Sole source: environmental resources management INC. (ERM) for marine mammal tissue analysis to evaluate oil exposure, phase 2 of a 2-phase project
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 141012-26-0030
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 562910 Remediation Services
- Place of performance
- United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office, Eastern Acquisition Division-Norfolk, is seeking to procure marine mammal tissue analysis services to evaluate oil exposure as Phase 2 of a two-phase project. This procurement will be awarded on a sole source basis to Environmental Resources Management Inc. (ERM) under FAR 6.103-1 authority. The key requirement is that the contractor must possess highly specialized technical expertise in analytic chemistry and forensic analysis of marine mammal tissues, with demonstrated capability to apply proprietary, unpublished analytical methods developed during Phase 1. The sole source justification is based on ERM's unique position as the only entity with the experience, expertise, and access to the optimized and validated methods created during Phase 1, which ensures high precision and accuracy in analysis. The submission deadline for firms wishing to challenge the sole source determination or provide substantiating documentation is April 9, 2026, which is 15 days from the notice publication date of March 24, 2026, and written submissions are the only form of communication that will be accepted and evaluated.
This procurement carries no set-aside designation and is intended as a sole source award to the incumbent contractor, Environmental Resources Management Inc., which successfully completed Phase 1 work and developed the foundational analytic methods required for Phase 2 execution. During Phase 1, extensive market research was conducted by principal investigators Troy Baker and Dr. Sarah Allan from OR&R/ARD, querying NIST Labs, multiple NOAA Science Center Labs, and numerous commercial and academic analytical laboratories, with no other providers found capable of meeting the requirements. The contract is classified under NAICS code 562910 (Environmental Remediation Services) and PSC code B516 (Special Studies/Analysis-Animal/Fisheries). The period of performance extends from the date of award through one year, allowing for continuation of the analysis work with demonstrated efficiency and cost savings by utilizing the laboratory that already has optimized and validated methods in operation. Specific award values or detailed budget ranges are not disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice.
Notice text
***THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 6.103-1, WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT INC. (ERM) FOR MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE OIL EXPOSURE, PHASE 2 OF A 2-PHASE PROJECT.
NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 562910, ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION SERVICES.
***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT ERM IS THE ONLY SOURCE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES REQUIRED AT THE LEVEL OF QUALITY REQUIRED BECAUSE THE TECHNICAL SERVICES ARE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED. ERM SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED INITIAL WORK ON MARINE MAMMAL TISSUE ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE OIL EXPOSURE (PHASE 1), DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING THE ANALYTIC CHEMISTRY METHODS THAT ARE THE BASIS FOR THE CURRENT WORK (PHASE 2). THE METHODS DEVELOPED IN PHASE 1 ARE UNPUBLISHED AND ERM IS THE ONLY GROUP WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO APPLY THEM AS REQUIRED FOR PHASE 2.
THIS PARTICULAR SOURCE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE REQUIREMENT. FOR PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT, THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS FOR THE STUDY, TROY BAKER AND DR. SARAH ALLAN (BOTH OR&R/ARD) QUERIED NIST LABS, MULTIPLE NOAA SCIENCE CENTER LABS, AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMERCIAL AND ACADEMIC ANALYTICAL LABORATORIES WITH SOME LEVEL OF OIL AND PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANT EXPERTISE TO ASSESS INTEREST, AVAILABILITY, AND REQUIRED CAPABILITIES. NO OTHER PROVIDER OF ANALYTICAL AND FORENSICS EXPERTISE WAS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT ARD FOR THIS PROJECT. MARKET RESEARCH ON COSTS WAS ALSO CONDUCTED AT THAT TIME. FOR PHASE 2, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT TIME AND COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH WORKING WITH THE LABORATORY AND EXPERTS THAT ALREADY HAVE THE OPTIMIZED, VALIDATED METHODS FOR ANALYZING MARINE MAMMAL TISSUES RUNNING WITH A DEMONSTRATED HIGH LEVEL OF PRECISION AND ACCURACY.
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: DATE OF AWARD THROUGH ONE (1) YEAR.
***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.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| SS Presolicitation Notice Template - Mammal Tissues.pdf |
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