SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Evaluate the Target Catch & Bycatch Reduction Effectiveness of Surface and Mid-Water Drift Gillnets in Trinidad
- Notice Date
- 8/3/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 813312
— Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office, SSMC4 - Room 7601/OFA61 1305 East West Highway, 7th Floor, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
- ZIP Code
- 20910
- Solicitation Number
- NFFK0-6-419
- Response Due
- 8/16/2006
- Archive Date
- 8/31/2006
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13, as supplemented with additional information in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation Number NFFK0-6-419 is issued as a request for quotation. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 813312. The single largest threat to the Critically Endangered leatherback turtle in Trinidad, and arguably through-out the Atlantic Ocean, is the accidental capture of the species in coastal gillnet fisheries. The entanglement problem in Trinidad also places a severe strain on the ability of fishers to operate economically, and is so severe that many are unable to fish during the leatherback nesting season. In a number of studies, it is estimated that as many as 3,000 entanglements occur each year in Trinidad and that as much as 35% of those entanglements result in the death of the turtle (Fournillier and Eckert 1999; Eckert and Lien 1999; Lee Lum, 2003, Gass, 2005). In response to this problem, the NMFS sponsored a National Consultation hosted by the international Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) and the Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Invited participants included stakeholders from the fishing communities in Trinidad and Tobago; non-government conservation organizations; international fishing and conservation experts and Trinidad and Tobago government natural resource management agencies and the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The objective of the consultation was to develop a plan to reduce the interaction of leatherback turtles with the fishery without reducing the ability of fishers to support themselves. The output of the consultation was a plan that describes a series of investigations to be undertaken in bycatch reduction (Eckert and Eckert, 2005) with the eventual objective that one or more of the reduction methods could be adopted by the fishery. Such methods include the evaluation of new bait types, (artificial, dead and non-traditional) to enhance hook and line fishing as a replacement for nets. Also described was use of new technologies or gear modifications such as power take-up reels or using alternate net materials, and Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD). It was also proposed that modifications in net fishing methods be tested such as adjusting the depth of the net to avoid surface swimming turtles. Devising means to repel turtles from nets was also recommended, such as the use of sonic pingers which are effective on small cetaceans, and the adding of shark silhouettes to the nets. Finally, new regulatory regimes were considered that would ban net fishing from 1 March to 31 May within a region extending from the southern end of Fishing Pond Beach to the western end of Paria Beach and extending 8 km offshore. The primary goal of this initial gear experiment is to determine whether a modified mid-water set gillnet can be successfully deployed and fished in local Trinidad waters and whether the target catch can be realized. Specific objectives follow: 1) Conduct an experiment testing conventional surface set gillnets and modified mid-water set gillnets to evaluate bycatch of several species groups; 2) Compare the catch rates of target species of finfish for each net type; 3) Compare the catch rates of bycatch species of finfish for each net type; 4) Compare the catch rates of sea turtles for each net type; and 5) Collect basic life history information on all captured turtles. The contractor shall provide the following tasks: a) Construct two experimental and two control gillnets of 250 yards length each; b) Convene planning and training meetings with identified fishers to review study design, implementation, and reporting; c) Conduct at-sea training of selected fishers to ensure gear is deployed properly and all necessary data are properly collected and recorded; d) Conduct 30 fishing trips in 2006 along the Northern and Eastern Coasts of Trinidad. Quantify target catch and bycatch catch per unit effort (CPUEs) in an experimental mid-water drift gillnet and in a traditional surface drift gillnet, using a matched pair experimental design. Traditionally set standard surface drift gillnets will serve as controls, while experimental nets will consist of identical nets suspended approximately 10 to 15 feet below the surface. Construct nets (250 yards in length) of materials that are consistent with gear used by local fishermen; e) Deploy paired nets in a manner consistent with traditional fishing practices. Acquire GPS readings for each end and the middle of each net in the paired deployments; f) Use an observer on each trip to collected data consisting of date, location (latitude longitude via GPS of each end and middle of each net), catch, bycatch and effort data for each net type within each haul. Use standard NMFS data sheets for recording data; g) Collect information on each captured turtle, including species, photographs, measurements as possible dependent on sea conditions, sex (if possible), determine whether PIT or flipper tags are present and record data. Sea conditions permitting, apply flipper and PIT tags to unmarked turtles; and h) Calculate catch rates for target species and bycatch (catch/yards of gillnet/hour soaked). Conduct pair-wise comparisons of CPUEs for each catch category for control and experimental nets to detect significant differences. The period of Performance is date of award through August 31, 2007. Deliverables: The contractor shall submit a Progress Report on or before October 31, 2006, a Second Progress Report on or before January 31, 2007 and submit five (5) copies of the Final Comprehensive Report on or before August 31, 2007. The Final Report must reference the purchase order number on the cover page of the report. Quotes will be evaluated based upon approach, past performance, and price. The solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2005-11. The provisions and clauses may be downloaded at http://www.acqnet.gov/far. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors ? Commercial, FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation ? Commercial Items. The Government shall award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter whose quote conforms to the solicitation and will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following evaluation factors while relatively equal are listed in order of importance: (i) approach, (ii) past performance, (iii) price; FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications ? Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions ? Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders ? Commercial Items. All interested contractors must be actively registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at the CCR website www.ccr.gov. All responsible sources that can meet the requirements and provide services listed above may respond to this combined synopsis/solicitation with a quote addressed to Gina E. Lee, NOAA Acquisition Division, 1305 East West Highway, Room 7144, Silver Spring, MD 20910, to be received no later than August 16, 2006. Responses may be faxed to (301) 713-0806 or e-mailed to Gina.E.Lee@noaa.gov. The Government reserves the right to make a single award, multiple awards, or no award as a result of this RFQ.
- Record
- SN01105142-W 20060805/060803220411 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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