20--ACOUSTIC RELEASES & EQUIPMENT 140G0326Q0048

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting market research to determine the availability of qualified businesses capable of providing acoustic releases and acoustic equipment in accordance with the attached technical specifications and salient characteristics; must be compatible and fully interoperable with existing USGS equipment: Innovasea VR100, VHTx 69kHz Transponding Hydrophone, and associated (mooring) lugs. This sources sought announcement is not a request for quote or proposal and the Government is not committed to award of a purchase order or contract pursuant to this announcement. The information resulting from this market research is simply for planning purposes to assist the Government in determining its acquisition strategy. The Government will not pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this notice. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334511 Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing and associated size standard 1350 employees apply to this announcement. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement (including product information such as technical specifications) detailing the ability of their products to meet the technical specifications and salient characteristics included with this announcement; response limited to 5 pages. NOTE: Please make sure your products meets the minimum requirements below before submitting a response. Responses to this announcement shall only be accepted through email to jongjoco@usgs.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than Friday, February 27, 2026 at Noon Pacific Time. Submissions other than email will not be considered or accepted.

NOTICE OF INTENT This is a notice of intent to solicit from a single source. The US Geological Survey (USGS) intends to negotiate a purchase order with Innovasea Systems, Inc. for Acoustic Releases and equipment as described in the attached technical specifications. Award will be made in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) and the procedures at FAR Part 12 entitled, Acquisition of Commercial Items and Services. Innovasea Systems, Inc. is, to the knowledge of the USGS, the only source that can provide Innovasea Ascent AR Acoustic Release systems and associated proprietary transponding equipment (VR100, VHTx Transponding Hydrophone, Release Lugs, and Magnetic Activation Probe) because they are the only components compatible with the existing USGS acoustic telemetry network. The VR100 platform and deployed field hardware rely on Innovasea's manufacturer-protected communication protocols and embedded software codes, which can only interface with the Ascent AR release system; software is proprietary. These proprietary elements are integral to equipment already deployed across multiple long-term, federally funded fisheries studies, and no other manufacture's release system can be operated, commanded, or integrated into this network without full system replacement. The purpose of this notice is to satisfy the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.2. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible parties may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the agency. No solicitation will be issued. A determination not to compete this action based upon responses received is in the sole discretion of the Government. The NAICS code 334511 Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing and PSC 2060 Commercial Fishing Equipment apply to this announcement. Responses or inquiries shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to Joahnne_Ongjoco@ios.doi.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than March 26, 2026, at 1500 hours Pacific Time. Responses submitted by hardcopy, or the any web portal shall not be accepted or considered.