U. S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, Central Administratrive Support Center, 601 East 12th St., CC32:PAW, Rm. 1756, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

A -- MARINE RESOURCES AND MONITORING ASSESSMENT AND PREDICTION (MARMAP) SURVEYS SOL 52WCNF606013 POC Patsy A. Willins, (816) 426-6823, extension 230 The Government intends to procure on a sole source basis with the State of Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Charleston, South Carolina, under statutory authority 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1), as implemented under FAR 6.301-1(b) (1) (i), for MARMAP vessel research surveys for a base period and four (4) twelve-month option years. The anticipated contract will be a cost-sharing type contract. The State of Carolina will contribute approximately 20% of the estimated total cost of the contract. This is for on-going research on groundfish, reef fish, icthyoplankton and coastal pelagic fish within the region between Cape Lookout, North Carolina and Cape Canaveral, Florida. The overall mission of the project is to determine distribution, relative abundance and critical habitat(s) of fishes, particularly along the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). The State of South Carolina will provide biologists and marine scientists for the vessel research surveys, locate and map fish habitat(s), input new life history and population studies data into the historical database. All responsible sources may identify their interest and capability by submitting the required qualifications statement. The following criteria that will be used to evaluate responses are: 1) Capability of proposed contractor to continue resource assessment activities that have been underway since 1973; 2) The proposed contractor's prior experience with techniques needed to deployment of standardized MARMAP assessment equipment; 3) Expertise of principal and associate investigators; 4) Specialized ability; 5) Investment (cost share); 6) Scheduling of survey activities and reporting on activities and data; 7) Proposed contractor's unique capability. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302-1. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all timely proposals receied by the Government within forty-five days after date of publication of this synopsis shall be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. (0278)

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