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***NOAA'S MARINE OPERATION CENTER ACQUISITION BRANCH*** OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS (OMAO), MARINE OPERAITONS ENGINEERING OFFICE INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH EXAIL, INC, OUT OF DENVER, CO FOR EXAIL GYROCOMPASS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR NOAA SHIP OKEANOS EXPLORER.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT EXAIL, INC IS THE SOLE MANUFACTURER AND PROVIDER OF EXAIL GYROCOMPASS REPLACEMENT PARTS. EXAIL, INC DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS/RESELLERS WHO CAN PROVIDE THESE GYROCOMPASS, PARTS.

?? Compatibility with Existing Fleet Navigation Architecture: NOAA Marine Operations

vessels currently operate Exail (formerly iXblue) Fiber Optic Gyrocompass (FOG) systems.

Acquiring identical OEM Quadrans G2 units ensures seamless plug-and-play

interchangeability with existing shipboard mounting, power distribution, signal cables, and

data interface protocols without requiring costly structural or electronic reconfigurations.

?? Proprietary Technology and System Firmware: Exail is the sole designer, original

equipment manufacturer, and intellectual property owner of the Quadrans G2 system,

proprietary fiber optic sensor technology, and embedded operational software/firmware.

?? Risk of Alternate Sources: Installing non-OEM gyrocompass systems or sourcing through

unauthorized third parties would introduce critical operational risks, including potential data

protocol incompatibilities with primary shipboard navigation suites, loss of IMO compliance certification, invalidation of existing fleet warranties, and unacceptable vessel

downtime during mission-critical oceanographic operations.

NOAA maintains a fleet of Research vessels performing Oceanographic research and Hydrographic surveys. To standardize the fleet, the majority of the NOAA Fleet have been outfitted with EXAIL GYROCOMPASSES.

THE COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY ACT (33 U.S.C. § 883A) MANDATES ACCURATE AND RELIABLE NAVIGATION DATA FOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING AND OCEANOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS.

THE EXAIL GYROCOMPASS are compatible with the NOAA SHIP OKEANOS EXPLORER navigation systems such as electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS), AUTOPILOT and other Integrated bridge systems.

EXAIL INC. IS THE SOLE SUPPLIER OF THE GYROCOMPASS PARTS SPECIFIED FOR ACQUISITION. THEY OWN THE PROPRIETARY RIGHTS TO THE PRODUCT, SUPPORT AND INSTALLATION. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS OR RESELLERS.

MARKET RESEARCH FOUND GYROCOMPASS MANUFACTURERS INCLUDE SPERRY, RAYTHEON, TELEDYNE (MERIDIAN), EXAIL, KVH AND OTHERS. THE MEAN TIME BETWEEN FAILURE (MTBF) RELIABILITY OF ALL GYROCOMPASSES OTHER THAN EXAIL WERE UNDER 50,000 HOURS FOR THE SYSTEMS THAT MET THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. EXAIL’S GYROCOMPASSES HAVE A MTBF OF 150,000 HOURS.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT 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 TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

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