NOAA Fisheries Special Notice of Intent to a Single Source - eLabJournal
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. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), has issued a Special Notice of Intent to Award a Single Source contract for eLabJournal licenses and associated support. The intended awardee is Research Applications and Financial Tracking, doing business as SciShield/SciSure. Submissions from other interested parties are due by April 25, 2026, 5 PM ET.
Scope of Work
This requirement is for 50-Seat eLabJournal licenses, including eLabInventory and eLabProtocols, along with On-Premises SaaS Software Maintenance, Bronze Support, Office Online, Enterprise Features, Advanced Barcode Workflow Integration, and an Import Module. The eLabJournal software provides essential sample management tracking from registration, processing, storage, and archival across AFSC sites, labs, and biorepositories. This system supports the AFSC's mission to study marine ecosystems and provide scientific, data-driven reports, fulfilling data collection efforts required by the Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA).
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source (anticipated Firm Fixed-Price contract)
- Authority: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)
- Intended Vendor: Research Applications and Financial Tracking, dba SciShield/SciSure
- Duration: Base year (July 28, 2026 - July 27, 2027) plus four optional years
- Set-Aside: None (sole source procurement)
- Response Due: April 25, 2026, 5 PM Eastern Time
- Published: April 9, 2026
Rationale for Single Source
The AFSC has utilized eLabJournal for over five years, making significant investments in integrating the software into their workflows. The government asserts that Research Applications and Financial Tracking (SciShield/SciSure) is the only source capable of providing the required eLabJournal licenses and support. The software is deemed unique for its security, efficiency, accessibility, and compliance features. It offers highly configurable and adaptable tools for customized workflows, facilitates collaboration through easy data access, and ensures compliance with PARR and related data management regulations. The Single Source Determination further highlights an exclusive licensing agreement, proprietary data, and unique compatibility, with market research indicating no other vendor can combine these functionalities.
Action for Other Firms
This notice 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. Such documentation will be evaluated solely to determine if this procurement should be conducted on a competitive basis. Oral communications are not acceptable.
Additional Notes
- NAICS Code: 513210 (Software Publishers)
- Size Standard: $47.0 Million
- Place of Performance: Seattle, WA
- Contact: Christie Lang (christie.lang@noaa.gov)