***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER AND THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) OFFICE OF HABITAT CONSERVATION (OHC) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(2), WITH SOUNDNINE, INC. OUT OF KIRLKLAND, WA FOR THE PURCHASE OF HYPOXIA BUOY MONITORING EQUIPMENT. THE FIRST DELIVERY IS REQUIRED WITHIN 9 to 12 WEEKS AFTER AWARD.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) DETERMINATION THAT SOUNDNINE, INC. IS THE ONLY SOURCE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED HYPOXIA BUOY MONITORING EQUIPMENT. SOUNDNINE BUOYS ARE CURRENTLY DEPLOYED BY THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM AND THIS PROCUREMENT REPRESENTS AN EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM. COMPATIBILITY AND REDUNDANCY WITH THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM'S MISSION. SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN DEVELOPING SOFTWARE AND QUALITY CONTROL (QC) ROUTINES FOR SOUNDNINE BRAND BUOY SYSTEMS AND ADDING A BUOY FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER WOULD REQUIRE A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE BUOY NETWORK.

***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 10 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.