Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Development and Validation of Epigenetic Aging Models for Northwest Atlantic Fish Species

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries hereby gives public notice of the intent to negotiate a sole-source contract pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, using simplified procedures up to $9M, in accordance with Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) 12.201-1, as the services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other services will satisfy agency requirements. The Government intends to seek services from Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Incorporated (GMGI) for the acquisition of Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps and Large Trawlers commercial services. The services include one (1) base year and four (4) 1-year option periods. The intended contract is to provide all personnel, equipment, materials, laboratory facilities, and bioinformatics infrastructure necessary to extract high-quality DNA, perform methylation sequencing, and develop computational age-prediction models. The sequencing will be performed progressively on up to three (3) Northeast regional species, which can be aged with high accuracy and precision by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) utilizing the Haddock Aging Model. The haddock fish, Atlantic cod, and black sea bass are the three (3) Northeastern Atlantic fish species being sequenced in this effort for the ultimate goal of aging the Goosefish. First, the haddock fish is prioritized for development of the initial ageing model. Then the Atlantic cod, and black sea bass are prioritized for the validation step using the new model. Finally, the Goosefish is prioritized as the proof-of-concept species, using the models previous local regional fish species to determine age. The essential requirement tasks are DNA Extraction and Quality Control, DNA Methylation Sequencing, Bioinformatics and Model Development, and Validation and Comparative Analysis. To date, GMGI is the only known contractor with experience performing the required services on the required Northeastern fish species. Responses to this notice must be provided within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of this notice. Vendors who believe they can meet this requirement are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the requirement. All written responses must include a summary of 1) capability to perform Tasks 1 9 in accordance with the Statement of Work, 2) physical proximity to the NEFSC, Population Biology Branch (Woods Hole, MA), 3) Familiarity with analyzing the Northeast regional saltwater fishes, and 4) Key Personnel: Bioinformatician (required). The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirement. Failure to submit such documentation will result in the Government proceeding as previously stated. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 2:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, August 14, 2026. The responses must be submitted via e-mail to Contract Specialist, Jamie Abu Shakrah, at Jamie.AbuShakrah@noaa.gov and Contracting Officer, Rachel Stone, at Rachel.Stone@noaa.gov.