***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, ALASKA FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER (AFSC) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH MAREL INC OUT OF BELLVUE, WA FOR TWO (2) MAREL M1100 PL5220 MARINE PLATFORM SCALES

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT MAREL INC IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF MAREL SCALES IN NORTH AMERICA. This purchase request is for two (2) marine grade electronic scientific platform scales for use by AFSC/RACE/MACE fisheries biologists deployed on NOAA fisheries research stern trawl vessels. The scales will be used to weigh fish and other scientific/biological specimens sampled from trawling operations for the purpose of stock assessment acoustic-trawl survey biological data collection. The selected scales must meet MACE needs for scales operating onboard seagoing vessels and exposed to harsh conditions of temperature, sea state, frequent exposure to saltwater spray, ability to interface with other sampling devices and systems, and measurement accuracy requirements. AFSC currently owns a variety of scales manufactured by Marel, Inc. as these have been the only scales available that meet NOAA Fisheries’ requirements for scientific scales used while at sea. NOAA currently owns several Marel M1100 scales and therefore MACE has selected these scales as the only viable option for scales that meet our requirements. REQUESTING DELIVERY BY 04/01/2023

***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET 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 CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.