SPECIAL NOTICE
F -- Foundation For Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research To Conduct Studies On ""Blubber Only"" Satellite Tags
- Notice Date
- 8/4/2020 1:14:58 PM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA SEATTLE WA 98115 USA
- ZIP Code
- 98115
- Solicitation Number
- NFFS7300-20-02627MWH
- Response Due
- 8/19/2020 3:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 09/03/2020
- Point of Contact
- Marilyn Herrera, Phone: 3034973870
- E-Mail Address
-
marilyn.herrera@noaa.gov
(marilyn.herrera@noaa.gov)
- Description
- ****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 Foundation For Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research. �****The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration�s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) National Marine Mammal Lab�s need for field operations to locate and deploy satellite transmitters to study the performance of the new �blubber only� satellite tag.� Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research (MarEcoTel) has a unique set of expertise and experience which makes them the only source capable of providing these services to NMFS, AFSC, MML. MarEcoTel has unique prior experience in the development and deployment of transdermal satellite tags on whales. The vendor�s personnel are leaders in this field, are highly qualified for whale instrumentation using electronic tags, and have significant expertise in follow-up/relocation studies. Importantly, this vendor has unique prior research experience tagging Southern right whales in Argentina, including an initial assessment of the �blubber-only� tag in 2019. They have an ongoing study that includes deployment of existing satellite tag designs as well as extensive efforts associated with relocation and follow-up assessment of tagged individuals. Information from this ongoing project (e.g. tag duration for alternate designs) is essential for evaluating the performance of the new blubber tags. Their prior experience would significantly reduce preparation time and costs, and would make execution of field work substantially more efficient. No other vendor can provide this information for this population of whales in such a directly comparable fashion. Follow-up of tagged whales and assessment of tag effect require knowledge of individual whales. MarEcoTel has access to an extensive catalog of individually identified right whales from Argentina. Without such catalog, assessment of long-term effects (e.g., reproduction and survival) is not possible and long-term relocation of tagged individuals is extremely difficult. In addition, their information on individuals tagged in 2019 will greatly enhance this study by allowing for the assessment of wound healing a year (and possibly 2 years) after tag deployment. This long-term assessment is critical information. Finally, MarEcoTel has significant experience setting up this type of research project outside the US (countries where the vendor has developed similar work include Argentina, Brazil and Mexico). MarEcoTel personnel are already listed as co-investigators on the international permits required for this type of tagging. The use of any other vendor for this project will result in significantly longer times for project preparation and higher costs for project execution. Period of Performance: Base Year � Award date through September 30, 2021 Option Year 1 � August 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 ***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.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/384d53ebabf04c1bb248eb23a8333cc7/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Seattle, WA 98115, USA
- Zip Code: 98115
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 98115
- Record
- SN05743930-F 20200806/200804230144 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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