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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to award a firm fixed price contract for a base supply option and four supply options for Sabik Carmanah 650H Solar LED Marine Beacons for the National Data Buoy Center at Stennis Space Center, MS. The Government intends to make an award to the responsive responsible quoter providing the best value in accordance with FAR 13.106-2(B)(3). This is a brand name requirement.

Brand Name Justification

In the early 2000s the NDBC began to investigate the replacement of the incandescent marine flasher with a self-powered solar beacon. At that time the US Coast Guard had commissioned Carmanah to develop a marine powered beacon. The M650 beacon is a next generation of the first model 700 series developed for and certified by the USCG. The M650 beacon carries a USCG Patent 33CFR67 Class C. These M650 beacons are tested to the toughest industrial standards.

The M650 beacons can be seen over 4 nautical miles with an intensity of better than 50 candelas for the yellow beacon. The beacon is solar powered with high efficiency, maximum power point tracking solar panels that charge a secondary battery pack. The light is produced by high power light emitting diodes (LEDs) that provide consistent intensity under all operating conditions (-43 to +51 °C). The M650 beacons have a selectable day/night transitions and 256 programmable flash patterns. They are constructed of UV resistant polycarbonate/polysiloxane co-polymer body and lens material yielding a beacon that weighs only 3.5 pounds. The beacon is sealed with a double O-ring and includes a waterproof vent to prevent condensation. The light is designed to survive wind loading of 72 m/s and ice loading of 22 kg/m2. The beacon is designed with a 150mm diameter bolt mounting pattern that all the SCOOP weather buoy mounts have been designed and pre-drilled for quick installation. The NDBC is not aware of any other US Coast Guard certified marine beacons with these operating characteristics that are tested to these tough survivability standards. These beacons are being procured to replace units that are or will be over 10 years old in each fiscal year.

DOC, Eastern Region Acquisition Division requires that all contractors doing business with this office be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made to a company not registered in SAM. Contractors active in SAM have a unique entity identifier (UEI) that is used to do business with the federal government. The Government has moved to a free new, non-proprietary identifier that will have to be requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). You can register and access the site by going to www.sam.gov.