Non-personal Vessel Charter Services Near St. Lawrence Island

NFFS71002302229SML ***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS), ALASKA FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER (AFSC), RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVATION ENGINEERING (RACE) DIVISION, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH NORTON SOUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP LOCATED IN ANCHORAGE, AK, FOR NON-PERSONAL VESSEL CHARTER SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED AROUND ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND. ***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT NORTON SOUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP IS THE ONLY VENDOR ABLE TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED SERVICES. SCIENTISTS AT THE AFSC ARE CONDUCTING A SATELLITE TAGGING STUDY ON PACIFIC COD IN THE NORTHERN BERING SEA. PACIFIC COD HAS CHANGED ITS SUMMER DISTRIBUTION PATTERN WITH MORE FISH FOUND IN THE NORTHERN BERING SEA AREA IN RECENT YEARS. SOME OF THE AREAS OF HIGH PACIFIC COD ABUNDANCE HAVE CENTERED AROUND ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN ORDER TO CAPTURE PACIFIC COD NEAR ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND, SMALL FISHING VESSELS ARE REQUIRED. ALL SURVEYS NEED TO DEPART FROM AND RETURN TO SAVOONGA, ALASKA, AND NORTON SOUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP IS THE ONLY AVAILABLE ORGANIZATION IN CONTACT WITH LOCAL FISHERS THAT CAN PROVIDE THE KIND OF VESSEL CHARTER REQUIRED. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 08/01/2023 THROUGH 12/31/2025. ***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT 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 IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 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 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.