Notice of Intent to negotiate sole source contract to Wendy Hiestand

SEFSC Shark Depredation Survey NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SINGLE-SOURCE CONTRACT Special Notice: FD-2026-453 NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 12.102(a), with Wendy Hiestand, F/V Orca. This requirement is for: Services, non-personal, to provide all labor, equipment and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary for fishing surveys using longline gear to capture, harvest and tag sharks (where applicable) off the Florida Keys in the Gulf of America. The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 483114 with a Small business size standard of 500 employees. This Sole Source Determination is based on NOAAA's requirement that is the only Vendor that provides the required service. The contractor will conduct fishing surveys using longline gear to capture, harvest and tag sharks (where applicable) in the northeast Gulf of America. This will include 24 days at sea conducted between September 30, 2026 and September 29, 2028. Specific tasks include deployment of longline gear for the capture, harvest, and tagging (where applicable) of coastal sharks, in particular sandbar shark; deployment of telemetry equipment (acoustic array), and servicing and monitoring of the acoustic array. MINIMUM VESSEL REQUIREMENTS: USCG compliant vessel with all equipment listed in the Code of Federal Regulations (46 CFR §25) Length (LOA) of at least 30 ft suitable for at-sea work Maintainable cruising speed of at least 5 kts Minimum of 2 DSC VHF radios (Digital Selective Calling), single side band radio or satellite phone, EPIRB (Emergency Position Indication Radiobeacon), automatically deploying life raft, and all safety equipment required by the USCG Ability to safely operate in seas of at least 3 feet up to 50 nm from shore Ability to operate independently of land for at least 3 days Accommodations for 2 scientists Refrigerated storage capacity for food for scientists and crew for at least 3 days Head and galley Capable of pinpoint gear deployment and retrieval (within 5 m) Depth sounder, radar, GPS units, and 120VAC power DELIVERY SCHEDULE: Work shall be completed during the timeframe from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2028. Specific dates will be agreed to later by the contractor and the US government. Daily or over-night research surveys will be conducted in waters off the coast of Alabama and northwest Florida in the Gulf of America in areas considered to be of high shark depredation risk. **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. Attachments: Single Source Determination