SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- DEVELOPMENT OF SEABIRD MITIGATION MEASURES FOR TRAWL VESSELS
- Notice Date
- 7/30/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Administrative Support Center, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, WA, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- WASC-4-1295
- Response Due
- 8/16/2004
- Point of Contact
- Randall Brown, Purchasing Agent, Phone (206) 526-6226, Fax (206) 526-6025,
- E-Mail Address
-
randal.w.brown@noaa.gov
- Description
- Combined synopsis/solicitation to assist with research, development, and pilot testing of seabird mitigation devices on trawl processors. Work to be conducted for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) in Seattle, WA. Introduction and Issue Statement Fishing vessels using trawl gear target a variety of groundfish species throughout Alaskan waters. These vessels range in vessel size, time and area of operation, and other aspects. Trawls are deployed using 2 heavy cables that run from vessel winches, through blocks, and to the large trawl doors. The net is attached to these trawl doors. Many trawl vessels also deploy a small cable (Athird wire@) from the vessel to the trawl sonar net monitoring device. Observer coverage occurs on vessels 60 feet length-over-all and greater. In this fleet the incidental take of seabirds have been documented during groundfish observer species composition sampling of the catch. These birds are recovered from within the net. Seabird mortality resulting from interactions with the trawl cables and the third wire has also been documented, but is not directly monitored by groundfish observers. Therefore, the temporal and spatial distribution of seabird mortalities from these interactions is unknown. This issue is pertinent because the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) Alaska Region completed an Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that resulted in a Biological Opinion with specific requirements of NOAA Fisheries. It is important to note that no incidental takes of short-tailed albatross have so far been recorded for trawl gear although sightings around trawl fishing vessels have been reported, and a likely to adversely affect determination was made. One requirement of the Biological Opinion is to characterize the nature of short-tailed albatross interactions with trawl gear. The Biological Opinion also has discretionary conservation measures. These include characterizing seabird interactions with trawl vessels and developing mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate seabird mortalities. NOAA Fisheries is currently exploring means to achieve these requirements and conservation measures. An observer project is underway to develop improved methods of estimating total seabird mortality for various trawl industry sectors. Unfortunately, the observer’s ability to monitor total seabird mortalities is compromised by other critical sampling needs. Development and implementation of mitigation measures may be a better solution, which is the basis for this procurement. Problem Resolution Ultimately, the resolution to seabird interactions with trawl cables, third wires, and the trawl net is to develop effective mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate seabird interactions and mortalities. NOAA Fisheries is currently engaged in efforts to characterize the nature of seabird interactions with trawl gear, and to develop estimates of seabird mortality by species. Parallel to this effort, NOAA Fisheries wishes to support industry efforts to develop and test measures that would mitigate seabird interactions with this gear. Funds are provided through this procurement action to support research and development into possible seabird/trawl mitigation measures. STATEMENT OF WORK The Government will award one bid in this procurement action. Award will be made to one of the two trawl fishery components that conduct at-sea processing of catch. The development of mitigation measures is being targeted for at-sea catcher/processor facilities due to the sometimes large numbers of birds that attend these vessels. The two groups for which bids will be entertained are: Group 1. Pollock Catcher/processors deploying pelagic trawl gear, vessels larger than 125 feet. These vessels currently all deploy third wires as well. Group 2. Groundfish catcher/processors deploying non-pelagic gear, vessels larger than 125 feet. These vessels may or may not use third wires, depending on the fishery they are engaged in. We are focusing this procurement on these two components due to best available information on where the interactions rates may be highest. NOAA Fisheries is working to improve its ability to monitor all sources of seabird mortality in Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries. Future procurement actions such as this one may address means of adapting measures developed here for other vessel classes where appropriate. Funds available through this procurement are to assist with the research, development, and pilot testing of seabird mitigation devises which would reduce interactions with trawl cables and third wires. The funds should be used to design several measures, complete fabrication where appropriate, and assess the use of the measures under typical commercial fishing activities. Assessment should address the use of the measures, including ensuring crew safety, ease of deployment, dependability, and durability. Assessment should also provide preliminary information on how effectively the measures reduce seabird interactions with trawl gear. This would best be achieved through direct monitoring of seabird interactions under an array of field conditions such as weather, sea state, and juxtaposition to the offal field. Of particular importance is to note effectiveness during the set, normal towing procedure, vessels turns, gear issues such as short-wiring the trawl net, and haulback. Seabird mortalities are also caused when birds interact with the trawl net. This procurement action will focus on development of mitigation measures for trawl cables and the third wire. However, procedures ultimately need to be developed for the net as well. It may be possible to develop measures that address all these sources of mortality at the same time. Inclusion of a possible mitigation measure that does so will be considered advantageous. Objectives 1. Conduct appropriate research, development, and assessment to provide advice to the industry and government on which seabird/trawl mitigation measures are likely to be the most effective in reducing seabird interactions with trawl cables and third wires. 2. Measures should address trawl cables and third wires, or just trawl cables, depending on the fishery component. 3. Explore several different measures in order to make a reliable assessment. 4. Ensure that the recommendations for measures based on field assessment are representative of the class of vessels and has support from other vessel operators. Project Description The project includes a start up phase where a variety of ideas are discussed and several of those ideas are chosen for development and testing at sea. Vessels would then need to be fitted out with appropriate gear and a protocol established for assessments which would meet the requirements noted above. Field testing should be completed within several months of award, followed by report writing. The primary final product of this project is to make recommendations on which seabird mitigation devices should be tested under a rigorous experimental design to be implemented at a later date. As a priority, funding will be supplied to entities that can engage several different vessels to complete field testing of a variety of mitigation measures. Funds support the development of measures, field deployment, assessment, and reporting. Several measures should be developed and tested within a vessel group noted above. Deliverables The primary deliverables on this project are the recommendations on which measures were most effective for a given fishery component, and a report on research, development, and field assessment procedures and activities. The report should include the following: - Design Phase: types of measures considered, and selection procedure used to decide which measure to test. - Fabrication: costs and vendors involved in the fabrication of measures. If materials are readily available on the market, note so in the report. - Logistics: how each vessel involved in the study was fitted out for the measures, costs involved, and any problems that were encountered. Note how problems were addressed. - Assessment – operational: Comment on how crew safety was ensured and note any risks posed by the measures, the ease with which the crew could deploy and retrieve the measures, and the overall durability and dependability of the measures - Assessment -- effectiveness: Methods used to evaluate seabird interaction rates with third wires and/or trawl cables as appropriate. The report should include interaction rates with and without measures, and comments on effectiveness of the measures under the variables noted above (weather conditions, sea state, juxtaposition to offal field, etc.). Schedule for Period of Performance Design should begin shortly after award. Simple designs should be deployed and tested as soon as possible whereas those that require more lead time can be tested later. Field testing should incorporate different seasons where possible. It is expected that within one year of award the design and assessment will be completed. Analysis of the monitoring data should occur within two months of completion of field work. A report will be due within 18 months of the award date and include the information noted above. A specific schedule will be agreed on shortly after award. Bids that propose to complete the project in less time while maintaining overall quality will be considered superior. Evaluation Factors Proposals will be evaluated using the criteria noted below. While preference will be provided to industry associations, owners of vessels who submit a superior proposal and whose vessel is reasonably representative of the particular fishery component will be considered. Bidders can leverage their proposals by noting any design discussions already completed. Where possible, government funds available will pay for the entire proposal. However, should these funds prove insufficient to fully support a superior proposal, a willingness by the vendor to provide partial or full matching funds will be considered important. Funds will support as much as one bid as is possible. The technical aspect of proposals will primarily be evaluated on: 1. Ability to provide several vessel=s to explore different mitigation measures. 2. How representative the vessels are to one of the two fishery components noted above. 3. Quality of overall proposal, including how the vendor plans to address the design, fabrication, and assessment stages. 4. Ability to address the deliverables noted above. 5. Qualifications of key personnel 6. Previous work completed on developing seabird/trawl mitigation measures. 7. Proposed timeline for project milestones and overall completion. Projected costs will also be considered and evaluated. If available government funds cannot fully support a proposal that is considered technically superior, the bidder will be contacted to determine whether cost-sharing is possible. Cost-sharing, if necessary, will be considered before final decisions are made. Bidders should note in their proposal whether they would entertain sharing costs on this work. Recommendation for Bidders. While government funds are available for this cooperative research, they may not be enough to pay for all aspects of the work. Bidders should structure their proposal such that estimates are provided for each major phase of the project. This procurement will cover as much of the cost as is possible, but final award may be based on the ability for the bidder to provide partial or matching funds. Where possible, government funds will pay for the overall project. Should a surplus exist after bid award, components of additional proposals may be considered. Although preference will be given to bids from industry associations, individual vessel owners are welcome to apply as well. Data Confidentiality. At the time of this writing we have sought guidance from NOAA General Counsel on confidentiality of the raw data and data monitoring aspects. It is expected that the final interaction rates and seabird mortalities will be reported, by species, in the final report and are as such public information. The advice we seek is whether the raw data from monitoring activities are also public information should the vendor provide their own matching funds to address this component of the study. That issue should be resolved prior to final negotiations and bid award. NOTE: THIS NOTICE MAY HAVE POSTED ON WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (30-JUL-2004). IT ACTUALLY APPEARED OR REAPPEARED ON THE FEDBIZOPPS SYSTEM ON 15-SEP-2004, BUT REAPPEARED IN THE FTP FEED FOR THIS POSTING DATE. 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