GLERL Innovasea Acoustic Releases & Accessories

Notice Number: 145025250027SM

Notice Type: Sources Sought Synopsis

Title: Innovasea Acoustic Releases & Accessories

Response Date: 3/14/2025

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is not a pre-solicitation announcement. The purpose of this Market Research and Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified U.S. Domestic businesses, which could include Small Business, HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Women Owned Small Business firms and even Large Businesses. Responses to this Sources Sought Synopsis will be used by the Government in making appropriate acquisition decisions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL are a multidisciplinary environmental research laboratory that provides scientific understanding to inform the use and management of Great Lakes and coastal marine environments, such as tag deployments. The necessary components for these tag deployments include 48 Innovasea acoustic release receivers (VR2AR-69khz) and 1 live acoustic receiver (RX-LIVE 69 kHz) and the necessary supplies (e.g. cable, VR100 Surface Transponder). These receivers will record pings from tagged fishes within range of a given receiver in the Lake, recording the time and information from any other sensors with which the tag is equipped, which is one of their core missions in the lab. Taken together, the receivers will detect nearby tagged fishes in Lake Michigan. This will include fishes tagged by other research projects as well as from planned NOAA tag deployments. These data will provide new information regarding the habitat preferences and movement patterns of the fish community in Lake Michigan. The GLERL requires receivers like the Innovasea VR2AR-69khz and RX-LIVE 69 kHz to support their data collection in the Great Lakes.

INTENDED USE/PURPOSE:

The VR2AR receiver comes with a built-in transmitter that enables remote communications from the surface with deployed receivers, and also allows remote retrieval of the unit using an integrated acoustic

release - typically within one minute. The VR2AR-X is a longer-life version capable of deployments up to 26 months. The built in transmitter can be used as a sync tag for improved fine scale positioning results and also provides a means to obtain receiver status using a VR100 receiver and a transponding hydrophone. Researchers can get essential information such as unit health, number of detections, tilt, range, temperature, noise, signal strength, data watch tables, and estimated remaining battery life and memory. This is the only known instrument that can meet the Government’s needs, and this notice’s intent is to identify any other products that meet the full requirements listed below.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/ESSENTIAL SALIENT FEATURES:

Frequency

69 kHz

Depth

500 m

Weight

VR2AR: 2350 g (air); 500 g (water)

VR2AR-X: 2746 g (air); 812 g (water)

Dimensions

VR2AR: Length 401 mm

VR2AR-X: Length 465 mm

Diameter: 81 mm

Mooring bracket width: 170 mm

Storage Capacity

32 MBytes non-volatile flash

memory (~3-million detections)

Power

VR2AR: One 3.6 V Lithium D

VR2AR-X: One 3.6 V Lithium DD

Release: One 4 V Lithium AA

Battery Life

VR2AR: Approx. 14 months

VR2AR-X: Approx. 26 months

Release: 5-6 years

Max Test Load

1000 lbs

Max Safe Working Load

250 lbs

Max Release Load

250 lbs

Magnetic Activation Probe for acoustic receivers

RX-LIVE 69 kHz Cabled Acoustic Receiver with External Connector

ASCII output enabled, RS485 cable not included, Requires external power

High Speed RS-485 Communication Interface for HR2 and HR3 receivers

Includes Fathom software, USB interface box and 10m of cable (software

requires Windows 7 or higher)

VR100 – Surface Transponder and Manual Tracking Acoustic Receiver.

(Model VR100-300)

Supports 8 channels and detection of 69kHz and 180kHz PPM transmitter

platforms.

VHTx 69kHz Transponding Hydrophone 25 meter waterproof cable for VR100

DELIVERY SCHEDULE:

Deliver by August, 1 2025.

The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 334513 with a size standard of 750 employees.

Interested firms shall provide, in writing, a brief narrative (no more than 3 pages in length) and documentation to support your firm’s capability and experience meeting the requirements herein and include your firm’s name, address, point of contact, telephone number, UEID Number, CCR CAGE Number, business type and size (i.e., small, large, non-profit, educational, etc.). Any response that does not include this information will not be considered. The Government will review your response to determine if your firm has the experience, knowledge and capability to provide the items as specified above.

This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. Nor does this request for information constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that any procurement action may be issued for the Government’s requirements.

No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise because of the submission of contractor’s information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

All contractors doing business with the Government are required to be registered and active with the System for Award Management (SAM) website.

NOTE: THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded based on responses received to this notice.