transportation of an 23,600 pound ISO tank of helium and 30 small bottles weighing 4,000 pounds.

***NOAA's Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with the Bowhead Transport Company LLC of Anchorage, AK for the transportation of an 23,600 pound ISO tank of helium and 30 small bottles weighing 4,000 pounds. ***The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) requirement for the transportation of an 23,600 pound ISO tank of helium and 30 small bottles weighing 4,000 pounds is sole sourced as Bowhead Transport Company LLC offers the only barge service from Seattle, Washington to Barrow, Alaska. The product is required by June 1, 2011. ***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.