RESEARCH VESSEL DRY DOCK STORAGE AND VESSEL PARTS AND EQUIPMENT STORAGE

***NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE (NOS) OFFICE OF COAST SURVEY (OCS) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH CHRIS WASHBURNS BOAT YARD, INC OUT OF SOLOMONS, MD FOR VESSEL DRY DOCK STORAGE AND EQUIPMENT STORAGE CONTAINER RENTAL.

***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT THE R/V BAY HYDRO II IS CURRENTLY IN DRY STORAGE (OUT OF THE WATER ON BLOCKS) AT CHRIS WASHBURNS BOAT YARD IN SOLOMONS, MD, IN AN INOPERABLE CONDITION.  THE VESSEL WAS UNDERGOING REPAIRS PER CONTRACT 1305M223PNCNJ0411 (AWARDED TO CHRIS WASHBURNS BOAT YARD) WHEN SIGNIFICANT HULL CORROSION WAS IDENTIFIED. DURING THE CONTRACTED REPAIRS, THE ENGINES AND GENERATORS WERE REMOVED, WHICH PROVIDED ACCESS TO INTERIOR SECTIONS OF THE HULL THAT ARE TYPICALLY INACCESSIBLE.  THE CORROSION EXCEEDS PERMISSIBLE WASTAGE THRESHOLDS AND AS A RESULT THE VESSEL HAS BEEN ISSUED A CATEGORY I – NO SAIL ORDER UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE.  BECAUSE THE VESSEL IS OUT OF THE WATER AND THE CONDITION OF ITS HULL PROHIBITS IT FROM BEING REFLOATED, IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO ATTEMPT TO RELOCATE THE VESSEL TO ANOTHER LOCATION VIA OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORT (E.G. BARGE, SPECIALIZED WIDE LOAD TRANSPORT OVER THE ROAD, ETC) TO AWAIT THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WHEN THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WILL BE MADE BY CHRIS WASHBURNS BOAT YARD. IF THE VESSEL WAS RELOCATED FOR STORAGE, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED BACK TO CHRIS WASHBURNS BOAT YARD FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED AND WOULD NOT BE COST EFFICIENT NOR IN THE GOVERNMENT’S BEST INTEREST.

THE ENGINES, GENERATORS, REDUCTION GEAR, STEERING PUMPS, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PARTS AND EQUIPMENT FROM THE VESSEL ARE BEING STORED IN A RENTED 40’ STORAGE CONTAINER AT CHRIS WASHBURNS BOAT YARD TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ELEMENTS SO THEY STAY IN GOOD MATERIAL CONDITION WHILE THE REQUIRED VESSEL REPAIRS ARE ARRANGED.  THE CURRENT MONTHLY CONTAINER RENTAL AND STORAGE FEES ARE INCLUDED IN PO# 1305M223PNCNJ0411.

***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.