SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Protocol to Deflect Migrating Bowhead Whales Away from an Oil Spill
- Notice Date
- 8/22/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- MMS Procurement Operations Branch, Attn: Mr. Michael W. Hargrove 381 Elden Street, MS2510 Herndon VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 20170
- Solicitation Number
- 74086
- Response Due
- 9/3/2003
- Archive Date
- 8/21/2004
- Point of Contact
- Michael W. Hargrove Contract Specialist 7037871367 Michael.Hargrove@mms.gov;
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), intends to competitively award a contract to conduct a study entitled Protocol to Deflect Migrating Bowhead Whales Away from an Oil Spill. This study will provide a comprehensive review, analysis, and recommendation for optimal methods and related logistics. The protocol shall be based on scientific and other knowledge of the responses of bowhead and other cetaceans to various disturbances and barriers. It shall recommend a step-down protocol for keeping bowhead whales away from a proscribed area over a period of days and provide recommendations for enhancing methods of deflecting bowhead whales. THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES A PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR THIS CONTRACT OF TWELVE (12) MONTHS AND A COST RANGE BETWEEN $230,000 AND $237,000. BACKGROUND: To provide information used in environmental impact statements and environmental assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and to assure protection of marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 USC 1361-1407) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 (16 USC 1531-1543), MMS Environmental Studies Program funds numerous studies involving acquisition and analysis of marine mammal and other environmental data. Fall hunting of bowhead whales is considered an important part of Inupiat culture and is a vital subsistence harvest for the villages of Barrow, Nuiqsut, and Kaktovik, Alaska. Keeping whales away from any large oil spills would have important management implications relative to this subsistence harvest. While implementing the protocol might increase potential disruption of the whale harvest in a given year, it would reduce the likelihood and scope of potential oil-spill effects relative to perceived contamination of whale tissues. A protocol for keeping bowheads away would likely become a key part of any first-line response in the unlikely event of a large oil spill in the Beaufort Sea. The protocol would help reduce the potential for any oil-spill-related mortality or sub-lethal effects to this endangered species. In a 2001 Arctic Region Biological Opinion, National Marine Fisheries Service provided a Conservation Recommendation that MMS study "the possible use of air guns as a deterrent for bowhead whales near an oil spill." Not limited to a particular sound source, this study will develop a protocol for deflection by providing a comprehensive review, analysis, and recommendations for optimal methods and related logistics. Current leasing schedules indicate that further judicious leasing for oil and gas development is planned for the Beaufort Sea. With additional information on the deflecting bowhead whales from the general area of a hypothetical oil spill, alternative mitigation options for future Beaufort sales may be feasible. Information from this endangered-whale study will be used in the preparation of draft and final EA's for Beaufort Sea Lease Sales 195 and 202. The information will be important to analysis and documents related to the ESA Section 7 consultation for future offshore oil and gas development plans. Study information will be used in writing post-lease EIS's and EA's and in reviewing oil-industry plans for exploration, development, and transportation in the Beaufort Sea. The Final Report will be needed in 2004. SCOPE OF WORK: The overall goal of the study is to develop guidelines for keeping bowhead whales away from any large oil spills. Specific objectives for meeting this goal include: (1) analyze the literature on potential methods (e.g., noise) for excluding or deflecting cetaceans from proscribed areas; (2) develop a coordinated field protocol that uses the best available methods for keeping bowhead whales away from a hypothetical oil spill over a period of days and/or weeks; and, (3) provide recommendations for enhancing methodologies of deflecting migrating bowhead whales from potential oil spills. LITERATURE ANALYSIS: The Contractor shall analyze the scientific literature as well as published narrative descriptions of commercial and subsistence whale hunters on the various types of disturbances known to deflect whales. The Contractor shall evaluate the potential for use of acoustic disturbance including but not limited to: air guns, whale boats, and/or prerecorded noises of air guns, orca vocalizations, and icebreaker cavitations. Non-acoustic methods to be analyzed and rated include (but not limited to) visual disturbance (e.g., low-flying aircraft) and physical barriers (e.g., oil booms, stationary nets) on whales. The analysis shall fully describe the level of success that any existing methods or protocols may have already had in excluding or deflecting marine mammals from proscribed areas. The Contractor shall also summarize any permit requirements, schedule considerations, and/or adjustments to existing Incidental Harassment Authorizations needed in order to deflect whales from the vicinity of any oil spills. PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT: The protocol shall have a rapid-deployment capability in the unlikely event of a large oil spill. The primary purpose of the protocol is to exclude or deflect migrating bowhead (and other) whales away from the perimeter of a large oil spill in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, with applications to other cetacean species. The cost of implementing the protocol shall be considered and described, but should not limit important workable options. The protocol shall be usable for helping to deflect the highest number of whales within the first few days of a spill, when inhalation of volatile components might be expected to have the greatest adverse effect, as well as deflect a maximal number of whales over a period of weeks. Techniques recommended should be capable of keeping whales from the vicinity of an oil spill but minimize scattering whales. It shall define how the selected protocol would likely relate to an actual oil-spill clean-up in the Beaufort Sea under several ambient conditions. The protocol shall discuss variables that might limit the effectiveness of certain options including ambient ice type, ice concentration, competing disturbances from oil-spill cleanup activities, and a certain amount of uncontrolled vessel and air traffic. In developing the draft field protocol, the contractor shall coordinate fully with existing North Slope oil spill managers such as Alaska Clean Seas so that application of the final report recommendations can be maximized by that group or related government entities. REVIEW OF DRAFT PROTOCOL: The contractor shall propose and complete an external, broad review of a draft protocol to assure appropriate commentary by Federal and State Agencies, local government, subsistence organizations and other potentially affected and relevant constituents. The review will be scheduled within the overall project to maximize effectiveness of desired comment. The contractor shall initiate said review following the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative's concurrence. REPORTING: Report deliverables shall include draft documents and full final report on regular stock paper and a short field protocol printed on waterproof stock. The field protocol shall contain sufficient illustrations, readable, clear text, and logical step-down sequences for rapid implementation under ambient Beaufort Sea conditions. The field protocol shall include a list of required off-the-shelf equipment, current commercial sources for such equipment, and a checklist of emergency coordination and permitting. Per format specifications to be provided, Draft and Final reports will fully describe work completed and results of all activities conducted in accomplishment of study goals and objectives. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: The Contractor shall adhere to a Program Management Plan (PMP), as proposed and incorporated in the approved Study Plan. The Contractor shall maximize the potential use of local expertise, vessels, and other extant logistics capabilities when recommending protocol strategies. As required to accomplish Task 3, the Contractor's PMP shall factor in planning and resources for necessary communication with potential reviewers of the draft protocol. The Contractor shall also arrange to present the findings of the revised Final Report to key stakeholders. HOW TO RESPOND: IN ORDER TO COMPETE FOR THIS CONTRACT, INTERESTED PARTIES MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE WORK BY PROVIDING A CAPABILITIES STATEMENT, NOT LATER THAN 04:30PM, 03 SEPTEMBER 2003, DETAILING: (1) your key personnel (those who would have primary responsibility for performing and/or managing the study) with their qualifications and specific experience; (2) your organizational experience and facilities; and (3) specific references (including contract number & project description, period of performance, dollar amount, client identification with the point of contact & telephone number & E-mail address a) for previous work of this nature that your key personnel or organization has performed within the last four years. If you believe the Government will find derogatory information as a result of checking your past performance record, please provide an explanation and any remedial action taken by your company to address the problem. Following review of all Capabilities Statements, offerors deemed most qualified to perform the work shall be requested to provide a written Business/Cost and Technical proposal. EVALUATION: Your Capabilities Statement will be evaluated based on your key personnel skills, abilities and experience; your organization's experience and past performance (including number, size, and complexity of similar projects, adherence to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of program management, willingness to cooperate when difficulties arise, general compliance with the terms of the contracts, and acceptability of delivered products.) Interested parties shall submit their Capabilities Statements in original and one (1) copy to Michael W. Hargrove, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, MS-2500, Herndon, VA 20170-4817. Three (3) additional copies shall be sent to Stephen D. Treacy, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, 949 E. 36th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99508. Questions shall be submitted via E-mail to BOTH Michael.Hargrove@mms.gov and Paula.Barksdale@mms.gov or facsimile 703-787-1022, as soon as practicable, and MUST include RFP number 74086, your full name and title, your organization, complete address, and phone and fax numbers. TELEPHONIC QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
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- Record
- SN00410098-W 20030824/030822213716 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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