The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Fisheries Ecology Division, intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), to Ocean Marine Industries, the exclusive distributor for the ARIS 3000 submersible sonar camera manufactured by Sound Metrics Corporation. Sound Metrics Corporation holds exclusive proprietary rights to manufacture and produce the technology for the sonar camera.

The sole source determination is based on National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) requirement for the ARIS 3000, a portable multi-beam adaptive high-resolution imaging sonar camera that is submersible (up to 300 meters), and can operate at two different frequencies, both 3 and 1.8 MHz, with over 120 beams at 3 MHz, and has custom values set for all sampling parameters. The sonar camera is used for ensonifying underwater environments with the intention of counting and measuring small fish (<100mm). The ARIS 3000 sonar camera is completely compatible in all aspects with our current ARIS 3000 sonar camera and will add to the existing data collection used for comparison and contrast. Attempting to modify the data outputs of different sonar cameras to make them comparable would be prohibitively difficult and can lead to poor execution of the overall project. The suggested source is the only source capable of meeting specific mission requirements for the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Fisheries Ecology Division.

The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract. This Special Notice 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. Submissions are due no later than February 20, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to Karen Beck at (858) 546-7004. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only Ocean Marine Industries, the exclusive distributor for the ARIS 3000 submersible sonar camera can provide the requirement stated above.