Shark Pupping Survey

The US Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisition Division, Simplified Acquisition Branch intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, using the procedures in FAR Part 13, to provide Shark Pupping Surveys.  Services include the fishery- independent gillnet surveys to assess juvenile shark relative abundance in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. This will include a monthly fixed station component and a spatially balanced random component, as needed. Surveys will be conducted during summer months. The surveys are conducted on university owned vessels.  The US Government will provide sampling gear (nets) and some biological processing equipment (e.g. tags).

This requirement is in support of the NOAA Fisheries Service-Gulf of Mexico Coastspan program, a collaborative project between NOAA Fisheries and various researchers. The projects goals are to determine essential fish habitat requirements for sharks in bays and estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the inability of NOAA Fisheries to adequately and timely survey all bays and estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico during a field season, the above stated source will serve as an investigator on essential fish habitat projects for sharks in the Mississippi region. Based on proximity, knowledge and previous research for the sampling area, the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is the most cost efficient and advantageous source for the Government.  There are no other known sources for these types of services within the specified sampling area.

The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), Only one responsible source.

The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, with a business size standard of $16.5 Million.

This is not a solicitation for competitive quotes, nor will one be posted on the Contract Opportunities website.

The determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  However, if any interested party believes that it is capable of meeting the requirements, and in an effort to comply with the requirements outlined in FAR 5.102, a firm may request an electronic copy of the solicitation from the Contract Specialist, Randall Chatfield, randall.chatfield@noaa.gov

All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read:  Announcement Number: NFFN7110-20-02865.

All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement and/or a quote in accordance with the solicitation, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 12:00 PM EST on August 28, 2020.  The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. 

The solicitation will remain open from August 14, 2020 to August 28, 2020.