Ocean Surface Instruments

Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought Notice

This notice is for market research purposes to gather information and gauge industry interest and capability regarding Ocean Surface Instruments for the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). It is not a solicitation for proposals, and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. The government is seeking information to help determine the acquisition strategy for a potential future contract.

NAVOCEANO requires remotely operating ocean surface instruments capable of collecting ocean temperature data. Instruments must meet an eighteen (18) month shelf-life standard before requiring battery replacement or recalibration. Optional capabilities for profiling instruments with sensors for CTD, currents, bioluminescence, acoustics, echosounders, and wave spectra are considered beneficial. Instruments must be vessel and air deployable. A draft Statement of Work (SOW) is provided with further details.

If a contract is awarded, it is anticipated to be a firm-fixed-price (FFP), single-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) type contract. Performance is estimated to begin around October 1, 2026, with a two-year ordering period.

• NAICS Code: 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1,350 employees.
• PSC: 6605 (Navigational Instruments).

Interested parties should submit a capabilities statement addressing:

• Full business information (name, address, POC, CAGE code).

• Business size and category (Large, Small, 8(a), etc.).

• Availability on existing government contract vehicles.

• Prime or subcontractor capability.

• For small businesses, details on meeting FAR clause 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) if a small business set-aside is considered.

• Contractor's ability to meet minimum requirements (as per SOW).

• Estimated proposal preparation time (technical, past performance, price).

• Responses are limited to 10 pages (12-point font).

• Reference "N0018926OSI – Ocean Surface Instruments".

• Submit via email to Stephanie.r.lent.civ@us.navy.mil by February 4, 2026, 11:00 a.m. EST.

• This is for planning and market research only.

• Respondents will not be notified of results.

• Information may be updated before an official solicitation.

• Attachment I contains the Draft Statement of Work.

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

To procure ocean surface instruments capable of operating remotely in the ocean environment, primarily for collecting ocean temperature data, with optional capabilities for other sensor configurations.

• Provide ocean surface instruments with a minimum capability to collect ocean temperature data.

• Instruments must meet a shelf life standard of eighteen months before requiring battery replacement or sensor recalibration.

• Optional profiling instruments with Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD), currents, bioluminescence, acoustic, echosounders, and wave spectra capabilities are desired.

• Instruments must be vessel and air deployable.

• Identify modularity for adding/excluding sensor packages and deployment lifecycle by power system discharge rates.

• Provide instrument encoders/decoders and technical documentation for data conversion to specified formats.

• Offer Instrument Data Integration Services, including programming support for APIs, data formatting scripts, and interfaces for government systems.

• Offer Calibration Services for all sensor packages to return sensors to original specifications.

• Offer Maintenance Services for instrument bodies, including battery replacement, module upgrades, preventive maintenance, and minor repairs.

• Provide all applicable software required to ingest and process collected data.

• Provide all applicable APIs to convert raw data into government format and meet encryption requirements.

• Offer a warranty of up to one year prior to deployment and replacement of instruments that fail upon deployment at no cost to the government.

• Provide storage specifications at shipment time and internationally approved shipping crates.

• Instruments must meet a minimum temperature sensor package requirement.

• Communication variances must use DISA-approved transmitters/receivers with government-specified encryption.

• Air Deployment Hardening Variance: 500 to 10,000 feet above sea level at air speeds up to 500 mph.

• Vessel Deployment Hardening Variance: 1 to 60 feet above sea level at vessel speeds from 0 to 25 knots.

• Power System Longevity Variance: 1 hour and above in system depletion rates.

• Sensor type variations include Conductivity (0-9.0 S/m range, 0-6.0 S/m calibrated), Temperature (-5 to 42 degrees Celsius, 0.1 degrees Celsius accuracy), Bioluminescence, Current (derive direction and speed), Wave Spectra, Acoustic, and Echosounder.

• All sensors must withstand ocean surface environments equal to or exceeding the instrument body's survivability.

• Ordering Period: 24 months.

• Delivery Dates: To be specified in each Delivery Order.

• Place of Performance: Not explicitly stated, but implies global military locations for delivery.

• Classification: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

• Contractor personnel must comply with NISPOM, DoD Instruction 5200.48, and SECNAVINST 5510.36B.

• Contractor does not require access to U.S. Government IT systems.

• All gathered information and data are government property and protected from unauthorized release.

• Vendors must provide an organizational quality acceptance plan.

• Shipping and labeling must meet MIL-STD-129R standards for FOB destination requirements.