The United States Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to solicit, negotiate and award a small business, sole source purchase order to Pacific Gyre for the procurement of nine (9) ocean drifter buoys for the National Weather Service (NWS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science in Seldovia, AK.

The Government intends to utilize the authority under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1), Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will satisfy agency requirements, unless, as a result of this announcement, acceptable responses to this notice are received and a determination is made by the Government to issue a competitive solicitation. The Government intends to award a purchase order to Pacific Gyre for the procurement of nine (9) ocean drifter buoys based on their compatibility in form, fit and function with already existing systems as replenishment spares.

Sole Source Justification:

The Pacific Gyre Microstar surface drifter buoy and Pacific Gyre SVP subsurface (15 meter depth) drifter buoy provide the required capacity for accurate, high-frequency (10 and 30 minute) surface and subsurface ocean current trajectory observations. A critical part of this equipment is the real-time telemetry of buoy locations, with a data system that allows buoy location data to be accessed and visualized in real-time through an internet-based data reporting and visualization system. Due to an existing collaboration with other partners in Kachemak Bay/Cook Inlet Alaska, it is necessary to use the same data reporting and visualization system. The data systems are unique for each vendor, so other companies’ similar products would not meet the agency need. Pacific Gyre is also the sole source for purchasing these buoys. Mission impact of not soliciting these buoys from Pacific Gyre would be a loss of collaboration with existing partners, additional costs incurred to purchase alternate buoys to meet existing ocean observing needs and additionally the possibility of not having enough equipment to meet those needs.

Manufacturers that propose a solution using other than Pacific Gyre ocean drifter buoys must furnish detailed specifications and descriptions to demonstrate their capability to provide the required supplies that satisfy the Government’s needs. To be considered, interested parties must be able to demonstrate their ability to provide comparable ocean drifter buoys that meet the specific characteristics of the Pacific Gyre Drifters and their visualization system. Capability information shall include, at minimum, name, telephone number, address of customers for which you have previously furnished the required supplies, and a detailed narrative that describes your ability to provide the required supplies as specified. The Government will give price preference to US made products. Interested parties must respond via email to Nikki.radford@noaa.gov prior to the closing of this notice.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 334519- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing. The government intends to solicit and negotiate with the only known source (Pacific Gyre) that can provide the specific ocean drifter buoys. This is not a request for quotes or proposals and there is no solicitation available at this time. The Government reserves the right to solicit quotes based on the receipt of affirmative responses to this posting without further notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to open competition to businesses other than Pacific Gyre.

All contractors doing business with this Contracting Office (Eastern Acquisition Division – Kansas City) must be registered with a valid Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number with the System for Award Management (SAM) website. Vendors can register with SAM at the following website https://www.sam.gov.