Sole Source: Quality Positioning Services, Inc. - Fledermaus Annual Software and Maintenance Renewals

NOAA, AGO, Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) intends to issue a new firm-fixed-price (FFP) purchase order to small business entity Quality Positioning Services, Inc. (QPS) on a sole source basis for the purchase of Annual Software Maintenance Renewals covering sixteen (16) existing perpetual licenses and six (6) existing subscription licenses in support of the National Ocean Service (NOS) Coast Survey Development Laboratory in Silver Spring, MD based on the continued requirement to access critical security patches, software new releases and updates, feature enhancements, and technical support for this mission-essential software.

The Government intends to utilize the authority under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements, unless, as a result of this announcement, acceptable responses to this notice are received and a determination is made by the Government to issue a competitive solicitation.

Sole Source Justification:

QPS is the sole owner and distributor of QPS software packages, including Fledermaus and Qimera and associated add-ons (e.g., FMGT, FM Midwater). These packages are an industry standard for hydrographic survey data processing and visualization, and are mission critical for NOAA’s production of high-quality bathymetry and backscatter data to satisfy cross-organizational ocean mapping requirements (“map once, use many times”). QPS’s FMGT component is currently one of two software’s capable of meeting NOAA’s requirement to produce Generic Sensor Format (GSF) files used in the creation of acoustic backscatter mosaic products. However, FMGT is currently the only software that allows for intra-vessel decibel correctors, facilitating single-frequency mosaics for field units with multiple sonars. NOAA’s hydrographic survey fleet currently has more than 20 licenses of QPS software in use, and has a continued requirement to access critical security patches, software new releases and updates, feature enhancements, and technical support for this mission-essential software. Without the purchase of the yearly support agreement, NOAA users would not have access to new software, necessary updates, and support to ensure continued quality data acquisition.

Manufacturers that propose a solution using other than QPS Fledermaus software maintenance and renewals, must furnish detailed specifications and descriptions to demonstrate their capability to provide the required supplies that satisfy the Government’s needs. To be considered, interested parties must be able to demonstrate their ability to provide comparable software solutions that meet the specific characteristics of the QPS software products, including Fledermaus, Fledermaus FMGT, Fledermaus FM Midwater, and Qimera. Capability information shall include, at minimum, name, telephone number, address of customers for which you have previously furnished the required supplies, and a detailed narrative that describes your ability to provide the required supplies as specified. The Government will give price preference to US made products. Interested parties must respond via email to Nikki.radford@noaa.gov prior to the closing of this notice.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 513210. The government intends to solicit and negotiate with the only known source (QPS) that can provide the required supply. This is not a request for quotes or proposals and there is no solicitation available at this time. The Government reserves the right to solicit quotes based on the receipt of affirmative responses to this posting without further notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to open competition to businesses other than QPS.

All contractors doing business with this Contracting Office (Eastern Acquisition Division – Kansas City) must be registered with a valid Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number with the System for Award Management (SAM) website. Vendors can register with SAM at the following website https://www.sam.gov.