Development of Flukebook Coordinated Across Five NOAA Fisheries Science Centers.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order, on a sole source basis, under the authority of RFO 6.103-1, with Wild Me (of Conservation X Labs) to support the development of Flukebook, coordinated across five NOAA Fisheries Science Centers. The deliverables include: 1) algorithm implementation: MiewID retraining, viewpoint agnostic MiewID, and gray whale aerial detector, 2) processing and user-interface upgrades: bulk import improvements, matching interface improvements, exemplar identification field, change and verification input, flexibility in collaborations and edit permissions, and user interface features, and a final report incorporating review and feedback from the cross-Center user team. The anticipated period of performance is 09/01/2026 - 08/31/2027. ***The Sole Source is based on NOAA’s determination that Wild Me (of Conservation X Labs is the only vendor that can provide the required service. The required service must be fully compatible in form, fit, and function with existing systems, and Wild Me is uniquely qualified as the sole source to meet this requirement. Wild Me’s Flukebook platform is critical to for the following reasons: No alternative commercial or off-the-shelf platform can meet the required specifications or seamlessly integrate with the existing Wild Me infrastructure used across other NOAA Fisheries offices. Established Operational Standard: Flukebook is currently utilized by NOAA Fisheries and global researchers to enable automated, collaborative matching of multiple cetacean species. Proven Capability & Efficiency: The platform features high-performing algorithms trained on extensive, diverse datasets. It supports the ingestion of new data and algorithms, avoiding the inefficiencies and sub-optimal performance of developing a system from scratch. Open-Source Enhancements: All ongoing developments, user-requested capabilities, and emerging AI techniques will be distributed to NOAA Fisheries and the broader user base via open-source updates at no additional cost. Cost & Operational Efficiency: Reinvesting in a currently utilized system maximizes efficiency and reduces total life-cycle costs by applying platform advancements across multiple internal and external NOAA research programs. ***THIS PRESOLICITATION NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION OR A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE. SUCH REQUESTS AND 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.