Southeast fisheries science center observer support services

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FISHERIES

Sources Sought Notice

ACQ-AONCA0110-25-0045

This is a Sources Sought Notice requesting information for market research purposes in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10 Procedures. This is not a solicitation, nor does it guarantee a solicitation will be issued. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This is not a request for proposals and it does not obligate the government in any manner.

The Department of Commerce (DOC), NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Fishery Observer Program (SEFOP) requires contractor support for training, briefing, debriefing, data quality control, and gear maintenance and issuance. The scope is not to deploy and manage any observer personnel.

Period of Performance: Services are anticipated to begin in December FY 25

The NAICS code for this requirement is anticipated to be 541990 with a size standard of $19,500,000.00.

Response Requirements:

Submissions to this notice shall provide all of the requested information:

1. Capability Statement

   • capability to comply with Section 1.5 Policies and Regulations
   • Capability summary for each Task listed in Sections 2.1.1 – 2.2.3 of the DRAFT Performance Work Statement.
   • Provide any relative NOAA/observer experience. If none, report “none”.

      2. Organization Information

• The organization name and address, and a point of contact name, telephone number and e-mail address. The organization point of contact shall have the knowledge and authority to clarify responses with Government representatives.
• The organization’s UEI and organization/company structure (corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.).
• Written confirmation of the organization’s registration in SAM (www.sam.gov). Offerors should be registered to be considered as a source.
• The size classification of the organization under the appropriate NAICS code, and if the organization is classified as a small business, HUBZone small business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned small business, Woman-owned small business and/or 8(a) certified small business.

Response requirements information shall be submitted to Jamie Abu Shakrah at Jamie.Abushakrah@noaa.gov no later than 2:00 PM Pacific Time on Friday, May 30, 2025. Questions regarding this notice can be submitted in writing via e-mail to the above e-mail address. An amendment may be posted if necessary.

This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

NOAA reserves the right to contact one or more of the respondents if additional information is required or to request demonstrations. Information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in the subsequent solicitation, if issued. This announcement is Government market research and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses.

Q&A:

Q: Will observer contractors be eligible to bid? Or would their provision of observers be considered a conflict of interest with respect to also providing training and especially debriefer services?

A: We have determined that this would be an Organizational Conflict of Interest, and therefore any contractor or subcontractor providing Observers to the SEFSC would not be eligible to participate in this requirement. Other Observer providers are currently not expected to be restricted; however, if the PWS includes other locations then the conflict determination would apply.