This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract and is not a request for competitive proposals. The government intends to solicit a proposal and enter into a contract with Coastal Resources Associates, Inc, 302A PIER VIEW WAY, OCEANSIDE, CA 92054-2525 a small business concern, to further the implementation of the Near Shore Monitoring program for Southwest Alaska Network Parks. Coastal Resources has worked on this specific project for over 4 years and has created a standardization of data under a prior effort. Please see the below Justification for other than Full and Open Competition for further details. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, the Government shall consider all responses received prior to the close date of this announcement. Written responses to this notice shall contain sufficient documentation to establish bonafide capability to fulfill the requirement. A solicitation is not available. Please-mail contract specialist, Jordan Gunn with responses or questions regarding this requirement at
[email protected]. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (or SOLE SOURCE)1. Per FAR Statutory Authority cited: 6.302, Circumstances Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition. Per FAR 6.302-1(ii)(A) Coastal Resources Associates, Inc is the only responsible vendor able to carry out these services due to the substantial duplications of cost to the Government that would not be expected to be recovered through competition.2. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs.The mission of this contract is to have the contractor assist in the refinement of current protocols and SOPs based on the results of a 5 year analysis (to be started in 2011) of existing data. Available data will be used in simulations, in a Bayesian framework, to estimate number of samples and sample frequency required to detect a specified trend or change with some level of confidence for selected metrics. This long-term monitoring program is needed to support understanding and protecting the biophysical coastal resources of these park units as directed by enabling legislation, the NPS-Natural Resources Challenge, and the NPS-Ocean Park Strategy. 3. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights etc.).CRA utilizes a unique and innovative concept, and has demonstrated a unique capability to provide the particular research services required. CRA has been involved with designing monitoring for the SWAN since 2004. It is crucial to continue implementation, analysis and interpretation using the same scientists to avoid the bias inherent in having different contractors using different field personnel and applying different approaches to conduct monitoring. Continuity is the foundation of long-term ecological monitoring because of the need to collect standardized measurements and produce continuous data bases. Any program of long-term research and monitoring, therefore, must involve both individual and institutional participation in some collaborative manner.4. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: Few nearshore marine ecologists have designed and implemented nearshore monitoring along the northern Gulf of Alaska including National Park coastlines and are qualified to meet the requirements of this contract. Annually, at the Marine Science Symposium (the primary meeting of marine coastal scientists for the north pacific) in Anchorage, the NPS solicited marine scientists that were interested and qualified to work with SWAN. Since 2002, this effort has resulted in contracts with several private and non-profit businesses and organizations that have also had a long association with the EVOS-Gulf Ecosystem Monitoring program. The only firm uniquely qualified to do the intertidal monitoring development in conjunction with the development of the overall nearshore monitoring protocol has been CRA. 5. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: N/A6. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required. Preparer: Heather ColettiApproved:Jordan W. GunnContracting Officer