Passive Acoustic Monitoring - Baleen Whales Senegal West Africa

This is a NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE ORDER and is not a request for competitive proposals.  The Department of Commerce/NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)/Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) intends to negotiate with and issue a sole source, firm-fixed price award to African Aquatic Conservation Fund, Chilmark, Massachusetts 02535, under Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2304 (c) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), FAC 2021-05, effective date 3-10-2021.  IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), only one responsible source, and as authorized by FAR 6.303.  The associated North America Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541690 and the Size Standard is $15.0M.  The anticipated award date is June 1, 2021.NEFSC, Woods Hole, Massachusetts has a requirement in support of the NOAA International fisheries Science Strategy to conduct assessments of living marine resources, through data collection, cataloging

and analysis .  The requirement is to deploy calibrated passive acoustic recording devices off the coast of Senegal, West Africa to assess the occurrence and distribution of endangered and protected baleen whale species in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.  This service will be the first for the tropical eastern North Atlantic and will be used by NOAA to:  1) assess stock identify for humpback whales off the coast of Senegal, investigating the Endangered Cape Verde/Northwest Africa DPS; ii) assess stock identify of sei whales off Senegal, by comparing vocalizations with those recorded in the Gulf of Maine; iii_ assess the presence and vocal characteristics of Bryde’s whales; iv) assess impacts of planned seismic exploration, v) build the capacity of Senegalese scientists to conduct passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) surveys.  This information is needed to fill critical gaps, such as those described in the NOAA Humpback Whale Status review and Sei Whale Recovery Plan.The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source for Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), cataloging, and analysis services for a base year and one option period.  This notice of intent is not a request for quotes.  It is for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government.A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is within the discretion of the Government.  Interested firms may identify their interest by providing a capability statement which must show clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the Government.   Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.  Interested firms may submit their capability statement no later than Monday, May 31, 2021 at 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time.   Oral communications will not be accepted. For any questions concerning this Notice of Intent, please direct correspondence to Susan Faux via email at susan.faux@noaa.gov. Telephone requests will not be honored.