NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) Network Cat6A Cabling Infrastructure at Two Buildings

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is not a pre-solicitation announcement. The purpose of this Market Research and Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified businesses, which could include Small Business, HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Women Owned Small Business firms and even Large Businesses offering domestically manufactured products that meet the required specifications. Responses to this Sources Sought Synopsis will be used by the Government in making appropriate acquisition decisions.

This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. Nor does this request for information constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that any procurement action may be issued for the Government’s requirements.

No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise because of the submission of contractor’s information. 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.

1. General Information

• Primary NAICS Code (Anticipated): 238210 – Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (Construction)
• Product Service Code (PSC): N060 – Installation of Equipment: Fiber Optic Cable System and Components OR Y1BG – Construction of Electronic and Communications Facilities

2. Description & Purpose

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) as part of a market research effort to identify qualified vendors capable of performing an intra-building structured cabling installation. The work spans two distinct geographical locations: La Jolla, CA, and Santa Cruz, CA.

The government is seeking industry feedback to refine the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW), titled "DRAFT-Copper Cabling Pull - SOW.docx", to ensure clarity, commercial feasibility, and competitive interest.

3. Scope of Work Summary

The selected contractor will be responsible for the planning, design, and end-to-end installation of a Cat6A copper cabling infrastructure supporting a local area network (LAN) and wireless access point expansion. Key components include:

• Pulling and routing new Cat6A plenum-rated cables to designated termination points.
• Terminating cables using T568B standards into patch panels or field-terminable plugs (MPTL).
• Conducting Level IIIe/IV (or higher) Permanent Link Testing and providing full certification reports.
• Providing all labor, tools, ladders, and equipment necessary to complete the project within a 90-day period of performance.

For detailed performance standards, material requirements, and floor plans, please review the attached document: "DRAFT-Copper Cabling Pull - SOW.docx".

4. Information Requested from Industry

Interested firms are requested to submit a Capability Statement and respond to the following questions. Please limit responses to no more than five (5) pages.

Company Profile

1. Company Name, Address, UEI number, and CAGE code.
2. Socioeconomic status under NAICS 238210 (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, Small Business, or Large Business).

Technical & SOW Feedback

1. SOW Clarity: Does the attached file, "DRAFT-Copper Cabling Pull - SOW.docx", provide sufficient detail regarding pathways, existing infrastructure, and termination requirements to allow for a firm-fixed-price quote? If not, what specific gaps exist?
2. Logistics & Escorts: The SOW indicates that NOAA personnel will escort contractors at all times. Given that cabling work often involves multiple teams splitting up across floors, will this escort requirement significantly impact your labor hours or project timeline?
3. Timeline: Is the 90-day period of performance realistic for a dual-site deployment (La Jolla and Santa Cruz) under standard business hours (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)?
4. NAICS Classification: Do you agree that NAICS 238210 (Construction/Wiring) is the most appropriate code for this requirement, or do you typically perform this work under a Telecommunications service code (e.g., 517111 / 517121)?

Magnitude of Effort & Pricing Guidance

1. What is the Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) or estimated price range your firm anticipates for a project of this size and scope?
2. Are there any commercial industry standards, specific brand-name equivalents (e.g., Superior Essex alternatives), or supply chain constraints that the government should consider before issuing the final solicitation?

5. Submission Instructions

Please submit your response electronically in PDF format to Kimberla.Fairley@noaa.gov. Please use the subject line: "RFI Response: NOAA SWFSC Cabling Infrastructure NMFS/SWFSC".