Notice of Intent to negotiate a sole-source contract - Nor'Eastern Trawl Systems trawl doors and rigging assemblies
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
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service – Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) has issued a Notice of Intent to negotiate a sole-source contract with Nor'Eastern Trawl Systems Inc. for midwater trawl doors and replacement Cantrawl rigging assemblies. This equipment is essential for research vessels conducting fisheries research in the northern Bering Sea during the FY26-27 field seasons. Firms believing they can meet these requirements must submit a Capability Statement by April 22, 2026.
Scope of Work
The requirement is for specialized midwater trawl doors and Cantrawl rigging assemblies. These components are critical for the deployment of research vessels performing vital fisheries research in the northern Bering Sea. The research supports AFSC Annual Guidance Memo priorities, including recruitment, species distribution shifts, changing maturity and growth, fish condition, stock boundary changes, food availability, and phenology.
Sole Source Justification
The AFSC's determination for a sole-source procurement is based on the need to support groundfish and midwater fisheries surveys. The current equipment from Nor'Eastern Trawl Systems Inc. is integral to collecting critical samples for age composition and stock origin analyses of salmon bycatch. Using equipment from another vendor would necessitate extensive refitting and reconfiguring of the trawl systems, leading to significant cost increases and delays in deploying these critical surveys.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Notice of Intent to Sole Source)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Response Due: April 22, 2026, 1600 PM PDT
- Published: April 7, 2026
Action for Interested Parties
This is not a request for competitive quotes. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment or services that fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation (Capability Statement) to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication. The documentation will be evaluated to determine if a competitive procurement is feasible. Incomplete statements will not be considered.
Submission Details
- Email: jason.jenks@noaa.gov
- Subject Line: Announcement Number: REQUIREMENTS-26-2106, Project Title: NOAA AFSC Northern Bering Sea Ecosystem Surface Trawl survey FY26-27 equipment purchase
- SAM Registration: All contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for an award.