Eighteen (18) subdermal implantable telemetry tags

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SINGLE-SOURCE CONTRACTSpecial Notice: SNFD-2025-362

NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC

In compliance with FAR Subpart 13 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 the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Wildlife Computers Inc.

Using the procedures of FAR Part 13 the requirement is to procure the following: Eighteen (18) SPLASH10-373A Implantable Tags

The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 334511 with a Small business size standard of 1350 employees.

This Sole Source Determination is based on NOAAA's requirement that is the only Vendor that provides the required Supplies:The NOAA NMFS and partner institutions use implantable telemetry tags to study the movements, habitats, and foraging behavior of large whales, including endangered sperm whales in the Gulf of America. These implantable tags are deployed remotely and are embedded in the blubber of the animal using an anchoring system that allows the tag to remain attached for weeks to months before falling off. Data on movements and dive behavior are transmitted continuously throughout the deployment via satellite (ARGOS) communication. This requires a specially designed sensor, power, and transmission package. The attachment anchor and electronic portion of the tag are consolidated into a single body which both increases the longevity of attachment and reduces the potential for injury to the animal. Tags of this type have been used by NOAA and partner agencies to study large whale movements world wide. The requestd tags will be used for a field research project in the summer of 2025.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: The SEFSC requires eighteen (18) subdermal implantable telemetry tags with the following capabilities:

Consolidated design electronics and anchoring unit designed and tested for subdermal deployment on large whales including sperm whales

Sufficient battery duration to support data collection and transmission for at least 6 months

Ability to continuously transmit collected data during deployment via the ARGOS Iridium satellite system

Capability to collect and transmit data on location (via ARGOS satellite localization), animal depth, tag wet/dry status, summaries of dive depth, and information on dive depth, type and duration

Operating water depths up to 2000m

Ability to program duty cycles and transmission cycles to optimize battery life and data transmission frequency

Designed for remote deployment via airgun or other handheld system to allow deployment from small boats

The units must be consistent with telemetry tags deployed by SEFSC and other NMFS line offices to ensure data comparability. The anchoring system and tag body must have demonstrated effectiveness and safe deployment on large whales to meet the requirements of SEFSC’s Marine Mammal Protection Act research permit.

These tags are needed in hand no later than July 1, 2025 for the Sperm Whale Population Consequences of Multiple Stressors (PCOMS) project (GU-25-03).

These are highly specialized equipment. The design of these tags is the result of multiple years of research (including in collaboration with NOAA scientists) to improve retention times (i.e., increase and improve data collection) and reduce the risk of harm to the whale (i.e., preventing injuries to whales that violate the terms of our MMPA research permits and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval). Wildlife Computers is the only vendor available for this highly specialized equipment.

**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 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. 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.

Attachments

Single Source Determination