***NOAA’S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-BOULDER, OFFICE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH (OAR), GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (GLERL) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL, INC OUT OF FAIRBORN, OH FOR YSI EX02 ADVANCED MULTI-PARAMETER SONDES.

*** THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINSTRATION’S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT FONDRIEST ENVIRONMENTAL, INC IS THE SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER OF YSI EXO2 ADVANCED MULTI-PARAMETER SONDES IN MICHIGAN. This is the only brand of sensors on the market that employ Bluetooth technology in their sondes, as well as internally stored calibration coefficients in their individual sensors. These features make field swapping of sensors and communications easy and accurate. YSI also provides GLERL with the most diverse suite of sensors on the market for THEIR research applications. This includes a very accurate Total Algae sensor which no one else can provide. The EXO2 is the third generation of Multi-parameter sonde from YSI, and no one else in the marketplace can provide the accuracy, robust nature, sensor parameters, memory, and battery life in a compact and stand-alone unit. YSI also provides support from their regional vendors which eliminates shipping to the West Coast for repairs. Their software interface uses Smart QC quality assurance checks to search for and prevent faults, errors, and lost data before the sondes are deployed. This is an invaluable service that no other company provides for this type of sonde and associated sensor. YSI SENSORS ARE CURRENTLY BEING UTILIZED IN THE GLERL LAB AND THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY OF OUR MISSION.

THESE ITEMS ARE TO BE DELIVERED BY 9/1/2024 TO ANN ARBOR, MI.

***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.