SOURCES SOUGHT
19 -- Arctic Charter Alaska Fisheries Science Center - Figure 1 Map
- Notice Date
- 12/10/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 483114
— Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation
- 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
- AB-133F-16-RP-VCAFSC
- Archive Date
- 1/22/2016
- Point of Contact
- Noah N. Nielsen, Phone: 2065266034, Kate R. Steff, Phone: 2065266370
- E-Mail Address
-
noah.nielsen@noaa.gov, kate.r.steff@noaa.gov
(noah.nielsen@noaa.gov, kate.r.steff@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Figure 1 Map Notice Type: Sources Sought Posted Date: Response Date: December 10, 2015January 7, 2016 Agency: Department of Commerce Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Location: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) NAICS Code: 483114 Disclaimer: This is not a solicitation. This is not a request for quote (RFQ), invitation for bid (IFB), request for proposal (RFP), request for application (RFA) or an announcement of a solicitation, and does not assume the Government will award a contract or proceed with any of the above solicitation efforts in the near future. This request is for information purposes only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or awarded. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect cost or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of information. All information considered proprietary shall be marked accordingly. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for improperly identified proprietary information. Properly identified proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with federal regulations. The purpose of this announcement is solely to gather information from the marketplace, and any responses received will neither be considered an offer by the responding party nor returned to the responding party. No telephone inquiries will be accepted, and requests for solicitation packages will not honored since no solicitation has been prepared. Synopsis: Sources Sought The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is conducting market research for the purposes of identifying small businesses that have demonstrated capabilities to perform scientific support services which includes a vessel and crew capable of conducting and supporting environmental and biological data collection in the North Pacific Ocean including the Chukchi and Beaufort seas during summer months (August to early October). No solicitation of offers is made by this synopsis. Background: The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducts scientific research on fish stocks, fish habitats and the chemistry of marine environments. Information from this research is widely used by commercial interests such as fishing industries, and governmental agencies involved in managing natural resources. This research relies upon marine survey data on commercially marketable species such as rockfish, sablefish, and salmon, and on non-marketable and/or protected species such as eel grass, plankton, Steller sea lions, and harbor seals which is then turned into information products essential to fishing industries, state and federal regulators, and international treaty bodies. AFSC marine research in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas has been conducted when funding is available. One goal of the research is to assess the impact of loss of sea ice on the marine ecosystem in this region. Data collected during the survey support the conservation and sustainable management of Living Marine Resources or the means by which to support ecosystem-based approaches to management. Vessel support in this region is critical to the AFSC mission. Specific research objectives for the Arctic include that require vessel time: 1.Quantify the distribution, abundance, and condition of demersal fishes and shellfishes throughout the US shelf waters of the Chukchi and western Beaufort Sea (Deploy/retrieve fishing nets). 2.Quantify the distribution, abundance, and condition of pelagic marine fishes, in particular young-of-the year Arctic gadids and other forage fishes, throughout the US shelf waters of the Chukchi and western Beaufort Sea (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management). Link observations with those derived from Lower Trophic Level (LTL) component (physics, primary, secondary production) to provide mechanistic understanding of trophic relationships (Deploy/retrieve fishing nets/midwater acoustics). 3.Further resolve early life history characteristics of Arctic cod and saffron cod and their behavior and connectivity between the Chukchi Sea and western Beaufort Sea using new survey results and the continuous observations from moored echosounders (Deploy/retrieve moorings). 4.Quantify the distribution, abundance, and prey association (as a proxy for diet) of seabirds in the US shelf waters of the Chukchi and western Beaufort Sea (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) in relation to oceanographic conditions and feeding guilds (Deploy/retrieve fishing nets/ zooplankton nets). 5.Quantify the abundance of open water phytoplankton using Slocum gliders, a towed vehicle (both platforms measure T, S, O2, chlorophyll, and nitrate) and shipboard observations; make a quantitative comparison to sinking ice-associated algae (Deploy/retrieve conductivity, temperature at depth device and carrousel). 6.Quantify the distribution, size, abundance, and species assemblage structure of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton throughout the US shelf waters of the Chukchi Sea relative to oceanographic conditions and compare results with historical estimates as derived from AFSC/FOCI sampling 2004-present and other available data. Link observations to Upper Trophic Level (UTL) derived-data to provide mechanistic understanding of trophic relationships (Deploy/retrieve zooplankton gear). Requirements: The contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified) to provide charter operations from about August 1 to October 4 (65 charter days) comprised of about 3 individual survey legs typically ranging in length from 20 to 22 days each and associated with various research objectives listed above. Survey locations will be predominately in the Chukchi Sea (US waters from 62N to 73N and the western Beaufort Sea from 145W to the Chukchi Slope (Figure 1). A. Vessel Requirements 1.Minimum overall length (LOA) of 36.5 m (120 ft) and the vessel shall have been actively used for commercial trawling or research where trawl gear was used in the past 12 months. 2.Sufficient crew and officers capable of running the ship for 24 hours. 3.Minimum continuous horsepower output from main engine (s) of 1000 HP. a.Vessel must be able to tow three standard survey trawls: 1) a Cantrawl model 400/580 hexagonal mesh trawl fished with 5-meter steel alloy doors and a set of three 110-m long bridles for each door, and associated gear hardware and headrope floats at a continuous speed of 3 - 5 kts under weather conditions considered safe and typical for survey sampling; 2) a marinovich net that is much smaller than the Cantrawl, but rigged with the same 5-meter steel alloy doors to be towed at midwater depths to capture fishes for acoustic estimation of abundance; 3) a 3-meter plumb staff beam trawl. b.Vessel must be able to maintain a minimum cruising speed of 16.8 km/hr (9 nm/hr) in low sea states. c.Vessel must have fuel capacity for 20 days of continuous fishing operations. 4.Completely rigged for trawling including: a.A stern ramp and gallows or gantry. b.A net reel system with capacity for each of the nets described above. Two net reels configured forward amidships is the preferred configuration. c.Split trawl winches with a minimum of 1,000 m (547 fm) of 1.58 cm (5/8 in) diameter (or greater) wire or steel core trawl cable in usavle condition on each drum and the ability to retrieve the research trawl at the minimum rate of 61 m (200 ft) per minute. d.An auto-trawl system with the capability of adjustable winch brakes and measurement of trawl wire deployed. This auto-trawl system must be annually certified by factory inspectors to be operating as designed and maintained in usable condition throughout the duration of each survey. e.Trawl cable must lead directly from the winches to the gallows trawl blocks. 5.A deck area clear of obstructions of at least 37 m2 (400 sq ft) for sampling equipment including a 1.5 x 3.0-m (5 x 10 ft) sampling table and one 0.6 m x 1.2 m (2 x 4 ft) platform scale table for working on catches and obtaining biological data. The work area should allow the sampling table to be positioned so that all four sides of the table can be used to conduct work, and with easy access to the rail or scuppers to discard catch. Sea water will also be needed on deck to wash down plankton nets. On deck work area(s) should be clear of running gear, equipment, vertical obstructions (e.g., hatch combings) and stowage. 6.A protected area inside with an entrance off the deck where a table of at least 1.2 x 2.4 m (4 x 8 ft) can be set up for collecting biological data. 7.Open space, 1.3 m (4.5 ft.) wide x 2.69 m (8.83 ft.) long, on the stern deck where an electro-hydraulic winch with davit will be mounted. The largest possible winch is approx. 850 lbs. (386 kg), and 36" wide, 34" deep, and 32" high (91 x 86 x 81 cm), with electric motor 5 hp 230 V, 60Hz, requiring vessel generator power 230 V, 16 amps, or hydraulic system with 5 gallons/minute (19 liters/min) of oil flow at a line pressure of 1750 psi. This unit will allow for deployment and retrieval of oceanographic equipment throughout the research cruise. Government will provide the winch and davit. Vessel's crew will be required to mount winch and hook up hydraulic and electrical connections. 8.Electric power (110/115 V.A.C.) outlet near on-deck work area. This may be a temporary installation, if necessary, but must be safe to use in the sheltered on-deck work area (see item 5). 9.Seawater deck hose for cleaning sorting table and sampling gear. On/off switch should be readily available from the working deck. 10.Crane capable of lifting 2.7 mt (3.0 t) for handling catches and fishing and sampling gear and rigid hull skiffs. Crane system must be capable of vertically raising and lowering a filled codend anywhere along centerline of working deck and lifting a skiff in and out of the water to a storage area on deck. 11.A minimum of 2.8 m3 (100 cu ft) of freezer storage exclusive of space for ship's stores for stowing scientific samples and supplies. Freezer space must be reasonably and safely accessible from the deck and must be available at all times to the scientific party. 12.Dry storage area of at least 300 cu ft in the main house for holding scientific supplies. 13.An office desk area with 110/115 volt power outlets for data management (galley may substitute for this area). Government-supplied personal computers will be installed here for logging data. 14.Clean and sanitary accommodations for crew and scientific field party (maximum of fifteen (15) scientists) which may include both male and female scientists. At least three separate berthing areas are required. Bunk areas shall contain at least one drawer or closet per occupant for storage of clothing and personal gear. 15.Potable fresh water supply adequate for vessel and personal use (including showers and laundry) for at least 25 days. 16.Clean mattresses with clean fitted covers will be supplied to the scientific field party. 17.A minimum of one head and one shower shall be available to the scientific field party. Soap, toilet paper, paper towels, and bath towels shall be provided by the vessel. 18.Workspaces, berthing, and galley spaces shall be adequately ventilated and free from tobacco smoke, excessive engine noise, and hydrocarbon fumes. 19.Washer and dryer for personal laundry. 20.Vessel must be ballasted to maintain sea-kindliness during the charter. 21.Provide a safe and stable portable gangway for use in boarding and debarking vessel while in port. 22.A skiff or rigid hulled inflatable boat measuring at least 4.3 m (14 ft) LOA with an outboard motor (minimum 15 hp). Skiff to be rated at minimum of 400 kg (880 lbs) total carrying capacity; must be stored away from the work area but be readily and easily deployed in case of emergencies. 23.In an effort to reduce marine debris pollution, the Captain shall comply with waste management regulations as described in Section V of MARPOL. The vessel shall be required to have a storage facility, with or without a trash compactor to retain all refuse (except food and paper materials) or a means to incinerate this refuse so that it is not disposed of at sea. Reference clause entitled, Control of Plastic Discharges. 24.Government may provide fuel from a Government fuel contractor. 25.Radio: VHF -- a minimum of two sets. 26.Radar with a minimum range of 39 km (24 miles). 27.GPS (Global Positioning System). 28.Depth sounders: Color scope unit operating in the 38-50 kHz range plus a backup unit. 29.An emergency source of electrical power, independent of the main source of power. 30.Stability letter or evidence that vessel stability has been evaluated by a qualified, certified individual, such as a licensed naval architect/marine engineer. 31.USCG Certificate of inspection. 32.At least two hydroacoustic frequencies (38 khz and 120 khz), and required transducers and wiring accessible by scientific personnel from the bridge. 33.Permission for the Government to install a flow-through thermosalinograph (TSG) to measure near -surface ocean temperature and salinity from the vessel while underway and on station. One of two possible models will be used: an SEE 21 or an SBE45. For the SBE 45, installation will be done by a shipyard and may include a hull penetration of approximately 1 inch in diameter, approximately 3/8-inch diameter piping between the hull penetration and the TSG box, a pump with a flow of approximately 1/2 gal/ min, and wiring between the TSG and a personal computer. For the SBE 21, installation will be done by a shipyard and may include a hull penetration of approximately 1 inch in diameter, approximately 1-inch diameter piping between the hull penetration and the TSG box, a pump with a flow of approximately 15.8 gal/min, and wiring between the TSG and a personal computer. Ship-supplied 115V power is required to run the TSG and personal computer. A navigation device to record latitude and longitude must also be available to interface with the TSG interface box. Costs associated with installation and removal of the TSG will be borne by the Government. At the Government's discretion, all or part of the TSG will remain in place until the end of the final option period. 34. A minimum of 1.136 m3 (40 cu ft.) of freezer storage exclusive of space for ship's stores for stowing scientific samples. This space is needed for 2, ‘supercold' freezers provided by the Government. Freezer space must be reasonably and safely accessible from the deck and must be available at all times to the scientific party B. Crew Requirements 1.The minimum crew shall consist of a Captain, First Mate, and 6 crew members, including lead-fisher, engineer-fisher, and cook-fisher. 2.The Captain shall have a minimum of three (3) years of trawl fishing experience as master of a comparable-sized trawler and a minimum of five (5) years total fishing experience as a master. 3.The Captain shall be competent in the use of modern navigational and fish-detecting equipment and be skilled in rigging and repairing trawls. 4.The lead-fisher shall have a minimum of three (3) years experience in trawl fishing and demonstrated experience in building, rigging, repairing, and operating trawls. He/she must possess demonstrated competence for repairing damaged trawls to their original specifications. 5.The engineer-fisher and cook-fisher shall have a minimum of two (2) years' experience in trawl fishing and have the necessary net mending skills to assist the lead-fisher in trawl repair. 6.Minimum of two (2) years experience conducting research surveys in the North Pacific Ocean. 7.A crew-member with certified first aid or EMT (emergency medical technician) and CPR training and AED use. Information Requested: A rough order of magnitude for a daily rate, not including fuel costs, should be submitted. Additionally, information about the vessel's average daily fuel burn rates/gals is requested. Interested companies should describe their capabilities as they relate to the following: •Adaptability - ability to respond to emerging and expanding needs of their sponsors and anticipate future critical issues; and •Objectivity - ability to produce thorough, independent analyses to address complex technical and analytical problems. In addition to addressing technical capabilities, responses must include the following: •Name and address of firm •Size of business (i.e., small, small disadvantaged business, woman owned, etc.) •Average annual revenue for the past 3 years and number of employees •Ownership •Number of years in business •Affiliate information •Parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential subcontractor) or subcontractors (if potential prime contractor) •List of customers covering the past five years (highlighting relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, and dollar value of each procurement) •Point of contact - address and phone number; Submittal Requirements: Telephone responses are NOT solicited and will not be accepted. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. This synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract, nor will the Government pay for the solicited information. Please submit your response via email to the attention of the Contact Specialist, Mr. Noah Nielsen (noah.nielsen@noaa.gov) no later than January 7, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Each response shall be no more 15 single-sided, single-spaced pages (excluding the cover page), and each page shall be separately numbered, and shall be in.pdf format.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/WASC/AB-133F-16-RP-VCAFSC/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Place of Performance (Subject to Change):, Research surveys will occur in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. The cruise will commence out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska; there will be two stops in Nome, Alaska during the survey to exchange scientists and gear and provision the ship., Example Itinerary:, DRAFT Project Itinerary (DAS = days at sea), Leg 1, July 31Embark scientists in Dutch Harbor, AK, Aug 1-2Load gear/acoustic calibration, Aug 3Depart DH, transit to Beaufort Sea (5.5 DAS), Aug 8Arrive east transect (147°W), Aug 9-14Sample Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Slope transects (east to west), Aug 15-18Sample grid stations 73°N to 72.5°N (9 stations, ice dependent), Aug 18-19Transit to Nome (420 nm = evening of Aug 18; 1.8 DAS), Aug 20-21Arrive Nome and exchange scientists, gear, Leg 2, Aug 22Depart Nome, AK, transit to Barrow Canyon transect (430 nm; 1.8 DAS), Aug 24-27Complete Barrow Canyon, mooring deployment and Icy Cape (4 DAS), Aug 28-Sep 9Sample grid stations 72°N to 70°N (34 stations = 13 DAS), ice dependent), Sep 10Transit to Nome (320 nm = evening of Sep 8; 1.3 DAS), Sep 11Arrive Nome and exchange scientists, gear, Leg 2, Sep 13Depart Nome, AK, transit to 69°5N (320 nm; 1.3 DAS), Sep 14-30Sample grid stations 69°5N to 66°W (25 Stations= 11 DAS); complete Cape Lisburne, Point Hope (3 DAS); other ops and weather (3 DAS), Oct 1Transit to Dutch Harbor (660 nm; 2.5 DAS), Oct 4Offload and end cruise, Oct 5Scientists depart Dutch Harbor, United States
- Record
- SN03966083-W 20151212/151210234212-4efef932259922267460a4c760882269 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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