20 -- Fisheries Multibeam Imaging Sonar System

This publication serves as a notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract with Simrad U.S.A to provide multiple types of data during fisheries surveys. The sonar needs to provide quantitative information about volume backscattering strength, surface scattering strength, and high-resolution bathymetric profiles. The sonar must provide a 150 degree swath with 1.5 by 1.5 degree resolution at nadir, and an operational range of at least 300m. Thus, the operational frequency must be 200 kHz or less. The transducer head must be deployable to a depth of 3000m or mounted shallow on the hull or side of a ship. A fairing for the sonar head, compatible with a pole-mount, must be provided. The raw echo-intensity data must be available from the sonar in a well described and documented format. The raw data provided from the sonar must be useful for quantitatively mapping the dispersion and relative abundance of pelagic sound scatterers, provide backscattering intensity data from the seafloor, and provide accurate ranges to the seafloor for each ping. Delivery date will be no more than 45 days from date of contract award. To the best of the Government's knowledge and capability, there are no other companies that exist in the U.S. who can meet all needed requirements. Simrad is the only known entity whose sonar provides digitized backscatter data from the time each sound pulse is emitted from the transducer head to the time the sound reflects off of the seafloor and returns to the transducer head. Thus, Simrad is the only known manufacturer of a multi-beam sonar that can provide quantitative information about volume backscattering strength, surface scattering strength, and high-resolution bathymetric profiles. The NAICS code for this procurement is 334511. Interested offerors may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement in writing to Kristina Loesell, NOAA, WASC, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, or via email at [email protected] This notice may represent the only official notice of the intended contract award. See numbered note 22.