U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/AGFS/AMD -- OFA51, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

D -- MOBILE TRANSCEIVER UNIT SOL NMFSYINMTU DUE 101598 POC LaMar Carlson 301/713-0839 E-MAIL: Lamar.Carlson@agf.noaa.gov, Sandra.Yin@noaa.gov. The Department of Commerce/NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)/Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) request a response from companies that have the interest and capabilities for supplying Mobile Transceiver Units (MTU). This is a request for information only. No solicitation is available. The MTU is a transceiver or communications device installed on fishing vessels participating in the OLE Vessel Management System (VMS). The MTU transmits geographic position information. It enables mobile and satellite communications services between OLE and the vessel using an MTU-compatible communications carrier. The OLE VMS has adopted an open architecture. Open architecture fosters consumer choice in a fast changing competitive industry, while keeping VMS less dependent on specific proprietary implementations. OLE will incrementally integrate combinations of mobile communications and transceiver technologies that can meet OLE standards for a targeted fishery. The intent of this Request for Information is todetermine how NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement shall structure the US fishing vessel management program to include the type approval of MTU. The objective is to approve one or more MTU for use as VMS mobile transceivers conditional on meeting the OLE "Mobile Transceiver Unit Specification of Requirements." The OLE wants to set VMS standards, while keeping the government role simple with minimum red tape. Also, the fishing industry does incur private costs; the government wants to allow an open system allowing the fishing industry to select vendors of their own choosing where applicable for a permit in a given fishery. Based on the responses from service providers, NMFS Enforcement might follow up in two ways. (1) Issue a statement to accept or deny the type approval of a respondent. (2) Request a fact sheet from the service provider geared to the fishing industry so those in the trade can make purchase decisions that are compatible with the NMFS National VMS standards. This RFI is the vehicle to decide which MTU shall be permitted in the emerging VMS pilots and experiments over the immediate and near term. While OLE expects VMS targets over the next year will primarily use Inmarsat-C, OLE is open to other alternatives that can satisfy both OLE standards and the needs of the fishery. Example targets include: (1) US ICCAT swordfish fleet (projected operations 10 boats over 24m Jan. 1, 1999. (2) Swordfish fleet (projected operations 30 boats under 24m over 2 years). (3) Alaska Atka Mackerel fishery (projected 12 boats 1999). OLE expects that pending successful VMS pilots, VMS will rapidly expand nationwide to add fisheries that are currently using VMS experimentally or have proposed regulations under discussion. OLE shall perform MTU type approval: when US vessels indicate they wish to use a particular MTU for VMS; for MTU currently used in VMS; and for MTU which have passed a comparable type approval process in other domestic or foreign fisheries management efforts. The MTU must be compatible with approved Mobile Communications Service Providers (MCSP) or MCSP pending approval. (NOTE -- MCSP used by fishing vessels registered in VMS shall also submit to an approval process, reference OLE "Mobile Communications Service Providers Specification of Requirements." The MCSP approval shall be addressed by a separate RFI.) (NOTE -- OLE plans to purchase and implement a VMS surveillance control center that serves our expanding needs. Reference the request for procurement announced in CBD submission number 234277 Aug 7, 1998.)Offerors who believe they can satisfy the requirement must address their ability in writing. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirements. As needed, NMFS OLE will conduct visual inspection at MTU field operations. Vendors shall forward: (1) a written statement of capability, including detailed technical information and other technical literature demonstrating the ability to meet the requirements; and (2) a cost and services breakdown for OLE and private vessels participating in NMFS VMS that purchase MTU. Offerors may base cost estimates for NMFS and fishing industry charges at various purchase levels. For example, <500 boats, 500-1000 boats, and increments of 1000 additional boats, stating length of time the offer is valid and suggesting how new terms are updated and renegotiated. Responses due NLT Oct 15. For requesting the document, "Mobile Transceiver Unit Providers Specification of Requirements," and other technical inquiries contact: Dept of Commerce/NOAA, ATTN: Sandra Yen, 8484 Georgia Ave, Room 415. Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, phone 301-427-2300x124. E-mail Sandra.Yin@noaa.gov. Procurement POC LaMar Carlson 301-713-0839x196 E-mail Lamar.Carlson@agf.noaa.gov. Posted 09/08/98 (W-SN246779). (0251)

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