Seabird Necropsy Observer Training

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS), RESOURCE ECOLOGICAL 7 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF AQUATIC AND FISHERY SCIENCE OUT OF SEATTLE, WA FOR BYCATCH SEABIRD IDENTIFIATION

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT UAW COASST IS THE SOLE ENTITY IN THE UNITED STATES THAT CAN MEET AND PROVIDE THE SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SEABIRDS ON THE WING. THE CRITICAL COMPONENT IS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY DEAD SEABIRDS IN THE HAND AFTER A BYCATCH EVENT. THIS REQUIRES SPECIALIZED TRAINING THAT FEW ORGANIZATIONS DO. THE ONLY SUCH ORGANIZATION WITHIN STANDARD COMMUTING DISTANCE IS THE UAW COAAST PROGRAM. THEY WROTE THE GUIDEBOOK PROVIDED TO OBSERVERS. PROPER SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND REPORTS GENERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR OTHER PARTNERS ARE BASED ON RELIABLE IDENTIFICATION IN THE DATABASE. THIS VENDOR HAS BEEN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES SINCE 2015, SO TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY WITH SEABIRD ID AND OBSERVER RESPONSIBILITY TRAINING AND BRIEFING SESSIONS, THEY ARE THE ONLY VENDOR CAPABLE. BASE AND FOUR OPTION YEARS 10/1/2022-9/30/2023.

***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 TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A GOVERNMENT DETERMINATION TO NOT 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.