Ocean Freight Transportation

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Coastal Transportation Inc. of Seattle, WA to ship ISO tank of helium from Seattle, WA to St. Paul, AK. Sole Source determination is based on the National Weather Service Balloon Operations in St. Paul, Alaska requirement to have an ISO tank of helium weighing 23,600 pounds be shipped from Seattle WA to St. Paul, AK and once new ISO tank arrive, have the empty ISO tank shipped back to Seattle, WA. The ISO Helium Tanks weighs 23,600 pounds full and 23,000 pounds when empty, the tank is in a steel cage that is 20 ft long, 8 ft wide, and 5 ft high. The chassis 23 ½ ft long and the full tank contains 64,000 scf. of helium. Based on market research Coastal Transportation is the only known vendor that provide scheduled ocean freight services to and from the required destinations. This is requirement is subject to availability of funds. Performance Period: June 30, 2011 through July 22, 2011. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, firms that believe they can provide equipment that fully meets the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 10 days after publication of this synopsis. Such 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 compete this proposed effort on a competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.