Inactive

This is a request for information only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or awarded. This is not a solicitation. This is not a Reques... This is a request for information only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or awarded. This is not a solicitation. This is not a Request for Quote (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Application (RFA) or announcement of a solicitation, and does not assume the Government will award a contract or proceed with any of the above solicitation efforts in the near future. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect cost or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of information. All information considered proprietary shall be marked accordingly, and properly identified proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with federal regulations. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for improperly identified proprietary information. The purpose of this announcement is solely to gather information from the marketplace, and any responses received will neither be considered an offer by the responding party nor returned to the responding party. No telephone inquiries will be accepted, and requests for solicitation packages will not be honored at this time since no solicitation has been prepared. Synopsis: Sources Sought The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Southeast Fishery Science Center (SEFSC), has a need for a vessel charter to support fishery-independent sampling cruises (Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey; hereafter, “SEFIS”) in southeast US continental shelf and shelf-break waters, with a focus on continental shelf waters of North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (hereafter referred to as SEUS waters). The cruises will involve intensive gear deployment (e.g., traps, cameras, conductivity-temperature-depth arrays) to provide fishery-independent data for more than 150 snapper-grouper, highly migratory, and coastal pelagic fish species on the southeast U.S. Atlantic continental shelf, including provision of data to support recent stock assessments for red snapper, red grouper, black sea bass, gray triggerfish, red porgy, greater amberjack, and vermilion snapper. This survey is typically conducted in the late spring and summers. The Contractor shall provide charter services of a research vessel for multiple cruises totaling 30 days at-sea (or more if funds become available) The minimum specifications for the vessel are: Overall vessel length must not be less than ninety (90) feet. Maximum cruising speed must not be less than nine (9) knots. 9-10 knots is preferred Vessel must have 600 square feet of unobstructed back deck space to accommodate traps, lines, buoys, coolers, and other sampling gear. Power (120 volt AC) is required on back deck. Vessel crew, including United States Coast Guard licensed captain (capable of speaking English), experienced in at-sea scientific research operations in SEUS waters, who shall be responsible for operation and maintenance of all equipment owned, leased, operated, or otherwise under the control of the Vendor. Vessel must be fully founded. Founded requirement includes, but is not necessarily limited to: Accommodations and personal gear storage space for up to 12 science personnel, not including crew. Provision of three meals daily plus snacks and drinks for scientific personnel. Liability insurance protection for vessel operations and vessel personnel while conducting gear deployment operations. Docking, harbor, pilot fees, etc. Taxes, duties, etc. All crew expenses. Fuel and oil charges. All expenses associated with maintaining or upgrading the vessel or any other equipment required to comply with these specifications. Climate controlled (72ºF ± 5º) berthing for a minimum of 12 scientific personnel. Vessel documentation/certification. ***DRAFT STATEMENT OF NEED ATTACHED*** INFORMATION REQUESTED: The Government is requesting that all interested vendors provide information regarding their experience and capability to provide a qualified crew and eligible vessel. NOAA may utilize the responses to this Sources Sought to conduct additional market research. Information obtained from this Sources Sought, and the subsequent communication with the vendors, if any, may be utilized to assist NOAA in developing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quote (RFQ). In addition to addressing technical capabilities, responses must include the following: Name and address of firm Size of business (e.g. small, small disadvantaged business, woman owned, etc.) Average annual revenue for the past 3 years and number of employees Ownership Number of years in business Affiliate information Parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential subcontractor) or subcontractors (if potential prime contractor) Point of contact - address and phone number SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS: Telephone responses are NOT solicited and will not be accepted. No solicitation exists at this time. This synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract, nor will the Government pay for the solicited information. Please submit your response to the attention of the Contracting Specialist, Amanda Rossiter (Amanda.Rossiter@noaa.gov) no later than November 9, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Each response shall be no more than 15 single-sided, single-spaced pages (excluding the cover page), and each page shall be separately numbered, and shall be in .pdf format.