58--Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source Award
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under the Department of the Interior, has issued a Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source Award. The USFWS intends to award a firm fixed-price sole source contract to Wildlife Acoustics, INC. for the purchase of 20 autonomous recording units (ARUs). These ARUs are essential for detecting Eastern Black Rails in marshes across the South Atlantic states.
The justification for this sole-source acquisition is based on the specific need for rugged, weather-proof units that are compatible with existing equipment and configurable via an iPhone application, a unique feature identified in Wildlife Acoustics products. Interested parties who believe they can meet this requirement are invited to submit a statement of capabilities. Statements of Capabilities are due by June 15, 2026.
Scope of Requirement
- Procurement of 20 autonomous recording units (ARUs).
- Units must be rugged and weather-proof for long deployments in rainy, humid, hot conditions typical of the Black Rail breeding season.
- Compatibility with units already deployed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is required.
- Units must be configurable via an iPhone application.
- The primary purpose is to detect Eastern Black Rails in South Atlantic marshes.
Contract Details
- Type: Firm Fixed-Price Sole Source (Intent to Award)
- Authority: FAR subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and (ii) (purchases not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold).
- Intended Awardee: Wildlife Acoustics, INC. (Maynard, Massachusetts).
- NAICS Code: 334310 (Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing).
- PSC Code: 5835 (Sound Recording And Reproducing Equipment).
- Set-Aside: None (Intent to Sole Source).
Response Information
- This notice is not a request for competitive quotes.
- Parties believing they can meet the requirement must submit a written statement of capabilities.
- Statements must provide clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government.
- Submissions must be via email ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to carter_duke@ios.doi.gov.
- Response Deadline: June 15, 2026, 2:00 PM ET.
- Contact: Carter Duke (carter_duke@ios.doi.gov).
Justification for Sole Source
Market research considered Wildlife Acoustics, Audiomoth, and Cornell SwiftOne. Wildlife Acoustics was selected due to its unique iPhone configuration app and proven ruggedness, which directly addresses specific project needs and overcomes challenges identified with other models. The justification confirms the cost is fair and reasonable, and no barriers to competition were encountered for this specific requirement.