NOAA Fisheries Special Notice of Intent to a Single Source - eLabJournal

Special Notice: ACQ-26-0443
NOAA / NMFS / AFSC

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Research Applications and Financial Tracking, doing business as SciShield/SciSure, of Boston, Massachusetts, to procure the following:

Provides sample management tracking from sample registration, processing, storage, and archival across AFSC sites, labs, biorepositories, and other workflow points.  AFSC staff have been using the eLab software (eLabJournal) for over five years and have made significant investments integrating the software into their workflows.  The need is for 50-Seat eLabJournal licenses and associated support for a base and 4 optional years.

Product Details: The below items are requested from Research Applications and Financial Tracking:
• BIT-A001- eLAB Licenses 50-Seat eLabJournal License includes eLabInventory and eLabProtocols. [Full Package]
• BIT-A005-On-Premises SaaS Software as a Service, Software Maintenance
• BIT-A016-Bronze Support
• BIT-A031-Office Online (Flat Fee Dedicated Installation)
• BIT-A007-Quantity & Ordering Add-on for free
• BIT-A024-Enterprise Features & Administration Module
• BIT-A008-Advanced Barcode Workflow Integration
• BIT-A0006-Import Module

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s mission is to study the marine ecosystems of Alaska and provide scientific and data-driven reports to multiple stakeholders.  To obtain the best available information, scientists use research ships to collect oceanographic and biological samples and related data.  AFSC’s scientists require a system that provides sample management tracking from sample registration, processing, storage, and archival across AFSC sites, labs, biorepositories, and other workflow points.

eLabJournal (eLab) is a cloud-based software, which AFSC will host on On-Premises on local secure AFSC Datacenter. eLab was chosen for its ability to facilitate research, process, analytic development via a series of data, sample, equipment, supply management and reporting tools. This software is unique in terms of Security, Efficiency, Accessibility, and Compliance and was chosen for the following:

- eLab includes a series of tools that are highly configurable and adaptable to each lab and individual. These enable customized workflows, allowing the system to integrate into physical workflow, and markedly increase workplace efficiency. 
- The ease and ability to access data from different individuals within a lab, labs within a division, and labs in various locations, and with collaborators external to AFSC allows the labs to cultivate progress, facilitate collaboration, and create a valuable ecosystem. 
- eLab Licenses are maintained for all lab members and collaborators who intend to access the data, including those that are view/read only, as it is in compliance with PARR and related data management regulations. Working with AFSC IT security, this also makes the system security Compliant.
- The highly modular architecture of the application and organized indexing of the underlying database will augment the ability of scientists to publish and share their results faster.

The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 513210, with a Small Business size standard of $47.0 M.

Research Applications and Financial Tracking, doing business as SciShield/SciSure, is the only source that can provide eLabJournal licenses and associated support.

The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract.  This Special Notice of intent to award to a Single Source 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.  Submissions are due no later than April 25, 2026 at 5pm Eastern Time.  Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.  Responses may be emailed to Christie.Lang@noaa.gov. 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 compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only can Research Applications and Financial Tracking, doing business as SciShield/SciSure, of Boston, Massachusetts, can provide the requirements stated above.

Attachment
Redacted Single Source Determination