West Coast Region Marine Mammal Hotline Service
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), specifically the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) West Coast Region, is soliciting proposals for 24/7 Marine Mammal Hotline Services. This opportunity is a Total Small Business Set-Aside for a Firm-Fixed-Price contract to provide non-personal hotline answering services for both the Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline and the S.O.S Whale Hotline. Proposals are due by March 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM UTC.
Scope of Work
The selected contractor will operate a 24-hour daily hotline, including holidays, serving as a reliable and educational resource for the public to report stranded and/or entangled marine mammals in California, Oregon, and Washington. Key services include:
- Providing unlimited fax, emailing, and phone call/text dispatching.
- Utilizing a custom answering protocol, with monthly updates.
- For the WCMMSN: Distinguishing between Marine Mammal Protection Act violations and strandings, reporting violations to the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline, providing educational messaging, and collecting caller information (name, phone, location, species).
- For the SOS-Whale Hotline: Relaying entanglement details and contact information to NMFS stranding coordinators in real-time or via voicemail.
- Submitting quarterly reports detailing call volume and types. The place of performance will be off-site at the contractor's facility.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price.
- Period of Performance: A base year from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, with four additional one-year option periods, potentially extending the contract through March 31, 2031.
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5).
- NAICS Code: 561421, with a Small Business Size Standard of $19.0 Million.
- Award Intent: NOAA intends to make an award no later than April 1, 2026.
Submission & Evaluation
- Proposals Due: March 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM UTC.
- Submission Requirements: Offers must include the solicitation number, offeror information, UEI, EFT indicator, a detailed technical approach, a price quote, and a completed Past Performance Questionnaire. Offerors are responsible for filling out Section II of the PPQ and ensuring assessors email the completed forms by the closing date.
- Evaluation Factors: Proposals will be evaluated based on the following factors, in order of importance: Technical Approach and Capability, Price, and Past Performance.
- Questions: All questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted by Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, to madison.vogeler@noaa.gov and jenna.taulman@noaa.gov. Responses will be provided via an amendment.
Key Attachments
The solicitation includes a Performance Work Statement (PWS), a Past Performance Questionnaire, and a Marine Mammal Hotline Services Answering Script.