Spotter Buoy

*** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) intends to negotiation, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Sofar Ocean Technologies, Inc, out of San Francisco, CA, for a spotter buoy.

***The sole source determination is based on the NOAA requirement that Sofar Ocean Technologies, Inc is the only vendor that could be found that would offer both Iridium and cellular communications on a pre-assembled, lightweight buoy. They provide a dual telemetry option that initially defaults to a lower cost option (cellular) for communications. If cellular communications aren't available, it will switch to Iridium cellular communication. This is an essential option around the Great Lakes where cellular communications are not always available. The entire mooring is lightweight enough to be deployed from a small vessel by one person. It is incredibly lightweight and robust having the temperature nodes in the mooring cable. This design will not cause fouling of the instruments like a traditional temperature string often occurs. Delivery of this item by 10/01/2023.

***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT 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 IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH 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.