Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Sole-Source Contract - Chelonia Ltd. FPOD Echolocation Recorders for NMFS - Marine Mammal Laboratory ACQ-SAP25SAT-25-1000

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service AFSC Marine Mammal Laboratory Chelonia Limited F-POD Acoustic Cetacean and Porpoise Detector Systems or Equivalent This is a Sources Sought Notice in preparation for an upcoming procurement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is conducting market research to determine potential sources for brand name or equal to a Chelonia Limited F-POD Cetacean and Porpoise Submersible Acoustic Detector system. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 334519 Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing. The small-business size standard for this NAICS code is 600 employees. A draft Statement of Need (SON) is provided for informational purposes only. Standard brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this notice. Submitted Capability Statements shall include the following: General Information: Provide the company name and address, Unique Entity Identifier, Cage Code, type of business under NAICS code 334519 (e.g. Small business, 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and/or women owned small business; or other than small business) as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM), and company point of contact including name, phone number, and e-mail address. Capabilities: Demonstrate how your firm has the products and capabilities to meet all requirements in the statement of need. Documentation Comments: In order to facilitate the exchange of information with industry, provide any comments, questions, or suggestions that pertain to the statement of need included with this notice. Identify any areas that appear ambiguous or otherwise unclear. Interested vendors are invited to submit an electronic response to this Sources Sought Notice to Jason Jenks, Contracting Officer, via e-mail at: jason.jenks@noaa.gov no later than 04:00 p.m. Eastern on July 28, 2025. Capability Statements and Documentation Comments must be submitted in writing; telephonic inquiries will not receive a response. This is not a request for technical or price quotations. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or reimburse for costs incurred by interested parties providing the information requested herein. STATEMENT OF NEED Chelonia FPOD Acoustic Detection Systems or equivalent PURPOSE: In order to determine the presence of porpoises in areas of high vessel activity and environmental change, we need to purchase specialized high frequency, acoustic data loggers that will be deployed on passive acoustic moorings in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. BACKGROUND: NMFS Marine Mammal Laboratory engages in research projects which are designed to target critical environmental factors which affect marine organism survivability, reproduction, and development. By determining population residence and movement in areas of high commercial, industrial, or military activity, researchers can study the affects of those activities on the behaviors and development of the target species. Researchers use acoustic detection to track populations of Odontocetes and how human activities affect those groups. SCOPE: The Contractor shall furnish and deliver the acoustic detection sensors listed in Statement of Need. Delivery needs to be made no later than 15-Jan-2026 to the NMFS MML Research Facility in Seattle, WA. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS: The Contractor shall furnish and deliver Chelonia FPOD Acoustic Detection units or equivalent that meets the following specifications/salient characteristics: Compatible with commercially-available micro SD cards up to 32GB System must detect cetacean clicks in the range of 20-220kHz The system must be submersible in the marine environment up to 100m (water/pressure resistant) The system must use commercially-available batteries which provide for an operation time in the marine environment of up to 4-6 months Must have programmable logging times for use in a wide range of environments Unit(s) must have a positive buoyancy in the marine environment Must have a detection range for porpoises up to 400m

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1); with Chelonia Limited UK (The Barkhouse - North Cliff, Mousehole, Cornwall TR19 6PH United Kingdom), for the purchase of twelve (12) F-POD Echolocation recording units/loggers. Chelonia Limited has an exclusive long-term deployment echolocation logging device for use in tracking populations of dolphins and porpoises for scientific research. Sole Source Justification The sole source determination is based on restrictive rights of the original equipment manufacturer; Chelonia Limited. The source has proprietary and limited rights in data, patent rights, OEM required certifications, copyrights, or secret processes with regard to the supplies or services required. Chelonia Limited UK is the original equipment manufacturer for the agency s current fleet of echolocation loggers. These units are used to track populations of porpoises and dolphins in the Bering and Chukchi seas. These units are deployed for one to two years at a time in the marine environment around mid-northern Alaska. Researchers use the information obtained to track the target species and how they react to human activity in the marine environment. Special Notice This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment or service that fully meets the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation 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. Responses can be sent via e-mail to jason.jenks@noaa.gov. 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. All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement in accordance with the solicitation, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 1600 PM PDT on Sep 04, 2025. The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Incomplete statements do not warrant consideration. All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read: Announcement Number: ACQ-SAP25SAT-25-1000 Project Title: Marine Mammal Laboratory Chelonia Limited FPOD Echolocation Loggers NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company unless registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: www.sam.gov. To register, all contractors must have a valid Tax ID number and obtain a government-provided Unique Entity Identifier, which is available through SAM.gov.