SAM #N0024426Q0100

Procurement of custom cryophone instruments for Arctic research

The Naval Postgraduate School's Department of Oceanography is seeking a contractor for the design, fabrication, integration, and delivery of cryophone (cPhone) instruments for Arctic research. - Government Buyer: - Naval Postgraduate School, Department of Oceanography - OEM Highlight: - Loggerhead Instruments is the sole-source OEM identified for this procurement - Products/Services Requested: - Design, fabrication, integration, and delivery of cryophone instruments - 2 prototype cryophones - 6 final cryophones - Testing, support, and modification services for the instruments - Technical Requirements: - 4-channel acoustic recording at 96 kHz sampling frequency - Bandwidth of 1 Hz to 48 kHz - Sensor sensitivity of 10 volts/g - Operation in air temperatures as low as -50°F - Endurance of 12 months in Arctic conditions - Local storage of all raw data - Onboard statistical and Fourier analysis - Daily relay of reduced data and results via Iridium satellite network - Flotation suitable for deployment in the marginal ice zone - Notable Requirements: - Contractor must have at least 20 years' experience in underwater acoustic recorders - Contractor must hold a PhD in a related field - NAICS code: 334519 (Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing) - PSC: 6655 (Measuring and Testing Instruments)

Description

NOTICE OF INTENT

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes. NAVSUP FLCSD intends to award a sole-source contract.

The NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center San Diego (FLCSD) intends to solicit and award a firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract on a sole-source basis to Loggerhead Instruments (CAGE: 5KBN4, POC Email: dmann@loggerhead.com), 5342 Clark Road, Suite #187, Sarasota, FL 34233, using commercial acquisition procedures applicable to this requirement.

The statutory authority for this noncompetitive action is FAR 12.102(a), Only one source is available, pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1901. NAVSUP FLCSD intends to use commercial acquisition procedures applicable to this requirement. The Government has determined that Loggerhead Instruments is the only known responsible source capable of meeting the Government’s requirement within the required schedule and acceptable technical risk.

The Government’s requirement is for the design, fabrication, integration, and delivery of a cryophone (“cPhone”) instrument to be deployed in the Arctic ice sheet in support of a new monitoring and detection system for Arctic research. The cPhone must meet the following functional performance criteria:

reliable and accurate 4-channel recording sampling frequencies of at least 96 kHz bandwidth of 1 Hz to 48 kHz sensor sensitivity of 10 volts/g operation in air temperatures as low as -50 °F endurance of 12 months local storage of all raw data onboard statistical and Fourier analysis daily relay of reduced data and results via the Iridium satellite network flotation for deployment in the marginal ice zone (MIZ)

The Government has determined that Loggerhead Instruments recently designed and built optical accelerometer drifters and a related 4-channel datalogger with the same general system architecture, electronics, firmware approach, telemetry concept, and deployment design as the required cPhone instrument. The Government further determined that the cPhone differs principally in the sensing element and represents an adaptation of a recently completed and validated system rather than a clean-sheet design. Award to another source would require substantial duplicative engineering effort and would introduce unacceptable schedule risk.

The NAICS code for this procurement is 334519, Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 6655.

The required delivery date is 1 January 2027 to allow sufficient time for bench testing and validation before a planned February/March2027 Arctic field experiment in the Beaufort Sea.

This notice is issued solely for market research and to determine whether other responsible sources can meet the Government’s minimum requirements. Interested parties may submit documentation demonstrating their ability to satisfy the Government’s requirement.

Capability Statement Requirements

Interested parties shall submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to satisfy the Government’s minimum requirements. At a minimum, the capability statement shall address the vendor’s technical capability, relevant experience, and ability to provide a system with 4-channel high-rate recording, 1 Hz to 48 kHz bandwidth, 10 volts/g sensor performance, 12-month Arctic endurance, local raw-data storage, onboard statistical and Fourier analysis, daily Iridium telemetry, and flotation suitable for marginal ice zone deployment.

Submission Instruction Length Constraint

Submissions must not exceed 6 pages in 10-point Times New Roman font. This market research is solely to determine if technical capabilities exist in the marketplace. Requests for information or submissions with only questions are not affirmative responses. The results of this assessment will help the Government determine whether qualified sources exist and inform the decision on whether to continue with sole-source procurement or pursue competition.

Point of Contact

Please submit capability statements by email as a Word or PDF attachment to Allaine Benson at allaine.g.benson.civ@us.navy.mil  by 3:00pm PDT, 07 September 2026. Please ensure all submissions are addressed to the listed contact to avoid any delays or missed deadlines.

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