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 University of California, Davis, California, using the procedures in FAR Part 13, to provide diagnostic testing services of marine mammal samples for health and disease investigations of stranded and live captured wild marine mammals including Unusual Mortality Events (UME), and veterinary services from the University of California, Davis that will be used for killer whale health investigations, veterinary epidemiological support, and expertise in oil spill wildlife response.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is uniquely qualified to assist with the marine mammal diagnostic testing for pathogens particularly morbillivirus and other viral pathogens, as well as with data interpretation and analysis. They have significant expertise and experience in viral pathogen testing in wildlife nationally and globally and have provided rapid turnaround diagnostic services for marine mammal pathogens routinely. At this time, this laboratory is the only veterinary diagnostic and surveillance laboratory that performs whole genome sequencing for dolphin morbillivirus in the United States. As a diagnostic marine mammal laboratory, UC Davis, performs the whole genome sequencing and provides timely results within the 15-30 day reporting period that are required for results and PCR detection results within 7-14 days.

The University has the expertise and the experience in handling samples and swabs for morbillivirus and other viral pathogens from marine mammals and has been participating in various UME investigations over the last 8 years. This University has been part of several international comparisons with European Union laboratories for various marine mammal pathogens including morbillivirus. UC Davis has experience with the sample tracking, chain of custody, and paperwork associated with the legal aspects of these services. From both a scientific and legal perspective for future cases it is critical that an experienced University be used. The University also has the expertise to summarize and analyze patterns of disease and evaluate risk factors for exposure to disease in marine mammals, and thus often participates as a member of the multidisciplinary teams that investigate UMEs as well as other diseases that affect marine mammal or other wildlife populations. Finally this University has recently worked as diagnostic support for the current Mid-Atlantic UME and has provided rapid turnaround of PCR results to managers and responders. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is FAR 13.106-1(b), only one responsible source.

The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 541712 with a business size standard of 500 employees. 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 4:00 PM, September 4, 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 4:00 PM, September 4, 2015.

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