OMAO Renewal of Shiploc SSAS Tracking Services
Awarded Limited / Sole Source Justification Posted
- Solicitation number
- 1305M226P0029
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Contract number
- 1305M226P0029 Federal contract award
- Awardee
- The Woods Hole Group, Inc.
- NAICS code
- 517410 Satellite Telecommunications
- Place of performance
- Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through its Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), issued a sole source justification notice on February 25, 2026, for the renewal of SHIPLOC Satellite Search and Rescue (SSAS) tracking services with The Woods Hole Group, Inc. of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The SHIPLOC system provides real-time tracking of NOAA research vessels worldwide at a frequency of 50 updates per day through a dedicated website with maritime mapping capabilities, while also serving critical security functions through independent, covert location and condition monitoring that cannot be replicated by government-controlled systems. NOAA determined that The Woods Hole Group is the sole vendor capable of providing this service, citing the company's exclusive provision of IMB-approved SHIPLOC technology, standardized hardware and support arrangements established since 2005, and the absence of authorized partners or resellers. The contract (1305M226P0029) was awarded on February 18, 2026; however, the specific contract value and service duration were not disclosed in the justification notice. This sole source award falls under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.102(a) authority and was justified based on NOAA's unique security and operational requirements for monitoring its unarmed research platforms against potential maritime threats.
Notice text
***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS (OMAO) MARINE OPERATIONS CENTER NEGOTIATED, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 12.102(a), WITH THE WOODS HOLE GROUP, INC. OUT OF BUZZARDS BAY, MA TO RENEW SHIPLOC SSAS TRACKING SERVICES.
***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT THE SHIPLOC SSAS TRACKING SERVICES ARE ONLY CAPABLE THROUGH THE WOODS HOLE GROUP. THE SHIPLOC SYSTEM PROVIDES TRACKING OF ALL NOAA SHIPS 50 TIMES PER DAY DISPLAYED ON A DEDICATED WEBSITE WITH COMPLETE MARITIME MAPS. THE SYSTEM MONITORS THE EXACT LOCATION OF NOAA VESSELS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AT ANY TIME. CLS OPERATORS MONITOR INCOMING ALERTS 24/7 365 DAYS A YEAR. DATA MESSAGES ARE COMPLETELY TAMPER-PROOF, SECURE AND RELIABLE. THEY CANNOT BE FALSIFIED IN ANY WAY. NOAA HAS STANDARDIZED THE INSTALLATION AND SUPPORT OF ALL SSAS HARDWARE AND SERVICE ARGOS POSITION INFORMATION WITH THE WOODS HOLE GROUP INC. (FORMALLY CLS AMERICA), SINCE 2005. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS CURRENTLY NO INDEPENDENT, GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE POSITIVE, COVERT, HANDS-OFF LOCATION & CONDITION INFORMATION TO NOAA'S FLEET MANAGERS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT. AS UNARMED US GOVERNMENT ASSETS, NOAA RESEARCH PLATFORMS CONSTITUTE A SIGNIFICANT TARGET FOR POTENTIAL TERRORISTS TO 'EMBARRASS' THE US GOVERNMENT. SHIPLOC'S INDEPENDENT, SEMI-COVERT CAPABILITIES ALLOW US TO ADDRESS THIS THREAT. SHIPLOC IS THE ONLY SHIP SECURITY ALERT SYSTEM APPROVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME BUREAU (IMB).
THE WOODS HOLE GROUP, INC. IS THE ONLY VENDOR CAPABLE OF PROVIDING SHIPLOC SSAS TRACKING SERVICES AND IS THE ONLY VENDOR TO MEET THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS.
THE WOODS HOLE GROUP HAS NO AUTHORIZED PARTNERS OR RESELLERS WHO CAN PROVIDE SHIPLOC SSAS TRACKING SERVICES.
Awarded contract 1305M226P0029 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2026-02-18.
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