NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT
The US Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisition Division, Simplified Acquisition Branch intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with NYS Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Veterinary School, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, using the procedures in FAR Part 13, to provide blood and other diagnostic sample analyses for live bottlenose dolphins captured from the Atlantic Ocean in support of the ongoing Mid-Atlantic Unusual Mortality Event (UME) and the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) has been working in partnership with the NYS Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University to coordinate investigations into marine mammal health concerns and to establish baselines and reference ranges for various blood samples. As part of the Mid-Atlantic UME, one dolphin capture will occur in Georgia to obtain health information on dolphin populations that had exposure to dolphin morbillivirus during the recent UME. The results from the project will provide unique and important data to help further the UME investigation and evaluate the impacts of a dolphin morbillivirus outbreak on bottlenose dolphin populations. In addition, findings from this dolphin population will be compared to that of dolphin populations that were impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico.

To be comparable this current work in Georgia must be done in a manner consistent with the historic dolphin health assessment work including previous health assessments conducted as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) investigation in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory has analyzed the blood samples collected as part of the NRDA investigation in the summer 2011, 2013 and 2014 from the wild dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, Barataria Bay, Louisiana, and Mississippi Sound, Mississippi which are being used as the official NRDA investigation sites. It is therefore critical and imperative from both a scientific and legal perspective that the same laboratory be used so the Mid-Atlantic UME samples can be comparable to that of the NRDA investigations.
The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is FAR 13.106-1(b) (1) (i), only one responsible source.

The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 541940 with a business size standard of $7.5 million. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotes. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities, which if timely received, will be considered by NOAA. A statement of capabilities must be received by 11:00am, August 18, 2015. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. Evidence must be provided of ability to provide the required services. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Capability statements and related materials must be e-mailed to [email protected] by 11:00am, August 18, 2015.

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