Notice of Intent to Sole Source, WBMS Multibeam Sonar System Maintenance

NOTICE OF INTENT

THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1,the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, intends to procure services for the following on a sole source basis:

1.   The Norfolk District Navigation Support and Survey Section (NSSS) operates four (4) survey vessels in support of the Marine Transportation System (Critical National Infrastructure) by maintaining authorized Federal navigation projects. In addition to maintaining Federal navigation projects, the Survey vessels also respond to reports of shoaling and obstructions in the navigation channel and assist with reconstitution of the Port of Virginia after severe weather events. The Survey vessels each have a permanently hull- or mechanical strut- mounted multibeam sonar system for the collection of hydrographic survey data in support of these missions.

2. NSSS has a requirement to perform Sonar Health Checks on its acquired Wide Band Multi Beam Sonar (WBMS) Bathy multibeam sonar systems to comply with manufacturer recommended maintenance to keep the sonars operating at the optimal level. The requirement includes extension until 30 September 2023 of the firmware warranty and 5 day in-person multibeam technical training.

3.   Norbit systems, cage 6PZ55 based in Norway, manufactured the WBMS multibeam sonar system on the survey vessels. The WBMS multibeam sonar is a complex system that includes multiple interrelated parts and devices. These parts are designed and engineered to work with one another to create a highly functional multibeam sonar. This highly specialized system requires original equipment manufacturer (OEM) approved parts and service technicians to perform the Sonar Health Checks. Seahorse Geomatics Incorporated is the only Norbit Systems authorized service center for North America.

4. All potential responsible sources may submit a response, which if timely received, will be considered by the agency. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR

COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. It is a market research tool being used to determine the

availability of other qualified sources that can meet the requirements identified above. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice of intent.

5. This Notice of Intent is hereby published in accordance with FAR 5.201. All responses received within 15 days of the posting of this notice, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

6. The Norfolk District will consider any responses to this notice received within fifteen (15) calendar days of the posting of the notice. Responses may be submitted via email to dena.s.drye@usace.army.mil (cc: stormie.b.wicks@usace.army.mil.