SAM #FD-2026-463-RBC

NOAA Sole Source Environmental Assessment Services for Aircraft Crash Investigation

NOAA is announcing its intent to award a sole source contract for marine environmental assessment services related to an aircraft crash in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. - Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Sole source vendor: Research Planning Inc. (RPI) - Scope: Specialized scientific and technical services for environmental impact assessment and expert support - Evaluation of evidence and environmental impacts - Preparation of an Expert Impact Report for enforcement and litigation - RPI is cited as the only vendor with expertise in NOAA Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) methodologies, marine spill-response science, sensitivity mapping, ecological risk assessment, and injury analysis - No specific products or part numbers; this is a consulting and technical service requirement - Period of performance: Three months from contract award - Commercial opportunity is limited due to sole source justification, but similar companies with marine environmental expertise may be interested in future opportunities

Description

In compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations coupled with the provisions set forth by FAR Subpart 5.101(a)(1), this Notice is hereby published to inform of the following: The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authorities provided in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, with Research Planning Inc. 

The requirement is to procure the following: On May 20, 2023, a DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean approximately 40 miles west of Half Moon Bay, California, within the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS). The aircraft carried approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel at the time of the incident. The pilot and co-pilot were fatally injured and remain associated with unrecovered aircraft debris located on the seafloor.

Initial response efforts by the United States Coast Guard were unable to secure the aircraft prior to sinking. Subsequent salvage operations recovered one wing and one engine; however, portions of the aircraft, including the fuselage and remaining wing components, are believed to remain on the seabed within GFNMS.

NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is investigating the incident and associated impacts to sanctuary resources resulting from the presence of aircraft debris, fuel residues, and associated contaminants within the sanctuary environment. NOAA is evaluating available evidence to determine whether additional enforcement action, including referral to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), is warranted.

NOAA requires specialized scientific expertise to evaluate available evidence, assess environmental impacts to sanctuary resources, and prepare a scientifically supported Expert Impact Report suitable for administrative enforcement proceedings and potential litigation.

The supporting rationale is that only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below: 

Research Planning, Inc. (RPI) is the only reasonably available source capable of providing the specialized marine environmental assessment and expert support services required for NOAA enforcement case WC2303020 involving impacts to resources within the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The requirement involves scientific and technical analysis of marine environmental impacts associated with submerged aircraft debris and residual contaminants and requires expertise in marine pollutant fate and transport, environmental toxicology, marine ecological injury assessment, environmental sensitivity analysis, geospatial analysis, and preparation of technical reports suitable for enforcement and potential litigation support. RPI possesses unique qualifications based on its longstanding support of NOAA marine environmental response and assessment programs and its expertise in NOAA Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) methodologies, marine spill-response science, environmental sensitivity mapping, marine ecological risk assessment, and environmental injury analysis. RPI personnel have extensive experience supporting NOAA environmental assessment activities and preparing technical analyses applicable to enforcement and litigation matters. Although other environmental consulting firms may provide general environmental services, market research did not identify another source possessing the same combination of NOAA operational support experience, ESI expertise, marine spill-response science experience, marine sanctuary resource assessment experience, and environmental injury analysis capability required for this case. 

Business Impact – Failure to obtain these services from RPI would increase performance and schedule risk and could impair NOAA's ability to accurately assess impacts to protected sanctuary resources and support enforcement decision-making and potential Department of Justice litigation.

The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541620 with a Small business size standard of $19M.

This Sole Source Determination is based on NOAA's requirement that Research Planning Inc. is the only Vendor that provides the requirements.

Period of performance is three months from the date of award of the contract.  

 **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 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 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.

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