Continuous Seawater Supply
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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Acquisition Division, intends to award a firm-fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to UCSD Regents for the continuous supply of seawater to the SWFSC La Jolla Laboratory in La Jolla, CA. This is a presolicitation notice, and firms believing they can meet the requirements may submit documentation by April 8, 2026.
Scope of Work
The requirement is for continuous seawater flow to the NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) La Jolla Laboratory for research. Seawater will be pumped from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) Pier intake, flow through the SWFSC experimental aquarium, and returned to the ocean via SIO's outfall. The contract will cover the cost of operations and maintenance of the SIO seawater system, with an expected usage rate of 80 gallons per minute (420,480 hundred-gallon units per year).
Contract & Timeline
- Opportunity Type: Presolicitation (Notice ID: b29cfd5322b74deeb2429d199c4d7fcf)
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price Purchase Order
- Set-Aside: Unrestricted (Sole Source)
- NAICS: 221310 (Water Supply and Irrigation Systems)
- PSC: S114 (Water Services)
- Period of Performance: Anticipated September 14, 2026, to September 13, 2027
- Place of Performance: SWFSC La Jolla Laboratory, La Jolla, CA
- Response Due: April 8, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
- Published Date: March 24, 2026
- Anticipated Award Date: April 2026
Key Details
The infrastructure for seawater supply is already in place, owned and maintained by SIO (part of the University of California system, governed by UC Regents). A Ground Lease between NOAA and UC Regents, signed June 17, 2009, specifies NOAA will pay UC Regents for seawater usage, and there is no other source. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals.
Action Items
Firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation or a request for additional information in writing to the identified points of contact before the due date. Responses will be evaluated to determine if a competitive procurement is feasible. Oral communications are not acceptable.
Points of Contact
- Grace LaPierre: grace.lapierre@noaa.gov
- Jenna Taulman: jenna.taulman@noaa.gov