SPECIAL NOTICE
19 -- Provide a Research-grade remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to conduct a scientific research and exploration deep-submergence expedition in the NE Lau Basin for 18 days in September 2012.
- Notice Date
- 5/10/2012
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Region Acquisition Division, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, Washington, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- AB-133R-12-RP-0087
- Point of Contact
- Levis D Knox, Phone: 206-526-4888, Stephanie M Garnett, Phone: 253 526 6384
- E-Mail Address
-
levis.d.knox@noaa.gov, stephanie.m.garnett@noaa.gov
(levis.d.knox@noaa.gov, stephanie.m.garnett@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1; (Only one responsible source with unique capabilities is capable of performing this requirement) with the University of Bremen in Bremen Germany. This acquisition is for the provision of a Research-grade remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to conduct a scientific research and exploration deep-submergence expedition in the NE Lau Basin for 18 days in September 2012. Sole Source determination is based on the fact that the University of Bremen is uniquely qualified to provide the required items because they have the only suitable vehicle which is available during the required time frame. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide goods and services that fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation, in writing to the identified point of contact within 10 days after the publication of this notice. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice. Such determination is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Contracting Office Address: Stephanie M Garnett Western Acquisition Division - Seattle 7600 Sand Point way NE/WC3 Seattle Washington 98115-6349 Attachment (redacted JOFOC): JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION RESEARCH-GRADE REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE (ROV) TO CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON DEEP-SEA SUBMARINE VOLCANOES SOLICITATION NUMBER: AB-133R-12-RP-0087 In accordance with the requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act (41 U.S.C. 253), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302, the following information is submitted in support of the award of the subject contract without using full and open competition. I. Agency & Contracting Activity: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Acquisition Division (WAD); 7600 Sand Point Way Seattle, WA 98115 II. Nature and/or Description of Action Being Approved: NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) proposes to negotiate a sole-source procurement for a research-grade remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to conduct scientific research on deep-sea submarine volcanoes for 18 days in September 2012. The sites range in depth from 100 meters to almost 4,000 meters deep in the ocean. To study these volcanoes NOAA will collect hot fluids coming from their deep-sea hot springs and microbes and animals that thrive in these fluids and will also collect rocks and mineral deposits. To collect these samples and to visually image these volcanoes, robotic instruments will be used that can operate under the very high pressure present in the deep sea. These instruments are remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). These vehicles are specially built and outfitted to operate in the harsh environments of the deep sea. The ROV class needed for this project's scientific research is of more specialized design and has an experienced operational group necessary to accomplish the delicate manipulations and sampling at submarine volcanoes. Based on past research, NOAA has identified more than 12 volcanic sites with summits ranging from several hundred to ~3,000 meters depth. The flanks of deepest volcanoes extend below 4,000m depth. The estimated value of this procurement action is $X.XX. The Government intends to contract directly with The University of Bremen in Bremen Germany for this requirement. III. Description of Items Required to Meet the Agency's Needs: A Research-grade remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to conduct a scientific research and exploration deep-submergence expedition to make observations in the NE Lau Basin which is located 120 miles southwest of the Samoan Islands between Western Samoa and Fiji. These observations will provide fundamental new insights on eruptive phenomena in the deep sea. The eruption at the NE Lau spreading center is the first ever observation of a very recent deep sea eruption and is the site of ongoing scientific study. The ROV must have unique features and functions and provide specific services to perform the required research operations. Additionally, the ROV must be available for work out of Suva Fiji or Apia Western Samoa as these are the only proximate ports to the NE Lau basin and the ROV must be available in September 2012 because that is the only time that a contracted research ship within the PMEL budget constraints is available to transport the ROV. IV. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition: The statutory authority permitting this action is 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1; Only one responsible source with unique capabilities is capable of performing this service. V. Applicability of Authority / Contractor's Unique Qualifications: The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) has a requirement for the use of a Research-grade remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to conduct a scientific research and exploration deep-submergence expedition in the NE Lau Basin. The ROV must have unique features and functions and provide specific services to perform the required research operations. Additionally, the ROV must be available in September 2012 for work out of Suva Fiji or Apia Western Samoa. A date later in the year has been ruled out due to the potential for hurricanes in late Fall in this region of the Pacific. The September 2012 performance time is predicated on the availability of a research ship, which will transport the ROV to the research site, in this remote area of the ocean. Research-ship operations are scheduled by the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System in consultation with their operator institutions. The only Research Vessel available in 2012 in this area of the ocean is the R/V Roger Revelle, operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and PMEL has been scheduled to use the R/V Roger Revelle starting on September 2, 2012. This scheduling system allows for costs to be shared between research projects. A significant component of ship-use costs is for transit to the port closest to a given research site. In this case, the closest major US Oceanographic port to Suva and Apia is Honolulu which is 9 transit days each way. At an approximate cost of $X.XX/day, the 18 total days of transit would cost $X.XX. In the case of the Revelle, we will share 19 days of transit (from Vietnam) with two other projects. NOAA's transit costs will be a total of 6 days at a cost of $X.XX resulting in a savings of $X.XX. To conduct the scientific research and exploration deep-submergence projects PMEL generally use the research-grade ROV Jason from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This institution is the accepted provider for deep submergence assets to NOAA. The Jason is not available for the work required in 2012. In the past when the Jason has not been available PMEL used the ROPOS from Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility however, the ROPOS is also not available in September 2012. There are few Research-grade ROVs available in the world with the depth and research capabilities and experience required for the project. PMEL has spent the last several months searching for suitable replacements to conduct this research. The only vehicles that meet the needs of PMEL and that contract out to outside institutions are the ROPOS from Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility, the Kiel-6000 from Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences (IFM-GEOMAR), the Hyper-Dolphin from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the ISIS from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, the VICTOR 6000 from the French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea, and the QUEST-4000 from the University of Bremen. As outlined in the attached PMEL market research, the only one of these vehicles available for NOA's use in Fall 2012 (specifically September 2012) is the Quest-4000. No other exceptions to full and open competition are applicable. VI. Efforts to Obtain Competition: A sole-source intent notice is scheduled for posting on FedBizOpps starting on May 14, 2012. This notice will be posted for 45 days; interested parties will have 15 days to act in response to the sole-source intent notice before the solicitation is issued to The University of Bremen in accordance with FAR 5.203(a). VII. Determination that fair and reasonable prices will be obtained: PMEL and the Contracting Officer will provide an analysis of the proposal provided by The University of Bremen to ensure that reasonable prices are obtained. A determination that the price is fair and reasonable based upon historical information from the previous contracts, the Government Estimate, and an analysis of cost or pricing data will be made prior to contract award. VIII. Description of Market Research Conducted: Due to the highly specialized nature of this requirement and the unique capabilities and availability of the University of Bremen (see attached PMEL Market Research), the program office has indicated that the University of Bremen is the only entity that can satisfy the requirement. IX. Other Facts: A request to contract on a sole-source basis with The University of Bremen was approved by the WAD Small Business Representative on Apr 2, 2012 and forwarded to the DOC Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) for approval on Apr 2, 2012. The DOC OSDBU approved this requirement on a sole source procurement basis with The University of Bremen on Apr 13, 2012. X. Interested Sources: None XI. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition in Future Procurements: To the maximum extent practicable, future requirements of this nature will be posted on FBO. However, due to the highly specialized nature of this requirement, the unique capabilities of the University of Bremen to provide the required capability during the needed time frame, no steps beyond the posting of the requirement on FBO, in hopes of gaining competition for the instant procurement, can currently be taken. XII. Contracting Officer's Certification: The Contracting Officer's signature on the Justification Review Document (CD 492) evidences that it has been determined that this document is both accurate and complete to the best of the Government knowledge and belief. XIII. Technical/Requirements Personnel Certification: The justification for other than full and open competition has been certified as accurate and complete by the Program office through a signed CD-492, Justification for other than Full and Open Competition. Authorization dated Mar 27, 2012 was obtained from Mark Koehn PMEL Deputy Director as required per Memo dated 09/04/02. The authorization documents are contained in the contract file.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/WASC/AB-133R-12-RP-0087/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NE Lau Basin which is located 120 miles southwest of the Samoan Islands, Fiji
- Record
- SN02744965-W 20120512/120510235726-d271a8aa6b2f1b9b38cfff4dc5f181a7 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |