Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source Award

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT AND IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Joint Administrative Operations, Acquisition & Property Operations, Legacy Region 9. USFWS Alaska Marine Mammals Management Office intends to award a firm fixed price sole source base plus four option year contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 only one responsible source to:

Marine Exchange of Alaska, Inc.
1050 Harbor Way
Juneau, Alaska 99801

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 518210, Data Processing, Hosting, And Related Services. The object of this sole source award is to support for the Walrus haulout geofence upgrade project. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has expressed concern over documented vessel disturbances to Pacific Walrus haulouts and incidence of vessel strikes to Steller's and spectacles eiders along the Alaskan coastline. Since walruses typically haulout in groups and are skittish on land, disturbances can result in stampedes causing injury or mortality of young walruses. There is also a high incidence of reported ship strikes near Steller¿s and spectacled eiders breeding areas. Proactive conservation is a Service priority for the Pacific walrus and both eider species.

Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK) is the only group that can provide this service. We have been partnered with them to provide us with geofencing services since 2020, therefore their continued work on this project is a necessity in order to maintain the project operation and provide compatible equipment that can be integrated seamlessly into the existing framework. We know from discussions with maritime domain awareness experts among our partners with the Alaska Geofence Project and the Alaska Conservation Foundation that there are no other providers that can offer these services. We conducted market research, but no other provider exists that can offer the needed services, nor are there comparable providers.

This synopsis does not constitute a solicitation; however, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities must be submitted in writing and must contain clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the Government. If parties choose to respond, any cost associated with preparation and submission of data or any other cost incurred in response to this announcement are the sole responsibility of the respondent and will not be reimbursed by the Government.

Capability statements shall be submitted by e-mail ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to the following address: Lorenzo_aragon@fws.gov.

NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS/OFFERS WILL BE HONORED