Sea-Bird Scientific Equipment Purchases and Maintenance

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute is pursuing a single-source procurement for Sea-Bird Scientific Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) Profilers and Auxiliary Sensors, specifically to support Harmful Algal Bloom research. This procurement is focused on acquiring specialized scientific instruments for ocean water quality measurement, with a primary emphasis on maintaining four existing CTD Profilers and potentially purchasing additional equipment. The procurement is structured as a three-year contract upon issuance of the purchase order, with a critical requirement that the vendor (Sea-Bird Scientific) be the exclusive manufacturer and authorized service provider for these instruments. The procurement's key objectives include supporting ongoing water quality research, ensuring precise instrument calibration, and maintaining the technical integrity of marine research equipment. Interested vendors must submit information demonstrating their capability to supply the specified commodities by July 25, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, with the ultimate contractor required to comply with Chapter 287, F.S., and other applicable regulations.

The procurement appears to be a non-competitive, sole-source acquisition without specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types. Sea-Bird Scientific is identified as the sole source vendor, being the exclusive manufacturer of the required Submersible Underwater Nutrient Analyzer (SUNA) sensor and profiling systems. The procurement has an estimated budget of up to $150,000, covering equipment maintenance, potential future purchases, and annual recalibration services. The unique technical requirements of the CTD Profilers necessitate that all service and calibration be performed exclusively at Sea-Bird's facilities, which eliminates potential alternative vendors. The contract's critical nature stems from its importance to the Harmful Algal Blooms research group, requiring precise and specialized scientific instrumentation that only Sea-Bird Scientific can provide. The procurement represents a targeted, specialized acquisition designed to maintain continuous and high-quality marine research capabilities.