Tangle Net Sampling Vessel

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) 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 Brian Tarabochia to provide support services to sample adult Chinook salmon for tagging by NOAA Fisheries Research biologists as fish enter the lower Columbia River and begin their return migration in freshwater. The Columbia River can be a challenging place to perform research and it is crucial that the contractor have extensive experience fishing with in the estuary. Mr. Tarabochia maintains consistency with sampling that is sponsored by the states of Washington and Oregon over the last five years, which NOAA has incorporated in this study. This sampling begins earlier in the season than NOAA's and the results are used to signal the optimal sampling time for our study. NOAA has been using long term data details provided by Mr. Tarabochia through the course of this study, in order to maintain consistency in our data series Mr. Tarabochia's data is the only data that can be used. Period of performance: Base year plus three option years. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, firms that believe they can provide equipment that fully meets 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 compete this proposed effort on a competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.