Notice of Intent to Single Source to UnderCurrent News
Department of Commerce · National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA
Account requiredWhy it scored this way
Every reason behind the verdict rather than the headline one — which of your certifications match, how much runway is left, whether the work is your size, and what we would need to know to sharpen it.
Written against this notice and what you have told us about your company. Anything we do not know is marked [NEEDS INPUT] in the draft rather than guessed at — read it before you send it.
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Sources Sought response
A complete draft response — capability statement, relevant past performance, business size and socioeconomic status, and answers to the agency's specific questions.
Questions to submit
Genuine ambiguities and requirements that disadvantage a smaller bidder, drafted as questions you can submit before the Q&A deadline.
Past performance write-ups
Which of your prior awards best match this requirement, and draft write-ups in the format the agency asked for.
Solicitation details
Solicitation number
FD-2026-480
Notice type
Special Notice
NAICS
513110
Product service code
7630
Set-aside
Small Business Set Aside - Total
Posted
2026-08-06
Response deadline
Aug 21, 2026, 4:00 PM UTC
Contracting contact
suzanne.johnston@noaa.gov
Market intelligence
Account requiredWho wins this work, and what it pays
Comparable awards under NAICS 513110 at this agency — the incumbent, what they were paid, when their period of performance ends, and the real pricing distribution rather than the headline number. From public federal award records.
In compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations coupled with the provisions set forth by FAR Subpart 5.101(a)(1), this Notice is hereby published to inform of the following:The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authorities provided in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, with Undercurrent News. The requirement is to procure the following: The objective of this contract is to secure 26 subscription licenses for a base with two option years. The supporting rationale is that only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below: Brand Name – Undercurrent News is one of four sources that NMFS used to deliver news, analytics, and data that drives decisions made by NMFS leadership. Undercurrent News specifically provides forward-looking, actionable, seafood market intelligence for NMFS. It is also used to shed light on pricing, demand, and consolidation dynamics, allowing NMFS to make decisions for NOAA Fisheries more effectively. Business Impact – If this particular online source is not acquired, this would put NMFS leadership behind industry when making decisions about how to recover NOAA priority species. The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 531110 with a Small business size standard of 1000 employees. This Sole Source Determination is based on NOAA's requirement that Undercurrent News is the only Vendor that provides the requirements. Period of performance is Date of Award through 3 years. **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.
Contact
Point of contact
Suzanne Johnston
Role
not stated on this notice — SAM publishes a role for only about 5% of them, so this may be a contract specialist rather than the contracting officer
Email
suzanne.johnston@noaa.gov
Submit questions
Ambiguities and requirements worth clarifying, written as questions you can send before the deadline.
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