Early Warning System for Mass Coral Bleaching

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisitions Division-Kansas City office intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with the Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc., 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236 for an Early warning System for Mass Coral Bleaching for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in Key West, FL. These services are for a base year and two 1-year option periods. A Sources Sought notice was posted on July 12, 2016 and closed on July 22, 2016. No responses were received. Sole Source Justification NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) awards funds to different NOAA offices through a competitive process for coral reef research and education. The funds are transferred via transfer from the CRCP to the respective NOAA office and it is the responsibility of the line office to obligate the funds. The projects that are awarded funding often are through partnerships with non-Federal agencies and organizations. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) applied for and was awarded funding by CRCP for the implementation of the "Early Warning System for Mass Coral Bleaching" project to take place in the FKNMS. The partner on the proposal is Mote Marine Laboratory. Since 2005, the FKNMS has partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory to develop and implement a community based monitoring network, aka as "Bleach Watch", of trained observers to provide reports of coral condition at reefs throughout the Florida Keys. Mote Marine Laboratory is highly qualified to continue the implementation of this project and it was the intent of CRCP for the funds to be used to contract with Mote to continue this project.