Department of Commerce, NOAA, 200 World Trade Center, Room 209, Norfolk, VA 23510-1624

F -- SORTING OF PLANKTON SAMPLES SOL 52-EANF-7-00048 POC Lynne Phipps (757) 441-6881 Contract Specialist, Melvyn DesJarlais (757) 441-6647, Contracting Officer E-MAIL: Sorting of plankton samples, Lynn.B.Phipps@noaa.gov. The National Marine Fisheries Service has a requirement for services to sort, identify, enumerate, measure and enter data of a variable number of samples from plankton tows taken from the Georges Bank area, typically between January and June. Samples are collected with obliquely towed 61cm bongo nets and depth stratified 1-m MOCNESS nets, both fitted with 335 micron mesh nets and preserved in either formalin or ETOH. The sample processing protocol follows that of Jossi and Marak 1983 (referred to as the MARMAP protocol). For each sample, the contractor shall determine the displacement volume. Then following processing protocols stated in the contract, the contractor shall sort each sample for ichthyoplankton, including fish eggs, for zooplankton, or for both, as specified by the Government. The contractor shall be responsible for providing transportation of samples from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Laboratory in Narrangansett, RI to their facility and to return the samples to the Narrangansett Lab at the end of the contract performance period. The contractor shall maintain an inventory of the samples received, processed and returned. The contractor period of performance will include two 1-year option periods. Anticipated start date will be July 1, 1997. Anticipated issue date of the solicitation is May 15, 1997 with a closing date of June 15, 1997. This action is 100% set-aside for small business. Requests for a copy of the solicitation must be in writing. Telephone requests will not be honored. Fax reqeusts to (757) 441-3786. All responsible small business concerns may submit a proposal which this agency will consider. See Notes 1 and 26. (0114)

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