Purchase two ROV camera controllers and topside interface systems
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 141013-26-0074
- Agency
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334511 Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
- PSC
- 6605 Navigational Instruments
- Place of performance
- North Carolina, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Kyle Lawrence kyle.lawrence@noaa.gov (757) 441-3835
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through its Eastern Acquisition Division-Norfolk and National Centers for Coastal Oceans Science (NCCOS), is procuring two BlueROV camera controllers and topside interface systems. This procurement will be conducted on a sole-source basis under FAR 6.103-1 authority, with the award anticipated to be made to Mission Robotics Inc., located in Union City, California. The equipment must meet strict compatibility requirements with NCCOS's existing remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems, including optical imaging cameras, acoustic tracking beacons, thruster propulsion units, and tether systems. The sole-source justification is based on Mission Robotics Inc. being the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the BlueROV electronics retrofit hardware bundle with Nadiros software and advanced control package, as well as the topside control system that meets all compatibility specifications. The pre-solicitation notice was posted on April 23, 2026, with a closing date of May 8, 2026, and delivery is required no later than August 14, 2026.
This procurement involves no set-aside designations and is targeted exclusively toward Mission Robotics Inc., as the incumbent and only qualified source. The underwater controller component must be compact enough to fit within existing four-inch diameter housings rated for 300-meter depth and must be directly compatible with all current NCCOS equipment, including DWE Stellar and Explorer HD cameras and Blueprint Subsea Seatrac X110 acoustic tracking beacons. Market research conducted by NOAA confirmed that no alternative camera controllers or topside interface systems meet the required compatibility standards, form factors, and functional specifications. Mission Robotics Inc. maintains exclusive distribution rights and operates without authorized partners or resellers for this specialized equipment. While specific contract value information is not disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice, the procurement is categorized under NAICS 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing) and PSC 6605 (Navigational Instruments).
Notice text
***THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL CENTERS FOR COASTAL OCEANS SCIENCE (NCCOS), INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 6.103-1, WITH MISSION ROBOTICS INC OUT OF UNION CITY, CA. FOR BLUROV CAMERAS AND CONTROLLER UPGRADES. NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 334511.
***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT MISSION ROBOTICS INC. IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES BLUEROV ELECTRONICS RETROFIT HARDWARE BUNDLE WITH NADIROS SOFTWARE AND ADVANCED CONTROL PACKAGE AS WELL AS THE TOPSIDE CONTROL SYSTEM.
DELIVERY NO LATER THAN AUGUST 14, 2026.
THE REQUIRED SUPPLIES ARE COMPATIBLE IN ALL ASPECTS (FORM, FIT, AND FUNCTION) WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS OR EQUIPMENT AND THE SOURCE IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT. THIS UNIT IS AN UPGRADE FROM EXISTING SYSTEMS IN THE ROV AND MEETS THE EXACT REQUIREMENTS AND COMPATIBILITY OF EXISTING COMPONENTS FOR THE ROV. THE UNDERWATER CONTROLLER IS COMPACT AND FITS WITHIN THE EXISTING 4 INCH DIAMETER 300 METER DEPTH RATED HOUSINGS FOR THE EXISTING ROV. THE CONTROLLER IS DIRECTLY COMPATIBLE WITH NCCOS OWNED OPTICAL IMAGING CAMERA (DWE STELLAR AND EXPLORER HD) AND THE ACOUSTIC TRACKING BEACON (BLUEPRINT SUBSEA SEATRAC X110), THRUSTER PROPULSION UNITS (BLUEROBOTICS T200 X 6), AND THE TETHER SYSTEM FOR POWERING THE ROV FROM THE SURFACE (OUTLAND TECHNOLOGY POWER SUPPLY) OR BY ONBOARD BATTERY. NO OTHER CAMERA CONTROLLER OR TOPSIDE INTERFACE HAS BEEN FOUND THAT MEETS THE COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
BLUEROV IS PROPRIETARY TO MISSION ROBOTICS AND MISSION ROBOTICS DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS OR RESELLERS WHO CAN PROVIDE THIS EQUIPMENT.
MARKET RESEARCH FAILED TO FIND ANY OTHER CONTROLLERS, CAMERAS AND TOPSIDE CONSOLES THAT ARE INTER-COMPATIBLE, MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIZE, FORM AND FIT, AND FEATURES DIRECT COMPATIBILITY WITH EXISTING COMPONENTS AND EQUIPMENT.
***THIS PRESOLICITATION NOTICE 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 OR A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE. SUCH REQUESTS AND 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.
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity on GovTribe
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity