R--AUV Support Services (Data Collection)

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation 1305M326Q0135, effective April 16, 2026, makes the following changes:

• Provides Answers to RFIs: Makes available the answers to requests for information contained in "Attachment 3 - RFI Tracker AUV Support dated 04.23.2026."

• Extends Due Date: The due date for offers has been extended to April 27, 2026, at 1700 ET.

• The list of attachments has been revised and now includes:

  • Attachment 1 - Statement of Work dated 04.14.2026.docx.docx
  • Past Performance Questionnaire 1305M326Q0135
  • Attachment 3 - RFI Tracker AUV Support dated 04.23.2026

• The proposal submission deadline has been extended to April 27, 2026.

• Bidders are reminded to pay close attention to instructions and criteria in RFO FAR 52.212-1 and 52.212-2.

• All applicable checkboxes and fill-in provisions in Section XII, such as FAR 52.219-1 and 52.222-52, must be fully completed and submitted. Incomplete provisions may lead to rejection of the quotation.

The period of performance remains 05/01/2026 to 08/31/2026.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the AUV Support Survey solicitation (RFQ/RFP Number: 1305M326Q0135).

• RFI #1 (Technical Approach & Capability): Vendors can format their response as they wish, as long as it demonstrates their ability to perform the Statement of Work tasks. Past performance can be included in the response or a separate document. A past performance questionnaire was provided in the solicitation documents.
• RFI #2 (Price Quote): Quotes can be entered directly on the solicitation or submitted as a PDF on company letterhead. Quotes should be itemized. A budget justification is not required.
• RFI #3 (Checkmarks/Solicitation Submission): Vendors are instructed to fill out the checkmarks directly on the solicitation document, as per page 1 instructions, and submit it with their quote.

This Q&A clarifies submission requirements for technical approach, past performance, pricing, and specific solicitation fields (checkmarks), ensuring vendors understand how to properly respond to the solicitation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a solicitation (Solicitation Number: 1305M326Q0135) for non-personal services related to Autonomous Benthic Imaging Systems (AUVs). The services include pre-mission communication and preparation, delivery of collected data, and conducting AUV optical scallop survey missions with final report delivery.

• Item 0001: Non-personal services for pre-mission communication and preparation for AUVs.

• Item 0002: Delivery of collected data.

• Item 0003: Non-personal services to conduct AUV optical scallop survey mission(s) and deliver a final report.

• All services are to be performed in accordance with Attachment 1 - Statement of Work dated 04/14/2026.

• Product/Service Code for all items is R702.

• Award Type: Firm-fixed-price for all CLINs.

• Period of Performance: 05/01/2026 to 08/31/2026.

• Offer Submission: Offers must be submitted via email to grace.lapierre@noaa.gov by the exact time specified in Block 8 (04/24/2026, 1500 ED Local Time).

• Offer Contents: Minimum requirements include solicitation number, offeror's name/address/contact, UEI, EFT indicator, information for evaluation factors (Technical Approach, Price Quote, Past Performance Questionnaire), completed representations/certifications, and a statement of agreement with terms.

• Evaluation Factors: Offers will be evaluated based on Technical Approach and Capability, Price, and Past Performance. The award will be made to the responsible offeror whose offer is most advantageous to the Government.

• Questions Deadline: Questions must be submitted in writing to grace.lapierre@noaa.gov no later than 15:00 Eastern Time on April 22, 2026.

• This acquisition is unrestricted.

• NAICS Code: 541360

• Size Standard: $28.5 Million

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses by reference, including FAR 52.212-1 (Instructions to Offerors) and FAR 52.212-2 (Evaluation).

• Attachment 1 is the Statement of Work dated 04/14/2026.

• Attachment 2 is a Past Performance Questionnaire.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire template. It is designed to collect feedback from individuals who have experience with an Offeror or Major Subcontractor on a previous relevant contract. The questionnaire is to be completed by the Offeror/Major Subcontractor (Sections I and II) and provided to an assessor (Government personnel). The assessor then verifies and completes Sections I through III and submits the questionnaire to the Contracting Office. Offerors must submit copies of Sections I and II of all questionnaires with their proposal.

• Section I: Solicitation Data: Includes Solicitation Number (1305M326Q0135), Project/Requirement (AUV Support Services - Data Collection), Customer/Agency (DOC/NOAA/AGO WAD SAP-S), and a Project/Requirement Description.
• Section II: Current or Historical Contract Information: To be validated by the assessor, this section requires details about the contractor, contract number, type, value, period of performance, and project description. It also asks about the Contracting Role (Prime/Subcontractor) and Termination History.
• Section III: Assessor Information: Collects the assessor's name, title, and contact information, along with their role and period of involvement on the contract.
• Section IV: Overall Performance Rating: Provides a rating scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory, N/A) for assessing the contractor's performance based on requirements, quality, timeliness, cost management, communication, proactive management, and customer satisfaction. Includes space for additional comments.

This questionnaire is crucial for bidders as it is used to gather past performance information, which is often a significant evaluation factor in government procurements. Bidders must ensure they provide this form to relevant assessors and submit completed sections with their proposals by the solicitation's closing date. The feedback collected will inform the government's assessment of the Offeror's performance history for the AUV Support Services (Data Collection) opportunity (Solicitation 1305M326Q0135).

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To support scallop fisheries-independent surveys by deploying Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to collect optical data for the Atlantic sea scallop stock assessment. The data will aid in science and management of Atlantic sea scallops.

• Conduct AUV optical surveys, acquiring optical sea floor data.

• Deploy and recover AUVs and associated equipment.

• Provide all plant, trained labor, equipment, materials, supervision, transportation, permits, insurance, and quality control.

• Utilize a Tethys-class Long Range AUV (LRAUV) integrated with the NEFSC's Autonomous Benthic Imaging System (ABIS).

• Ensure AUVs are capable of independent navigation, maintaining a stable distance from the seabed (<=2 meters), operating up to 200m water depth, and possessing emergency behaviors.

• AUVs must be deployable and recoverable from dockside facilities.

• AUVs must be able to communicate underway for status checks and mission revisions.

• Acquire a target of 200nm or more of optical AUV data.

• AUVs must maintain a consistent survey speed of 1-2 kts.

• AUVs must demonstrate experience with missions of 5 days or longer on one battery charge.

• Data quality control is the contractor's responsibility.

• Period of Performance: April 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026.

• Place of Performance: Mid-Atlantic Bight (unless otherwise specified in Attachment A).

• Contractor must have demonstrated experience conducting AUV Atlantic sea scallop surveys in the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf and knowledge of NEFSC AUV-scallop survey efforts.

• Contractor must provide documented cruise results from previous experience using the NEFSC ABIS system integrated with a Tethys-class LRAUV.

• Contractor is responsible for ABIS camera calibrations.

• Government will provide scientific guidance, survey design, trackline waypoints, survey timing, survey location, and up to two optical payloads (ABIS).

• Government will provide encrypted portable hard drives for data transfer as needed.

• Data must be delivered by July 17, 2026.

• A final report is due on or before August 31, 2026.