Water Chemistry Analysis of Seawater Samples

****NOAA’s Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

 ****The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Oceanic & Atmospheric Research National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) Fisheries Behavioral Ecology Program has a need for non-personal services to provide water chemistry analysis of seawater samples.

The unique qualifications of the University Alaska contractor include their ability to conduct the analyses and more importantly to conduct the analyses at an appropriate accuracy. Alkalinity and DIC measurements need to be made with a Vindta 3s System and an auto-analyzer. Instrument equivalency ensures that standards, methods and results are consistent across instrument platforms. In addition, the UAF laboratory has analyzed other water samples from the Newport Laboratory, serving as a reference laboratory when comparing similar data collections. As a result, selection of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) laboratory ensures a standard and common reference, and assures data comparability across all other laboratories conducting ocean acidification experiments.

Sample validation by another laboratory is a critical feature for these types of quantitative analyses. To analyze and validate specific environmental conditions in experimental treat systems designed to measure the effect of Ocean Acidification on Alaskan Commercial Fishes.  The parameters of alkalinity, pH, and DIC must be determined with a high degree of precision and accuracy.

The UAF Lab is the only lab in Alaska and on the West Coast using the Vindta System. No other laboratory in Alaska or West Coast is processing water samples specific to the project’s needs.

Period of Performance:

Base Year: 5/1/2022 – 6/30/2023

Option Year 1: 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024

Option Year 2: 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025

***This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available.  However, firms that believe they can provide the service as described that fully meets 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.