Inactive

Amendment 1 (posted 04/24/2024) RFI Questions & Reponses Q1: As provisioning is listed as optional, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration (OOE) has been using the ROV Deep Discoverer. Does NOAA anticipate ... Amendment 1 (posted 04/24/2024) RFI Questions & Reponses Q1: As provisioning is listed as optional, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration (OOE) has been using the ROV Deep Discoverer. Does NOAA anticipate this ROV to remain in operation? Response: All options are available, the respondent can suggest operation of any ROV system inclusive of the NOAA Deep Discoverer/Seirios Q2: Does this RFI assume a new contractor will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Deep Discoverer system, and is the ROV fully documented? Response: The RFI is just a request for information about what is available capacity and capabilities Q3: Does the ROV operations also envision the vendor to provide personnel for subsea tracking and navigation of the ROV and other subsea assets? Response: Any and all options are welcome Q4: Would the NOAA OOE require the ROV be present on the ship permanently or does the office envision an ROV system being mobilized and demobilized per project? Response: The Government welcomes any optimized solutions suggested by the respondent Q5: Would the NOAA OOE consider a long-term lease for a deep-water ROV system? Response: Yes Q6: Would the NOAA OOE consider the provisioning of a new 6000-meter ROV System? Response: Yes Q7: Would ROV operations be 12-hour per day, 24-hour per day, or a mixture depending on cruise? Response: All options will be considered Q8: Is there an anticipated start date for these services to begin? Response: Not at this time Q9: Is the ship NOAA Discoverer one of the “future platforms” being considered for this RFI? Response: Yes Q10: If Discoverer is considered a future platform, will an ROV remain fixed to ship, or will a mobile system be envisioned? Response: All options will be considered ____________________________________________________________________________________ Request for Information (RFI) (Original posted: 04/12/2024) THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and market research planning purposes; it does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation. Furthermore, those who respond to this RFI should not anticipate feedback with regards to its submission; other than acknowledgment of receipt – ONLY IF a request for an acknowledgement is requested by the submitter. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is not seeking proposals at this time. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay any costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government, and will not be returned. Any information that the vendor considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such. 1. Purpose of this RFI: The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information about the capacity, availability, and estimated annual cost of acquiring or hiring for service, one or several commercial, public or private sector, and/or university-affiliated teams to support ocean exploration programs. This RFI solicits responses for supporting the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) at-sea exploration currently conducted on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. These same activities are expected to transition to the NOAA Ship Discoverer once commissioned. NOAA is specifically looking for input on the following strategic priorities to evolve our operations (see documentation below) on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and future platforms. NOAA is looking to engage with a broad and diverse set of stakeholders with regard to getting advice and ideas on the following strategic priorities. The following required and desired services were identified by NOAA personnel as core investment areas that we’re requesting responses. If these areas should be modified please note that in your response. Provision (optional), management and maintenance support for an end-to-end telepresence system and related capabilities, using commercial off-the-shelf equipment, to enable scientists on shore to collaborate with ship-based personnel and participate in seagoing activities, primarily but not limited to, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations from anywhere in the world with a standard internet connection. Provision (optional), use and advancement of a state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system to achieve baseline characterization of unknown and poorly known seafloor (primarily) and water column habitats down to 6,000 m, and concurrently provide broadcast quality imagery to engage scientists ashore and inspire the public; Deployment (optional), management and maintenance support for cradle-to-archive data management systems and processes that enable the rapid and automated creation of standardized data sets that meet federal standards, and are ready to be archived within 60 days after a cruise. Optimization of routine operations with the goals of mitigating functionality and operational control of at-sea systems to shore using emerging technologies including low earth orbiting satellites, cloud computing and data transfers, and Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning applications; 2. Submission of Information: Interested parties are encouraged to submit a response which supports their claim that they have the qualifications and experience to provide services for one or more of the identified services. If there are areas of the requirement that your company and/or prospective team cannot meet, please identify those areas in your response along with amplifying information as to why your team cannot meet the government’s request. Specifically, any interested parties should provide the following information: Name of Company, address, and UEID; Point of contact name, email, and phone number; Any General Service Administration (GSA) schedule, Government Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) or Multiple Award Contract numbers and information that may allow for procurement of services from your company; Do you currently have a contract(s) with any other Federal Agency for these types of services? Do you have a commercial catalog of products or systems similar to these services? 3. RFI Response Format In order to better assist in the review of submittals to this RFI, respondents are encouraged to prepare a response that closely adheres to the following format: The document format shall be either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. Responses shall be prepared using 12 pt. font, 1-inch margins, and 8.5” by 11” paper and shall not exceed Twenty (20) pages in length, including images, data displays, charts, graphs, and tables. It should be noted in the messaging of this RFI that participants should focus on their area of expertise to allow for diversity in responses. Respondents may provide additional promotional literature in addition to their response as long as the literature conforms to the response format. 4. Response Deadline and Point of Contact Information: Responses to this notice should be documents attached to emails with the subject line “Telepresence-Enabled Ocean Exploration, Data Management and Remotely Operated Vehicle Systems – RFI Response” received no later than 3:00PM MT, Thursday, April 25, 2024 to: Contract Specialist, Julia Hamilton at julia.l.hamilton@noaa.gov Contracting Officer, Stacy McAvoy at stacy.mcavoy@noaa.gov The responses received will assist NOAA with identifying feasible technical solutions for this requirement. Each respondent, by submitting a response, agrees that any cost incurred by it in responding to this request, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, shall be the sole responsibility of the respondent. NOAA shall incur no obligations or liabilities whatsoever, to anyone, for any costs or expenses incurred by the respondent in responding to this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. 5. Industry Discussions: Some respondents may be asked to provide additional information regarding the matters addressed in this RFI. Those respondents will be contacted directly if there is a need for further information. 6. Questions: Respondents may submit questions regarding this RFI to the contact(s) listed above. Responses to questions may be posted on the Government Point of Entry. Please send any questions you may have to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer by no later than (NLT) 3:00PM MST, Friday, April 19, 2024. Each question shall provide the section and page number of the particular item being referred to in this RFI.