THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to award, on a sole source basis, a contract to UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. This sole source contract is required for Winter Flounder Collection for the FLEES Project. Contractors for this work must demonstrate experience specifically in the collection of wild winter flounder brood stock in the geographic region of the Gulf of Maine, as well as in vitro spawning and egg incubation success. Demonstrated field knowledge of site-fidelity for adult flounder is required, as well brood stock collection methods, and field identification of fish ready for reproduction. Adult brood stock must be kept in flow-through marine aquaria of sufficient size to ensure they thrive. Experience with strip spawning techniques is essential, including egg fertilization and post fertilization techniques to ensure eggs successfully reach the egg membrane hardening stage. Fertilized eggs must be stored with in appropriately sized, covered, flow-through filtered marine aquaria (salinity above 28 ppt) with temperatures below 10 C. Fertilized eggs must be inspected daily using a dissecting microscope to ensure high fertilization success and that normal development is occurring. This process will be repeated two more times, for a total of three eggs batches numbering a minimum of 3,000 eggs in each batch. Eggs must be shipped overnight to the US ACE testing facility. A final report detailing this process will be the final project deliverable. The contractor will be required to file Letters of Acknowledgement with NOAA and comply with new NOAA permitting processes for the collection of wild winter flounder for research purposes, including: (1) filing the permit, (2) demonstrating the research nature of the work; (3) executing the permit conditions; and (4) submit a permit compliance report to NOAA at the completion of the collection. All responsible sources may submit a response, which, if timely received, will be considered by the agency. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. It is a market research tool being used to determine the availability of other qualified sources that can meet the requirements identified above. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice of intent. All responses received within 15 days of the posting of this notice, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Submit any inquiries within 15 days of the posting of the notice of intent via email:
[email protected] (list W912WJ-15-Q-0071 in the subject line of the email) or mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Erin E. Bradley, 696 Virginia Rd., Concord, MA 01742.