Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, MS2500, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 22070-4817

B -- FORAGE FISH ASSESSMENT IN COOK INLET OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT AREAS SOL 1435-01-97-RP-30858 POC Cate Keaser, Procurement Technician (703) 787-1354 or Rhonda Watkins, Contract Specialist (703) 787-1386 E-MAIL: Contract Specialist, Rhonda.Watkins@mms.gov. The Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, intends to competitively award a contract to conduct a study to determine forage fish abundance, composition, diet, biomass and nutrient quality at key locations in nutrient rich coastal areas. This study will investigate linkages between forage fish and their physical and biological environment. PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY NOTICE THAT WILL BE ISSUED. Additional study details: The study will explore the ecological role of forage fishes by multi-year sampling to determine their relative biomass, nutritional status, and exposure to organic contaminants. The study will be concentrated in nearshore (less than 2 km offshore) and offshore (less than 8 km) areas adjacent to Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks. The goal of this study is to build on information for the Cook Inlet/Shelikof Strait area obtained and analyzed from studies previously conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), National Park Service, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, and National Biological Service, and ongoing studies of fish and seabird research being conducted by the ADF&G and the Biological Resources Division (BRD) of the U.S. Geological Service (USGS). These studies include topics such as seabird response to forage fish density fluctuations, monitoring marine mammal and seabird populations and productivity at lower Cook Inlet/Shelikof Strait colonies and Pacific sandlance ecology and demographics in lower Cook Inlet. The study will be coordinated with other ongoing USGS-BRD and Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council oceanographic and ecological studies being conducted in the Cook Inlet area. Objectives of this study are: 1) Determine the seasonal variability (in Cook Inlet) of forage fish composition (age, sex, length, etc.) including otolith aging of fishes (in Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait); 2) Determine the relative biomass, position of the schools in the water column and school dimensions (length, width and depth) of high-quality (high-lipid) forage fish in Cook Inlet/Shelikof Strait and any seasonal variability of these parameters for Cook Inlet; 3) Evaluate forage fish lipid, ash and protein content proximate composition analysis) Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait forage fishes and determine any seasonal variability for Cook Inlet; 4) Conduct cytochrome P450A1 analysis to determine the exposure of forage fishes to trace organic contaminants in lower Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait; and 5) Identify, enumerate and weigh forage fish stomach contents to determine diet in Cook Inlet and Shelikof Strait and seasonal variability for Cook Inlet forage fishes. Primary study products will include Quarterly Progress Reports, Planning and Technical Meetings, Logistics, Cruise and Sampling Plans, Cruise Reports, Presentation Slide Sets, Draft and Final Annual Reports, and Submission of a Journal Article. HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this contract, interested parties mustdemonstrate that they are qualified to perform the work by providing WITHIN 21 CALENDAR DAYS of publication of this notice, a Capabilities Statement detailing: (l) your key personnel (those who would have the primary responsibility for performing and/or managing the study) with their qualifications and specific experience; (2) your organization's experience with this type of work and a description of your facilities; and (3) specific references (including project identifier & description, period of performance, dollar amount, client name & current telephone number) for previous work of this nature that your personnel or organization is currently performing or has completed within the last two years. (References will be checked). Offerors shall submit an original and two copies of Capabilities Statement to Ms. Rhonda Watkins, Contracting Officer, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, 381 Elden St., MS 2510, Herndon, VA 20170-4817. Two additional copies shall be submitted to Ms. Valerie Elliott, Minerals Management Service, AKOCS, 945 E. 36th Avenue, Room 300, Anchorage, AK 99508-4302. Timeliness of receipt of any submissions will be determined by the time received in the Procurement Operations Branch, Herndon, VA. Your Capabilities Statement will be evaluated based on the skills, abilities and demonstrated experience of your proposed key personnel; experience and past performance of your organization, including number, size, location of projects, and complexity of similar projects completed by the proposed project team and your organization to determine your potential for success and contract award. Past performance includes adherence to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of cost control, the acceptability of previous products delivered, effectiveness of program management, and the offeror's willingness to cooperate with the customer in both routine matters and when confronted by unexpected difficulties. Following review of all capabilities statements submitted, those offerors judged most qualified to successfully perform the study will be provided additional written proposal instructions. The Technical Proposal will be primarily in the form of an oral presentation on how you will perform the work with a question and answer session to follow. Oral Presentations will take place in Anchorage, AK. As stated above, additional written proposal instructions will be forwarded detailing the requirements for submission of the following documents prior to the oral presentations: (1) a written presentation summary; (2) a project management plan; and (3) a business proposal. Questions should be faxed to (703) 787-1009 or Emailed as soon as possible to Rhonda.Watkins@mms.gov. Please include the "RFP Number 3858" as well as your full name, organization name, address, phone and fax numbers. Requests or questions by telephone are strongly discouraged. Any conflict in the due date shown in this notice will be governed by this narrative (i.e. capabilities statements are due 21 days from the date this notice is published). (0066)

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