK Attitude Reference and Heading System (AHRS) is the only know system to successfully compensate for the extreme motion of the buoys in the ADCP data. Other instruments have been used and tested that cannot as successfully correct for this motion and have been shown to have either lower quality data or require a near prohibitive level of data processing. This sensor also offers the feature of packetizing data to optimize for transmission via satellite. ADCP data is notoriously large and often unable to transit in real-time from remote buoy locations. This feature, combined with PMEL’s new data system will vastly expand OCS’s real-time data delivery. The Signature 500 is also the only instrument of its kind to offer a Fifth beam echo sounder, essentially combining two instruments into one. This allows for the long-range vertical profiles of an ADCP along with the high resolution but shorter range of an echo-sounder. Only one mounting location is available on the mooring so deploying the instruments separately is not possible. Meeting these two research goals at once is what allows the partnership between multiple groups at NOAA and APL. Delivery of this item by 10/01/2023.

***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.