Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole-Source Contract - EdgeTech Acoustic Release Hardware and Components

***THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, PACIFIC ISLANDS FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 6.103-1, WITH EDGEONE LLC DBA EDGETECH FOR SPECIALIZED EDGETECH ACOUSTIC RELEASE HARDWARE AND COMPONENTS AS FOLLOWS:

• QTY (5) PORT MFE PUSH OFF RELEASE TRANSPONDERS
• QTY (1) PACS DECK UNIT
• VARIOUS LF PUSH OFF RELEASE TRANSPONDER REPLACEMENT PARTS (BATTERIES, END CAPS, AND HOUSINGS).

SUPPLIES TO BE DELIVERED TO HONOLULU, HI. NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 334516.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT EDGETECH IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES THIS EQUIPMENT. THE REQUIRED SUPPLIES MUST BE COMPATIBLE IN ALL ASPECTS (FORM, FIT, AND FUNCTION) WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS OR EQUIPMENT, AND THE SOURCE IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT.

THE PIFSC HAS EXCLUSIVELY USED EDGETECH ACOUSTIC RELEASES ON BOTTOM-MOUNTED ACOUSTIC RECORDER MOORINGS SINCE 2007, AND ITS CURRENT MOORING DESIGN AND INVENTORY ARE BASED ON THIS BRAND. EDGETECH IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE SOURCE BECAUSE THE EXISTING ACOUSTIC RELEASES AND PACS DECK UNITS ARE A PROPRIETARY, PAIRED SYSTEM. NO OTHER COMPANY'S EQUIPMENT CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE IN-HOUSE GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE CUSTOM-MADE BY EDGETECH AND MUST EXACTLY FIT THE EXISTING HARDWARE. TO ENSURE 100% COMPATIBILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY WITH THE EXISTING ACOUSTIC MONITORING GEAR, THE SUPPLIES MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS.

DELIVERY WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM DATE OF AWARD.

***THIS PRESOLICITATION NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION OR A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE. SUCH REQUESTS AND 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.