Vendor to provide consultation services between NMFS and AK Native Tribes in Juneau, AK

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT WITH THE RURAL ALASKA COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (RURAL CAP) TO FACILITATE CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN NMFS AND ALASKA NATIVE TIRBES TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS ON MARINE FISHERY MANAGEMENT AND HABITAT ACTIONS BY NMFS. PURCHASE IS FOR NOAA-FISHERIES, ALASKA REGION. RURAL CAP IS THE ONLY VENDOR WHO CAN PERFORM THIS WORK; RURAL CAP IS ONE OF THE NATION'S "COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES" (CAA) AND IS THE ONLY CAA IN ALASKA. PER EXECUTIVE ORDER 13175 NMFS MUST CONSULT WITH ALASKA NATIVE TRIBES AND ALASKA NATIVE CORPORATIONS; RURAL CAP'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTAINS BOTH OF THESE GROUPS. IN ADDITION, RURAL CAP HAS PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE ASSISTING NMFS. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES 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. THIS IS A SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF LESS THAN $100,000. THE WESTERN REGIONAL ACQUISITION DIVISION REQUIRES THAT ALL CONTRACTORS DOING BUSINESS WITH THIS ACQUISITION OFFICE BE REGISTERED WITH THE CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION (CCR) AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2003. AFTER THIS DATE, NO AWARD CAN BE MADE UNLESS THE VENDER IS REGISTERED IN CCR. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER IN CCR PLEASE ACCESS THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.CCR.GOV. IN ORDER TO REGISTER WITH THE CCR AND TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE AN AWARD FROM THIS ACQUISITION OFFICE, ALL OFFERORS MUST HAVE A DUN & BRADSTREET NUMBER. A DUN & BRADSTREET NUMBER MAY BE ACQUIRED FREE OF CHARGE BY CONTACTING DUN & BRADSTREET ON-LINE AT WWW.DNB.COM/EUPDATE OR BY PHONE AT (800) 333-0505. ALL CONTRACTORS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ONLINE REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS AT HTTP://ORCA.BPN.GOV.