SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Surveys of Ice-Associated Seals in the Russian Far East - Statement of Work
- Notice Date
- 3/16/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541620
— Environmental Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Region Acquisition Division, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, Washington, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- NFFS7300-11-03288
- Archive Date
- 4/15/2011
- Point of Contact
- Anthony R. Buch, Phone: 206-526-6033
- E-Mail Address
-
Anthony.R.Buch@noaa.gov
(Anthony.R.Buch@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Statement of Work NOTICE: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. The information provided in response to this notice will assist the Government in identifying sources that are capable of furnishing the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with the requirements below. This sources sought notice is for the technical support of ice seal research in accordance with the attached Statement of Work. The work includes, but is not limited to: The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), conducts research and monitoring on bearded, spotted, ringed, and ribbon seals, species that are protected under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act and considered for listing as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). All four species are associated with sea ice during parts of the year, especially during their reproductive periods. Major breeding areas of all four species are found in the western Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk, within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Russian Federation. The population sizes in these areas, which are fundamental numbers for evaluating the species' status under the ESA, are extremely imprecise, outdated, or simply unknown. This work will provide critically needed estimates of the abundance of ice-associated seals in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk. Aerial photographic and multi-spectral surveys of seals on sea ice shall be designed and conducted by the contractor in a contractor-provided airplane. The multi-spectral imagery shall be analyzed by the contractor for numbers and densities of seals, by species. NMML scientists will combine these results with independent estimates of the proportions of the populations in the water during the aerial surveys (and unavailable for counting) to obtain estimates of total abundance with adequate precision for ESA status evaluations and detection of future population changes in response to climate warming and loss of sea ice. Approximately 20,000 km of aerial, multi-spectral survey track line will be required in a spring (March-May) survey period in 2012. The vendor must also agree to conduct spring surveys during a second period in 2013 should the government decide to exercise this option. The exact target for track lengths and locations will be determined jointly by the contractor and NMML scientists in a survey design process that considers typical density estimates of these species found in similar surveys conducted recently in U.S. waters. A workshop will be held to facilitate and review the survey design process. The contractor shall provide a team with demonstrated experience in multi-spectral (e.g., high-resolution visible, infrared, and ultraviolet) remote sensing of seals on sea ice, and a proven ability to implement a systematic and comprehensive survey of a large region such as an Arctic or sub-Arctic sea. The contractor shall be required to submit draft and final reports describing results of the surveys, with clear and detailed descriptions of how survey observer data, images, track lines, and survey covariates (such as weather and ice conditions) were collected and processed to produce the results. In addition to conducting the surveys, up to 25 satellite-linked data recorders (SDRs) will be deployed in total on the four species by the fall of 2012. The vendor must also agree to deploy up to an additional 25 SDRs by the summer of 2013 should the government decide to exercise this option. It is expected that the vendor will primarily deploy these tags opportunistically, taking advantage of contacts with local researchers conducting other studies on seals, to avoid or reduce the costs and logistical complexity of dedicated seal tagging operations. Data from the SDRs will be provided to NMML for analysis, to be supplemented by similar data collected by NMML in U.S. studies. Interested parties should submit: 1) A brief description of their capability to provide the required service; 2) Evidence of experience and past performance (including a contact name and telephone number); 3) Intention to submit a proposal as a prime contractor; and 4) Business company size, point of contact and DUNS number. The business size shall include any applicable preference program (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Small Business, etc.) For the purposes of this requirement, the NAICS size standard for small business is $7.0 Million or less. Questions concerning this notice shall be emailed to Anthony.r.buch@noaa.gov Responses shall be submitted via email or facsimile at 206-527-7752 by 12:00 PM March 31, 2011, Pacific Time. This notice is for informational and market research purposes only. Failure to submit all information requested may result in an unrestricted acquisition.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/WASC/NFFS7300-11-03288/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Western Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk, Exclusive Economic Zone of the Russian Federation, Russian Federation
- Record
- SN02402406-W 20110318/110316234753-8a3ffbc48df25bcf1727f547d699bd9b (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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