SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- PHOTO-ID AND BIOPSY SAMPLING OF HUMPBACK WHALES
- Notice Date
- 5/11/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Administrative Support Center, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, WA, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- WASC-6-644
- Response Due
- 5/26/2006
- Archive Date
- 6/10/2006
- Description
- This requirement is being procured and an award will be made in accordance with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The office of NOAA, National Marine Mammal Laboratory intends to procure on a sole source basis with North Pacific Wildlife Consulting, LLC located in Anchorage, Alaska to conduct photo-id and biopsy of Humpback Whales and other cetaceans in the waters of the Russan Far East during the period June through December 2006. Background and objectives. Management of marine mammal populations falls within the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 and, for some species, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The agency is mandated to conserve the endangered species under its jurisdiction, and must undertake actions to prevent further decline of populations, facilitate their recovery, and safeguard the quality of their habitat. In the northeastern U.S., the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is responsible for overseeing and partially funding research on marine mammals, notably those populations listed as Strategic Stocks. Little is known about the distribution, abundance and population structure of humpback whales in the western North Pacific, notably in the waters of the Russian Far East (the Kurils, Kamchatka, the Commander Islands and the Chukotka Peninsula). The collection of individual identification photographs and biopsy samples from humpback whales would provide valuable information from this geographical region. The comparison of photographs of individual whales against existing photographic catalogues in the North Pacific would provide valuable insights into the movements/ranges of these animals. In particular, comparison to the huge collection from the ocean-basin-wide collaborative study known as SPLASH is expected to clarify migratory destinations and other issues relating to population structure for the Russian whales. The work described here consists of a cost-efficient ?piggyback? project which will allow collection of photos and samples from humpback whales and other cetaceans during existing Steller sea lion surveys, as well as a dedicated study of humpback whales off the Chukotka Peninsula. Objectives. The main objectives of the project are: 1. Obtain individual identification photographs and biopsy samples of humpback whales from selected waters of the Russian Far East; 2. Obtain similar materials and data from other cetacean species, as practicable. Work Breakdown Structure. Kurils/Kamchatka/Commanders. The Contractor shall supply all the necessary equipment and staff for the project. The schedule for this portion of the work will be as follows: June 2006: Deploy field camps to Kuril Islands and Medny Island (Commanders). Observers will be placed on five Steller sea lion rookeries located on Medny, Antsiferov, Lovushki, Raykoke, and Brat Chrpoev Islands. June 20-30, 2006: A vessel survey of Steller sea lion rookeries and haulouts will be conducted along the eastern coast of Kamchatka, the western Bering Sea, and the Commander Islands. July 1- 20, 2006: A vessel survey of Steller sea lion rookeries will be conducted in the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, and the vessel will pick up the observers from four rookeries in the Kuril Islands placed in May. As practicable in all of this work, humpback whales and other cetaceans will be photographed and biopsy sampled, and basic sighting information on all cetaceans will be recorded. Directed small-boat work will be conducted on humpback whales from the field camp on Medny Island. This project requires Russian nationals to conduct the work, since it is impossible for foreigners to obtain the necessary permits. In addition, because interaction and logistical coordination with local people is required, fluent Russian speakers are essential in this project. This work allows for cost-efficient piggy-backing onto an existing study, and the two projects will result in invaluable data from an unknown region at relatively little cost. This notice may represent the only official notice. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000
- Record
- SN01046132-W 20060513/060511220328 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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