SAM #REQUIREMENTS-26-1761

NOAA Sole-Source Contract for Expert Benthic Invertebrate Identification Services

NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is seeking expert taxonomic identification and cataloging services for Benthic invertebrate specimens collected during fisheries research in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. - The intended award is a sole-source contract to Scripps Institute of Oceanography/University of San Diego. - The service involves identifying and cataloging unusual or difficult-to-identify Benthic invertebrate specimens retained from groundfish and midwater fishery surveys. - These specimens are used for training research biologists and survey personnel, and are cataloged in NOAA's Benthic invertebrate collections. - The requirement is driven by the complexity and diversity of the specimens, necessitating specialized expertise. - NOAA invites capability statements from other firms that believe they can meet the requirements, but intends to proceed with Scripps unless a competitive alternative is found. - No specific products, part numbers, or quantities are listed, as this is a specialized service requirement. - The period of performance covers multiple years, aligning with NOAA AFSC's FY26-31 field seasons. - Place of performance is primarily in Seattle, WA, with the contracting office located in Kansas City, MO.

Description

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service – Alaska Fisheries Science Center, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1); with Scripps Institute of Oceanography/University of San Diego for expert taxonomic identification of Benthic invertebrate specimens collected while performing fisheries research in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.

Sole Source Justification

The sole source determination is based on the AFSC’s deployment of groundfish and midwater fishery surveys during the FY26-31 field seasons. These surveys adhere to AFSC Annual Guidance Memo priorities (e.g., recruitment, species distribution shifts, changing maturity and growth, fish condition, stock boundary changes, food availability, phenology). These surveys provide essential data for assessing the status and trends of marine ecosystems on the subtidal continental shelves and upper slope throughout Alaska, including the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and Aleutian Islands. Benthic invertebrates comprise a substantial portion of survey catches; however, their high diversity and morphological complexity make accurate field identification challenging, especially for rare, cryptic, or poorly described taxa. NOAA retains unusual or difficult-to-identify invertebrate specimens from surveys, requiring expert external identification of these specimens for cataloging in NOAA’s Benthic invertebrate collections. The collections are used in training research biologists and survey personnel.

Special Notice

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment or service that fully meets the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation 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. Responses can be sent via e-mail to jason.jenks@noaa.gov.  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.

All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement in accordance with this notice, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 1600 PM PDT on May 22, 2026.  The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Incomplete statements do not warrant consideration. Phone calls in regard to this notice will not be accepted.

All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read:

Announcement Number: REQUIREMENTS-26-1761 Project Title: NOAA AFSC Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands survey FY26-31 Benthic Invertebrate Species Identification and Cataloging

NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company unless registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov. To register, all contractors must have a valid Tax ID number and obtain a government-provided Unique Entity Identifier, which is available through SAM.gov.

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