Notice to Sole Source Marel Marine Scales

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Fisheries hereby gives public notice of the intent to negotiate a sole-source contract pursuant to the authority of Federal Acquisition Requirements (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2), as the services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and 41 USC 3304(a)(1) establishes authority for the government to seek services from JBT Marel Corporation (JBT Marel) to maintain the overall maintenance of the Marel Marine Scales by certified technicians and abiding warranty requirements.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) has a requirement for the collection of data by the NOAA NEFSC Observer Programs as required by the Northeast Region's Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) and as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Sustainable Fisheries Act. Many FPMs include quota monitoring and discard rates that are calculated using observer catch weight data, making it mission critical to collect accurate and precise catch weight data. Marine digital motion-compensating scales have helped achieve this objective of improved weight collection in a more efficient and safe manner.

The Government intends to negotiate a contract for 12 months with JBT Marel, for the NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, located in East Falmouth, MA who has a requirement for non-personal service plan for marine digital motion-compensating scales for the maintenance, calibration, upgrade and repair for models M1100/PL2262 and M1100/PL3260. For each scale, the service plan includes:

• Labor Costs (includes installation of Bluetooth power supply)
• Electronics and control head testing
• Testing communication (serial port and Bluetooth)
• Testing load cells
• All necessary parts replaced at time of service including any damaged outside of normal wear and tear (i.e. water damage). Loss of equipment and damage incurred in fire is not included. If a scale requires shipment to vendor, any shipping damages incurred will be covered.
• Perform alignment and adjustment
• Remove corrosion from scale parts if present
• Scales must be calibrated, overload tested and a motion test performed upon completion of service
• All bench testing and service must be performed by certified Marel technicians to factory specifications on site at the Training Center, East Falmouth, MA.

Pursuant to FAR 5.203, responses to this notice must be provided within eight (8) calendar days from the date of this notice. Vendors who believe they can meet this requirement are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the requirement. All written responses must include proof of possessing technician certification and a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the requirement while abiding the current Marel Marine Scales warranty. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirement. Failure to submit such documentation will result in the Government proceeding as previously stated. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 2:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The responses must be submitted via e-mail to Rachel Stone, Contracting Officer, at Rachel.stone@noaa.gov.