eDNA Autosampler

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT.  IT IS NOT A SOLICITATION, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE A SOLICITATION WILL BE ISSUED.  REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. 

Any information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Announcement is strictly voluntary.  The Government will neither award a contract solely based on this notice, nor pay for any information submitted by respondents.  This notice is a request by the Government to collect information from interested vendors for the purpose of market research.  Failing to provide a response to this announcement will not prohibit/exclude an interested vendor from participating in a future solicitation.

BACKGROUND: 

NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pelagic Research Program seeks to purchase one or more environmental eDNA autosampler systems to support mission-critical fisheries, ecosystem, and protected species research surveys in the Pacific Islands Region. 

NOAA PIFSC requires autonomous or semi-autonomous eDNA autosampling capability to collect, and filter seawater samples during shipboard, small-boat, moored, drifting, towed, or gear-integrated field operations. The autosampler system must support collection of discrete eDNA samples across variable depths, times, and/or sampling volumes, including higher-volume water filtration appropriate for low-biomass, offshore, pelagic, or deep-water environments. They can be operated by a single person on NOAA Ships, chartered vessels and small boats or attached to a variety of gear for accurate spatial sampling. They also avoid many of the contamination issues associated with current water filtering methods.

Environmental DNA has become an increasingly important, cost-effective, and non-extractive tool for detecting and monitoring marine biodiversity, estimating fish community composition, identifying invasive species, and improving ecosystem assessment. PIFSC currently uses eDNA to support research on coral reef fishes, pelagic ecosystems, invasive species, protected species, and species that are difficult to observe using conventional survey methods.

Current eDNA sample collection (e.g., Niskin bottles on CTD rosettes) is laborious, time-consuming, sensitive to contamination issues, and cannot be performed from small boats. often rely on manual water collection and shipboard or laboratory filtration. These methods can be labor-intensive, time-consuming, sensitive to contamination, and difficult to synchronize with other survey platforms or gear types. Manual approaches also limit the ability to collect samples at target depths, over extended time periods, or in direct association with mobile survey assets such as nets, longline gear, hydrophones, oceanographic profilers, autonomous platforms, or drifting systems.

An eDNA autosampler will allow PIFSC to collect and preserve samples in situ, reduce contamination risk, increase sample consistency, expand sampling capacity in remote offshore environments, and better couple biological observations with physical and oceanographic conditions. The system will increase NOAA’s ability to integrate molecular observations into fisheries and ecosystem surveys and will support the development of next-generation ecosystem models, species distribution models, and biodiversity monitoring tools.

This procurement is intended to identify commercially available or field-ready eDNA autosampler systems that can meet NOAA’s operational needs while allowing competition across multiple vendors and technical designs. Systems may include, but are not limited to, single-unit or modular autosamplers, multi-filter or multi-cartridge systems, depth-triggered samplers, time-triggered samplers, volume-controlled samplers, in situ filtration systems, or other equivalent technologies capable of collecting discrete eDNA samples under marine field conditions.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
The eDNA autosampler system shall meet the following minimum requirements:

1. In situ filtration or sample collection
   The system shall collect seawater for eDNA analysis using in situ filtration, or an equivalent approach that minimizes contamination and preserves sample integrity for downstream molecular analysis. 
2. Configurable sample volume
   The system shall allow users to configure sample volumes, filtration duration, pump rate, or equivalent sampling parameters. Preference will be given to systems capable of filtering larger volumes (tens of liters) of seawater suitable for offshore, pelagic, low-biomass, or deep-water applications. 
3. Programmable sampling controls
   The system shall be programmable to initiate sample collection based on one or more user-defined parameters, such as time, depth, pressure, elapsed deployment time, sample volume, external trigger, or mission profile. 
4. Depth capability
   The system shall be deployable to a minimum depth of 100 m in seawater. Preference will be given to systems rated for deeper deployments, including systems capable of operating at 300 m, or 1000 m, provided they meet other operational needs. 
5. Marine deployment compatibility
   The system shall be suitable for use in marine field environments and capable of deployment from NOAA ships, chartered vessels, small boats, or other oceanographic platforms. Preference will be given to systems that can be attached to, integrated with, or deployed alongside survey gear such as plankton nets, longline gear, CTD/rosette systems, hydrophone arrays, or other oceanographic equipment. 
6. Contamination controls
   The system shall include design features or operational procedures that reduce contamination risk between samples and deployments. Examples may include independent flow paths, single-use sample cartridges, intake flushing, sterilizable components, bleach or UV compatibility, sealed filters, check valves, or equivalent contamination-control approaches. 
7. Filter or cartridge compatibility
   The system shall use filters, cartridges, membranes, or sample-collection media appropriate for eDNA analysis. Preference will be given to systems that are compatible with commercially available or user-configurable filter types, pore sizes, or membrane materials, including options suitable for high-volume marine sampling. 
8. Field usability
   The system shall be operable by trained field personnel under shipboard or small-boat conditions. 
9. Data and software access
   The system shall provide access to mission logs, sample metadata, and relevant sensor or system-status data in a format usable by NOAA scientists. Vendors shall describe software, firmware, wireless interface, cable interface, data format, and any licensing requirements. 
10. Training, documentation, and support
    The vendor shall provide user manuals, operating instructions, recommended protocols, maintenance documentation, and technical support. 

PREFERRED CAPABILITIES:
The following capabilities are desirable but not mandatory:

• Ability to collect at least 3 discrete samples per deployment, with preference for higher sample capacity. 
• Ability to preserve collected eDNA samples using chemical preservation, desiccation, or another method suitable for maintaining DNA integrity until samples can be recovered and processed. 
• Ability to filter tens to hundreds of liters per deployment, depending on filter type, turbidity, and mission configuration. 
• Depth rating of 300 m or greater; ideal capability of 1000 m. 
• Modular sample cartridges or filter modules that can be prepared before deployment and recovered without extensive shipboard handling. 
• Compatibility with multiple filter formats, pore sizes, or membrane materials. 
• Ability to operate using depth-triggered, time-triggered, volume-triggered, or externally triggered sampling modes. 
• The system shall record or allow association with deployment metadata sufficient to interpret sample collection, including date/time, sample number, programmed mission settings, and sample status. 
• Integrated flow measurement or estimated filtered volume per sample. 
• Integrated pressure/depth and temperature sensors. 
• Ability to attach to nets, moorings, hydrophone arrays, gliders, profilers, autonomous platforms, or drifting gear. 
• Compact form factor suitable for deployment from small boats as well as larger vessels. 
• Ruggedized housing suitable for repeated offshore deployment. 
• Vendor ability to deliver spare filters, cartridges, seals, tubing, batteries, chargers, software, and other mission-critical accessories.
   

DELIVERY SCHEDULE: 

Delivery is requested no later than September 30, 2026, or as soon as practicable following award. 

North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS):  334516 with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

Interested vendors are requested to provide the following information in response to this Sources Sought Announcement:

1). A statement that you believe your firm has the capability to meet all above stated requirements.  

2). A specification sheet for the proposed equipment

3). Your firm's UEI #

4). Your firm's SBA certified small business concern status.  Specifically identify if your firm is HUBZone-certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or in the SBA’s 8(a) program, etc.  If your firm is not small, please state that it is a large business.

5.) Country of origin of equipment
 

The information provided in response to this announcement is limited to five pages or less.  All information shall be provided free of charge to the Government.  The Government will not return any data provided in response to this announcement. 
 

This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued.  

The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified.  Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Responses shall be provided to Contracting Officer, Stephanie Garnett via email at Stephanie.M.Garnett@noaa.gov no later than 2:00 P.M. (Hawaii Time) on June 5, 2026.