Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole-Source Contract

NOAA's Marine Operations Center, Acquisition, Accountability, and Analysis Branch, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with the Port of San Francisco for moorage and port services for the NOAAS Reuben Lasker. The NOAA Marine Operations Branch maintains a fleet of research and hydrographic mapping vessels performing missions in a wide range of locations through the Pacific and Atlantic seaways. The NOAAS Reuben Lasker will be operating out of the central western United States coast performing fisheries research. Among these missions will be a Pelagic Species survey located primarily on the northern California coast. Moorage at the Port of San Francisco will provide the vessel with an ideal operational location and sufficient services to maintain vessel operational integrity. The sole source determination is based on the requirement of the NOAAS Reuben Lasker to have access to the following services during moorage/docking periods: Shore power/electricity Potable water Trash/solid waste disposal Sewage disposal Oily bilge water removal/disposal Heavy cargo delivery/offload (including the use of forklifts and mobile cranes) Fuel delivery Mail/package delivery Onboarding of scientific survey crew members, including foreign nationals Access to the ship dockside for servicing technicians performing repair work The vessel will also need a secure location for the required shelter-in-place period as mandated by Department of Commerce as a part of the COVID19 response protocols. Vessel crew members are required to be isolated aboard the ship for a period of time and then be tested for COVID19 prior to the vessel’s departure for at-sea missions. The Port of San Francisco has secured access piers which will meet this requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. 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 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.