SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Post-Cruise Data Processing Services
- Notice Date
- 4/21/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- National Transportation Safety Board, National Transportation Safety Board, Acquisition Division, 490 L'Enfant Plaza East, SW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20594, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20594
- Solicitation Number
- PUR16000A
- Archive Date
- 5/1/2016
- Point of Contact
- Matt Hazlinsky, Phone: 202-314-6205
- E-Mail Address
-
matt.hazlinsky@ntsb.gov
(matt.hazlinsky@ntsb.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Office of Marine Safety and Office of Research and Engineering require post-cruise data-processing services of data collected aboard the RV Atlantis during the April 18 - May 5, 2016 cruise to the wreckage of the El Faro cargo ship. In order to satisfy this requirement, the NTSB intends to issue a sole source solicitation to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to perform the services. This procurement is being conducted in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) - Soliciting from a single source. The NAICS code for this procurement is 541990 and the Small Business Administration Size Standard is $15.0M. After the November 2015 mission to El Faro, NTSB inquired with the US Navy about a second mission. Until the VDR was found, another mission using an Remove Operated Vehicle (ROV) capable of operating at that depth was impractical. A second mission would return to find the VDR and also gather better imagery of the shipwreck. After the position of the VDR was determined, a separate mission using an ROV would be in order. The use of an AUV was suggested to enable a more efficient search of the debris. Very few AUVs can operate at depths over 15,000 feet. While AUVs can operate from a variety of platforms, a host vessel would also be necessary. Besides the US Navy, the National Science Foundation (NSF) also operates a variety of suitable seafloor exploration platforms. To coordinate and schedule the best use of these valuable scientific tools, the NSF receives requests from scientists and funding agencies and then prioritizes the allocation of time. WHOI is a non-profit institution supported to a large degree by grants from federal agencies to conduct a wide spectrum of science around the world. Part of this mission is accomplished by two particular functions. WHOI operates the RV ATLANTIS and other oceanographic research vessels. The RV ATLANTIS is owned by the US Navy and is operated by WHOI under a long term charter to conduct government funded science research. In addition to ship operations, WHOI also facilitates the National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) which manages a fleet of deep-sea exploration vehicles, including ALVIN and AUV SENTRY. (RV ATLANTIS is the only host vessel for the manned deep submergence vehicle ALVIN). After consulting with NSF and WHOI, it was determined that both AUV SENTRY, and RV ATLANTIS would be available for an April 2016 mission. In addition, RV ATLANTIS could deploy remote seafloor cameras for the wreck imaging requirement. The remote seafloor work would be performed by the Alvin Observation Vehicle (CAMPER) and the ALVIN engineers. Because WHOI operates the RV ATLANTIS, and both NDSF vehicles SENTRY and CAMPER, NTSB and NSF agreed that these assets could accomplish the stated mission. WHOI engineers planned for the mission using the three platforms, RV ATLANTIS, AUV SENTRY and AOV CAMPER. The sensors, software and sophisticated imaging systems for the survey have been designed and developed by NDSF. Following the cruise, the NTSB needs to have the data rendered into useful information for analysis and public release. The NDSF engineers are experts in the field of seafloor engineering and wreck exploration. Notably, they have worked on the RMS TITANIC and MV DERBYSHIRE missions, among many others. To ensure that the project parameters are met, and that the large quantities of scientific data collected during the mission are handled by qualified technicians, it is in the government's best interest to have WHOI NDSF continue the post-processing of information after the cruise is completed, on or around May 5th. The contractor is the only source that the NTSB can obtain high quality work without interruption or delay to the investigation of the El Faro casualty. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be accepted. However, any firm that believes it can meet the requirements may give written notification to the Contracting Officer within 10 calendar days from the date of publication of this synopsis. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to render data obtained from AUV SENTRY and AOV CAMPER into useful information for analysis and public release. Information, not to exceed five (5) pages, can be sent via e-mail to Peter M. Hazlinsky, at matt.hazlinsky@ntsb.gov. Responses received will be evaluated; though, a determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received, the NTSB will proceed with the issuance of a sole source solicitation for this requirement to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NTSB/CMS/WashingtonDC/PUR16000A/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NTSB HQ, 490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20594, United States
- Zip Code: 20594
- Zip Code: 20594
- Record
- SN04091234-W 20160423/160421234514-6eaf0cd193594b8a7596c30ea03d700a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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