MINE HUNTING IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (MHCE PA) ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATIONS (ACOMMS) EXP
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 Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) has issued a Special Notice / Sources Sought indicating its intent to award a Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) contract on a sole-source basis to DelResearch, LLC for Mine Hunting in Challenging Environments Participation Agreement (MHCE PA) Acoustic Communications (ACOMMS) expansion. This notice fulfills the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 206.302-1(d) posting requirement. Responses are due April 14, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
NSWC PCD intends to procure continued research and development services related to Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)-based mine hunting in complex undersea environments, specifically for the MHCE PA. This effort expands upon previous joint experimentations conducted with Singapore, utilizing DelResearch's proprietary Popoto acoustic modems. DelResearch, LLC is identified as the sole source due to their unique knowledge and experience with their proprietary modems and their direct participation in past experiments (July 2022, September 2023, January 2025) under contract numbers N6133123P0112 and N6133124P1095. The tasking required is a continuation of this specialized research.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice / Sources Sought (intent to award sole-source FFP contract)
- Anticipated Contract Type: Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) Requirements Contract
- Anticipated Duration: Five years (base CLIN + 5 option CLINS)
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- Response Due: April 14, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Published: March 30, 2026
Additional Notes
This Sources Sought notice is for informational purposes to comply with regulatory requirements regarding sole-source procurements. While the intent is to award to DelResearch, LLC, interested parties may submit capabilities statements to challenge the sole-source justification. The primary point of contact is Stephen Fairbanks.