SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- SEABIRD BYCATCH ESTIMATION & STOCK ANALYSIS SUPPORT
- Notice Date
- 7/15/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Central Region Acquisition Division, 601 East 12th Street, Room 1756, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106
- ZIP Code
- 64106
- Solicitation Number
- NFFN7600-8-39508SLW
- Response Due
- 7/25/2008
- Archive Date
- 7/26/2008
- Point of Contact
- Sharon L. Walker, Phone: (816)426-7470
- E-Mail Address
-
sharon.walker@noaa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The National Marine Fisheries Service intends to award a sole source purchase order to Dr. Michael L. Parrack to conduct analyses of fishery and related data associated with its seabird bycatch and FATE modeling projects. Michael Parrack was a fishery stock analyst for the National Marine Fisheries Service for approximately 30 years. During that time, he conducted stock analysis on many fishery species; however his principal group was the penaeid species, which occupied his activities at NMFS for at least 10 years. He was chief of the unit that analyzed both fishery dependent and fishery independent data on penaeid species, including pink shrimp. He was a senior fishery scientist at NMFS, applying Bayesian methods to protected species bycatch issues, before recently retiring several months ago. He completed an innovative analysis and manuscript on the sea turtle bycatch and also had begun an analysis of the seabird bycatch at the time of his departure. This previous work, including his familiarity with both the Pelagic Observe Program (POP) and logbook data files, makes him the most cost effective provider for NMFS in the seabird bycatch part of this procurement. Dr. Parrack is listed as a principal investigator on the Fisheries and the Environment Program (FATE) project and helped to prepare the proposal that led to receipt of funding from the FATE program by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). This procurement will allow him to carry through with the work planned for him under the FATE proposal. His participation was important to acceptance of the proposal by the FATE program, in which the inclusion of an investigator experienced in stock analysis was the key to a successful proposal. Dr. Parrack's participation is essential to both the seabird bycatch and FATE pink shrimp projects. He has previous knowledge and experience planning both projects and is familiar with the large, complex databases that must be analyzed in both of these projects makes him the logical choice for this procurement. An estimate of th total seabird catch of the US North Atlantic pelagic longline fleet in 2007 is the immediate objective of this project. A second objective is to develop estimates of the total seabird catch in several previous years for comparison to previous estimates using another method. The limited and highly clustered distribution of the bycatch in the observer data in 2007 and some previous years present complications to estimation. It is anticipated that period-of-record data will have to be used to acquire a valid estimates. POP data haS been collected since 1992.Logbook data also are available for that period. The recently implemented (August 2004) mandated change in gear use (i.e., prohibition of J-shaped hooks, leading to universal use of circle hooks) further complicates estimation based on the data record. Previous analysis suggests that seabird catches are lower on circle hooks in relation to effort with circle hooks, than would be expected by chance. There are nine fishing zones in the POP and logbook database. Pink Shrimp: The Tortugas shrimp stock, both on the fishing and spawning grounds and in other parts of its ontogenetic range, is the focus of this part of the procurement. This part of the procurement is to support a collaboration of the provider with other principal investigators in the FATE project being conducted by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. The FATE project will integrate biology and oceanography into a series of models that will quantify the influence of coastal processes, weather, and water management on fishery production. Results will be used to develop physical and biological indicators of postlarval recruitment into Florida Bay and a fishery recruitment index for use in stock assessment. The contractor will include (1) analysis of Tortugas pink shrimp catch and effort data and (2) participation in the integration of other information produced in the project into the analysis. Along with this involvement will be the major responsibility of providing guidance and advise to the other project scientists on the type and form of information that can most effectively improve estimates of stock status and projections of stock sustainability in the face of variability in environmental influences and fishing pressure. DESC: The required work will consist of the following: Analysis of databases on fishery catch and effort is a major component of this procurement. Experience in determining the status of fishery stocks is absolutely essential. Seabird Bycatch: SEFSC Pelagic Observer Program records will be analyzed and used to estimate total incidental takes of seabirds in the pelagic longline fishery. Observer Program stratification (fishing zones) will be followed as closely as practical. Zones in which no bird catches have been observed may be excluded. A Bayesian type of analysis and estimation method will be conducted. Total seabird catch per unit of effort and mortalities per unit of effort will be determined from observer reports through calendar year 2007. Analyses will be conducted to the lowest taxonomic group feasible, recognizing that this may be only "seabird" or "alive vs. dead" birds. Changes in the fishery (i.e., mandated change to exclusively use circle hooks, rather than either circle or j-shaped hooks), beginning August 2004, may complicate the analysis and reduce the number of years for which the total bird bycatch is estimated. Set is the effort unit to be used in the analysis. In previous work, which also used set as the effort unit, separated hauls were associated with sets based on start or end date and time of the haul. Set is a better measure of effort than hook because the hooks on a set are not independent from each other and often several birds are caught on the same set. Hooks and sets may be well correlated; however the relationship may differ spatially. The presentation of information should include bycatch rates in terms of hooks as well as sets because this is the form in which both scientists and managers are accustomed to seeing bycatch information. Ecological factors or fishery practices that lead to higher catches of certain species may also favor a bycatch of seabirds, and knowledge of associations should be developed and potentially exploited both to better estimate the seabird bycatch and possibly recommend approaches to decreasing the seabird bycatch. Pink Shrimp: Ensuring the applicability of the products of the FATE project in analyses of stock status and stock sustainability will be the main responsibility of this provider. The contractor will collaborate in the development of a 10-yr time series of recruitment indices and will examine the time series in relation to fishery data. In an iterative process with the other project scientists, the provider will determine the most potentially effective indices for predicting fishery recruitment and stock production. This will culminate in a design, to be described by the contractor, for application of the information developed by the models into a stock-assessment framework. The contractor will participate in preparing reports and deliverables that describe the appropriate application of the recruitment indices to stock evaluation. The anticipated performance period is date of award through one year. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 10 after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. Interested firms shall include, in writing, the company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and business size; a statement regarding their capabilities and qualifications, and any additional supporting literature. Submissions received in response to this notice shall be evaluated based on the technical ability and demonstrated past experience to meet the requirements described in the description section above. Information must be received no later than 10 calendar days and may be mailed or faxed to: Sharon Walker phone: 816-426-7470 Central Administrative Support Center fax: 816-274-6983 601 E. 12th St., Room 1756 Kansas City, MO Vendor must provide a DUNS number (http://www.dnb.com/us/ ) and register with the Central Contractors Registration (http://www.ccr.gov/ ) to further qualify for this contract. Include DUNS number on written quote. As specified in FAR 5.101 (a) (2), interested firms may submit a response which, if received by the time specified above, will be considered by the agency.
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