U. S. Department Of Commerce, NOAA, Central Administrative Support Center, 601 East 12th St., CC31, Rm. 1756, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

V -- CHARTER OF VESSEL WITH CREW AND AIRCRAFT WITH PILOT SOL 52WCNF706029PW DUE 031897 POC Patsy A. Willins, (816) 426-6823, x230 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is acquiring a fully equipped and crewed purse seiner capable of catching, holding, handling, and releasing adult red drum and an aircraft with an experienced spotter pilot for locating red drum schools. A critical aspect of the work is to minimize mortality to the fish. The base period of the contract will be for a minimum of 60 sea days to a maximum of 90 sea days for one (1) vessel with crew and for a minimum of 300 flight hours to a maximum of 600 flight hours for one (1) aircraft with pilot from June 16, 1997 to November 16, 1997. The option period, should it be exercised is for a minimum of 30 sea days to a maximum of 60 sea days for one (1) vessel with crew and for a minimum of 200 flight hours to a maximum of 400 flight hours for one (1) aircraft with pilot from June 16, 1998 through November 16, 1998. Some of the vessel requirements are as follows: 1) The vessel shall not be less that 55 feet (L.O.A.) and of a design and construction to withstand conditions normally encountered in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in the summer and fall seasons; 2) The vessel shall be capable of extended, prolonged cruising at speeds of eight knots; 3) The vessel shall have sufficient fuel, oil, potable water; food for the crew, and supply capacities for a minimum of ten (10) days continuous operation, etc.; 4) The vessel shall be fully capable of operating, deploying and retrieving a purse seine suitable to catch and hold red drum for as long as eight (8) hours; 5) The vessel shall provide a fully functional purse seine of 1500 feet minimum length and 100 feet minimum depth, of mesh size, rigging and design prevent for catching red drum in depths out to twelve fathoms; 6) The vessel shall be equipped with exterior lights of sufficient illumination (1,500 watts, minimum) to allow operation at night; 7) The vessel shall have sufficient deck space (approximately 12 ft.) to accommodate a work table 4 feet by 10 feet by 10 feet, with 4 to 6 scientists handling and tagging fish and recording data; 8) The vessel shall have brailling systems and equipment for brailling from a purse-seined school of red drum to the deck of the vessel; 9) The vessel shall have adequate vessel electrical power of 110 volts to operate scientific systems, etc.; 10) The vessel shall have adequate interior dry space for data recording and analyses for at least one scientist (approx. 25 square feet, min.); 11) The vessel shall provide dry storage space for approximately 27 cubic feet scientific supplies and equipment. Additional deck or other secure space shall be available for storage or one 4' X 1' X 1' fish cradle; 12) The vessel shall have sufficient freezer storage space to hold minimum of 20,000 pounds of red drum. Solicitation No. 52WCNF706029PW will be issued on or about February 18, 1997. All requests for the solicitation must be in writing. Requests may be facsimiles (faxed) to (816) 426-7530. Faxed receipt is the responsibility of the bidder. All responsible sources may submit a bid which will be considered by the agency. (0024)

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