SOURCES SOUGHT
V -- Supply and Manage Fishing Resources for the NOAA Albacore Tagging and Sampling Field Trips
- Notice Date
- 7/10/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 483112
— Deep Sea Passenger Transportation
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, Colorado, 80305-3328, United States
- ZIP Code
- 80305-3328
- Solicitation Number
- NFFR7000-14-02899DR
- Archive Date
- 7/18/2014
- Point of Contact
- DianaRomero, Phone: 303-497-3761
- E-Mail Address
-
diana.romero@noaa.gov
(diana.romero@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY - The Government is currently conducting market research to gather information and identify potential sources for the requirement identified below. A solicitation is not available at this time, and requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government. NOAA's Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, in support of the National Marine Mammal Lab (NMML) seeks potential vendors to supply and manage fishing resources for the albacore tagging and sampling field trips, see the Statement of Work. Please provide the following information as requested: 1) A statement that you believe that your firm has the capability to meet these requirements and perform these services. The name of manufacturer, make or model number specifications, physical, functional, or performance characteristic. 2) Your firm's DUNS number & CAGE code; 3) Your firm's SBA certified small business concern status. Specifically identify if your firm is a small business, HUBZone-certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Woman Owned or SBA 8(a) program certified; All information received in response to this notice shall be treated as Business Sensitive or confidential to the responder, exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. Proprietary information submitted should be marked appropriately. All submitted information shall remain with the U.S. Government and will not be returned. The response date for this sources sought is July 17, 2014. No collect calls will be accepted. All responses may be submitted via e-mail to Diana Romero, Purchasing Agent, at diana.romero@noaa.gov. The phone number for the Purchasing Agent is (303) 497-3761. ALBACORE ARCHIVAL TAGGING AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING WITH THE US ALBACORE SURFACE FLEET NOAA/NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE SOUTHWEST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER Fisheries Resources Division Performance Period: TBD I. Objectives This goal of this contract is provide and manage albacore fishing resources including vessels, fuel, crew, and fishing gear provided in support of the SWFSC albacore tagging and biological sampling programs. II. Introduction/Background: As mandated by the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Fishery Management Plan, SWFSC conducts biological and economic research on several highly migratory species including albacore tuna. Albacore archival tag deployments are part of an ongoing research program that was initiated to study the migration patterns of juvenile albacore and stock structure of albacore in the north Pacific. Pop-off archival tags have concurrently been deployed on adult albacore in the central Pacific to study behavior and movements of reproductive albacore. Since 2002, Southwest Fisheries Science Center has been working with the albacore fishing industry to tag and release albacore tuna in the north Pacific as part of an ongoing study investigating albacore movement and behavior. In recent years, this study has extended in to the central Pacific to examine movement and behavior of adult albacore. In addition, the contractor has been coordinating the collection, storage and shipping of whole albacore for the SWFSC's studies on albacore life history and ecology. We are seeking a contractor who works closely with members of active fishing organizations, such as the Western Fishboat Owner's Association (WFOA), whose membership includes owners several hundred commercial baitboat, handline, and/or troll vessels that target albacore tuna in the two areas of interest. The contractor should have access to vessels are specifically designed for catching albacore tuna and are low to the water, which is ideal for tagging and minimizing stress on the fish and for collecting fish in good condition for the biological studies. The results of this research will contribute to a better understanding of the behavior and habitat utilization of this species and therefore strengthen SWFSC's ability to effectively assess the stock status. III. Description of Work and Services: The contract goal is to provide and manage albacore fishing resources including vessels, fuel, crew, and fishing gear provided in support of the SWFSC albacore tagging and biological sampling programs. Two or three tagging trips will be provisioned during the contract period, depending upon fish availability and weather. SWFSC will provide the contractor with a list of minimum requirements (see below), information regarding the number of tags to be deployed, and a time frame during the contract period when a fishing platform will be required. According to these requirements the contractor will provide a list of minimum two vessels for each of the tagging trips from which SWFSC scientists will chose. The contractor will be responsible for managing the charter process through the completion of the tagging trip while ensuring all resources required for meeting research goals are made available. During the performance period of the contract up to two albacore tagging trips off the US West Coast, totaling a maximum 8 days, will be completed in the northeast Pacific. In addition, up to 4 days of albacore tagging will be completed in the central Pacific off Hawaii during the performance period. The contractor will also coordinate the collection of up to 50-100 juvenile albacore for the biological studies during the fishing season and assist with managing the fishery data relating to the tagging and sampling trips. IV. Tasks / Deliverables: 1. Serve as tagging trip coordinator including providing appropriate vessel and crew to complete the work, overseeing logistical arrangements including invoicing. Coordinate the procurement of tagging/sampling supplies if needed. 2. No later than one month prior to the desired tagging trip window (see above for time periods for the base period) provide a list of vessels that meet the minimum requirements as stated in the SOW for final selection by SWFSC. 3. No later than two weeks before the desired tagging trip date, provide a vessel for a tagging trip. Northeast Pacific tagging trips will be from 4-8 days (to be initiated within allotted window) and no more than a combined 8 days for two trips. Central Pacific tagging will be for up to 4 nights of fishing. Contractor will manage charter. Contractor will liaise between charter and scientists and arrange port call where and when SWFSC scientists can join the vessel. Actual trip start days will be dependent on fish availability and weather and should be finalized between contractor and SWFSC personnel as the trip window approaches. 4. During tagging trips, open communications between SWFSC scientists and contractor must be available, by satellite phone or radio. Contractor will liaise between scientists and charter captain (as required at sea) and ensure research goals are met. 5. No later than two weeks after the tagging trip, contractor will provide trip information from the Captain's log including vessel track, latitude and longitude of areas fished and sea surface temperature. 6. Contractor will coordinate the collection and shipping of 50-100 juvenile albacore from the north Pacific for biological studies. 7. Coordinate data entry and data management of the fishery data relating to the research. V. Minimum Requirements for selected vessels: 1. Vessels must meet Coast Guard safety standards. 2. Vessels operating in the northeast Pacific will be equipped with commercial albacore gear appropriate for live capture of albacore for tagging and release of up to 100 healthy albacore per trip, including: hand line, lift pole, rod and reel, and troll gear. Vessel operating off Hawaii will be commercial handline vessel for capture and release of up to 10 healthy adult albacore. 3. Vessels will carry live bait in sufficient quantity to accomplish capture and tagging of the proposed number of fish. 4. Fishing methods will be approved in advance by the SWFSC scientist conducting tagging operations. 5. Vessels operating in the northeast Pacific will be capable and equipped to stay at sea for 15 days and have a range of 1,200 nm. Vessel operating off Hawaii will be capable and equipped to stay at sea for 5 days and have a range of 300 nm. 6. Meals will be provided for scientists. 7. Vessels will have adequate berthing and workspace, free of smoke, for 2 SWFSC scientists. 8. Vessels will have working head available to SWFSC scientists. 9. Captain must have minimum 5 years albacore fishing in the operating areas. 10. Vessels operating in the northeast Pacific must have a minimum 2 crew members (not including captain); one crew must have experience catching albacore using pole and line. VI. Scientific Personnel/Government provided property: Up to two (2) NOAA Fisheries scientists will participate in albacore tagging trips. NOAA SWFSC will provide all equipment needed for tagging albacore including tagging cradle, data collection sheets, archival, conventional tags, and biological sampling gear. All data generated will be property of the U.S. Government.
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