Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Search-and-Rescue Personal Watercraft Units
PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Search-and-Rescue Personal Watercraft Units
The Department of the Interior (DOI), National Park Service (NPS), Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, located in Empire, Michigan, intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order to RP Advanced Mobile Systems, LLC (RPAMS) for the purchase of two (2) search-and-rescue personal watercraft units.
Description of Requirement
The National Park Service requires two (2) personal watercraft units specifically configured and equipped to support emergency search-and-rescue operations at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The required units shall utilize a factory-produced BRP/Sea-Doo personal watercraft platform and incorporate specialized rescue modifications and equipment necessary to support the National Lakeshore's search-and-rescue mission.
The required configuration shall maintain the applicable factory-original manufacturer's warranty following the required modifications and allow the units to remain serviceable through the manufacturer's established dealer and qualified powersports service network.
The Government requires a complete personal watercraft solution configured for its specific search-and-rescue mission and is not seeking commercially available, unmodified personal watercraft alone.
Basis for Intended Sole-Source Award
The National Park Service conducted market research to identify sources capable of providing the required search-and-rescue personal watercraft configuration.
Based on the results of the Government's market research, RP Advanced Mobile Systems, LLC (RPAMS) is the only U.S.-based company identified by the manufacturer as maintaining a formal partnership with BRP/Sea-Doo that authorizes RPAMS to modify factory Sea-Doo vehicles while maintaining the applicable factory-original manufacturer's warranty.
This manufacturer-authorized relationship is a material requirement of the National Park Service's acquisition. The Government requires a factory-produced Sea-Doo platform that can be specifically modified for search-and-rescue operations while maintaining the manufacturer's warranty and established service support.
The RPAMS configuration provides the Government with a factory-based Sea-Doo platform modified for emergency rescue operations while retaining access to Sea-Doo dealers and qualified powersports service facilities for routine service and maintenance. The configuration incorporates specialized RPAMS components necessary to provide the capabilities required for the National Lakeshore's search-and-rescue mission.
Based on the Government's market research and the requirements described above, the Contracting Officer has determined that only one source is reasonably available to satisfy the agency's requirement as specified.
Accordingly, the Government intends to solicit from and award to RP Advanced Mobile Systems, LLC.
Acquisition Procedures
The anticipated acquisition is for commercial products and is expected to be valued at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).
The acquisition will be conducted using the policies applicable to commercial products under FAR Part 12, in conjunction with the applicable Simplified Acquisition Procedures in FAR Part 13.
In accordance with FAR 12.102, the Government has documented its determination that only one source is available and the basis for that determination.
The anticipated contract type is firm-fixed-price.
Applicable NAICS Code
The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is:
336612 - Boat Building. The applicable small business size standard is 1,000 employees.
Notice to Interested Sources
THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTATIONS.
However, responsible sources that believe they are capable of satisfying the Government's requirement may submit a capability statement for consideration by the Contracting Officer.
Capability statements must demonstrate the respondent's ability to provide two (2) search-and-rescue personal watercraft units meeting the Government's requirements, including:
- A factory-produced BRP/Sea-Doo personal watercraft platform;
- Specialized configuration and modification for emergency search-and-rescue operations;
- Manufacturer-authorized modification of the factory platform;
- Retention of the applicable factory-original manufacturer's warranty following the required modifications; and
- Continued serviceability through the manufacturer's authorized dealer or qualified service network.
Interested sources should provide sufficient technical information and supporting documentation to demonstrate their ability to satisfy the requirement as specified. In particular, respondents should identify their relationship with the personal watercraft manufacturer and provide documentation demonstrating that their proposed modifications are manufacturer-authorized and will maintain the applicable factory-original warranty.
The Government will consider timely responses to determine whether another responsible source is reasonably available to satisfy the requirement. A response to this notice will not, by itself, be considered a quotation or offer and will not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation or make an award.
Response Deadline
Responses must be received no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 9, 2026.
The Government will allow 10 calendar days for responses, with August 31, 2026, counted as Day 1. Responses received after the stated deadline may not be considered.
Response Information
Any comments, questions, or capability statements concerning this notice shall be submitted via email only to:
Adam Kircher
Contract Specialist
Department of the Interior, National Park Service
adam_kircher@ios.doi.gov
Responses should reference "Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Search-and-Rescue Personal Watercraft Units" and include the respondent's complete company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, email address, applicable NAICS code, and supporting technical documentation.
The Government intends to proceed with the contemplated sole-source acquisition unless information received from responsible sources demonstrates that another responsible source is capable of satisfying the requirement as specified.
