SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- NOAA NEFSC Protected Species Branch Turtle Tagging and Satellite Tag Data Collection
- Notice Date
- 2/21/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisition Division, Norfolk Federal Building, 200 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia, 23510
- ZIP Code
- 23510
- Solicitation Number
- NFFM7320-12-02205
- Point of Contact
- Melissa Safreed, Phone: 757-441-3413, Brendon J Johnson, Phone: 757-441-3344
- E-Mail Address
-
Melissa.Safreed@noaa.gov, brendon.johnson@noaa.gov
(Melissa.Safreed@noaa.gov, brendon.johnson@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY - Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government. The Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Norfolk, VA is soliciting information on behalf of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for Contractor performance of tagging loggerhead sea turtles and tracking the satellite tag data. BACKGROUND The Protected Species Branch (PSB) of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a requirement for data from satellite tags on 20 juvenile and adult loggerhead sea turtles in the southern U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, ideally off of Virginia and northern North Carolina. Additionally, the requirement includes additional work to assess sea turtle availability bias by 1) conducting experimental detection trials, 2) comparing estimates of availability bias based on aerial survey data verses satellite tag data, and 3) using simulations to evaluate various methods for combining sea turtle behavior and line transect data. SCOPE As a part of the AMAPPS initiative, the NEFSC seeks to obtain information from 20 satellite tags on loggerhead sea turtles captured (via dipnet or other appropriate means) in nearshore or inshore Mid-Atlantic waters. NEFSC wants to improve the estimation of availability bias for loggerhead sea turtles in Mid-Atlantic waters. The Contractor shall provide the personnel and materials necessary to perform the following services in accordance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW). Supply data from satellite tags on 20 loggerhead sea turtles tagged in Mid-Atlantic waters off Maryland through northern North Carolina. Capture, sample, handle, and tag twenty (20) loggerhead turtles in accordance with the Statement of Work. REQUIREMENTS In support of the operation of the tagging the loggerhead sea turtles and tracking the satellite tag data, a Contractor would furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services, and facilities to perform the following services: 1.Provide a seaworthy vessel for capturing and sampling loggerheads in offshore waters in Virginia and Northern North Carolina. 2.Supply all necessary gear to sight, capture, tag, and sample 20 loggerhead sea turtles. 3.Have minimum of four (4) qualified contractor vessel crew personnel to sample 20 loggerhead sea turtles. 4.Produce a final report which includes the methods used for capture, handling, and sampling; the data collected; a discussion on any unusual or unexpected events, as well as a list of recommendations for improving similar projects in the future. Additionally, the Government may exercise optional items for the following work: 1.Deploy twenty (20) model turtles in turbid areas which includes the Chesapeake Bay and in clearer areas which includes the Mid-Atlantic offshore at various depths and various angles. Repeatedly fly over the models with a survey plane and conduct the detection trials in accordance with AMAPPS observing protocols. 2.Estimate availability bias. 3.Conduct experimental detection trials and analyze data to determine the depth at which turtles were available to be seen and its relationship to turbidity levels The DOC, NOAA is seeking the following information: 1.Potential Respondents shall describe how they would propose to successfully tag and capture the satellite tag data, assuming that all services provided by Respondent would be accomplished in accordance with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. 2.Potential Respondents shall describe both their existing permits to capture and tag loggerhead sea turtles. 3. Potential respondents shall provide documentation as whether the respondent can be represented as a small business concern under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, 541712, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). 4.Potential Respondents shall respond to this Request for Information with a price sheet and a description of the services that may be provided. Price estimates should be included for each item of service. Respondents shall not be obligated to provide the services described herein and it is understood by the United States Government that the price estimates provided as a result of this request are "best" estimates only. The draft Statement of Work (SOW) is included with this announcement. Note: This announcement is a Request for Information and no contract will be awarded pursuant to this announcement. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. The response date for this Request for Information market research is March 24, 2012 at 4:00 P.M. No collect calls will be accepted. All responses to this RFI may be submitted via e-mail via e-mail to Melissa Safreed, Contract Specialist, at Melissa.Safreed@noaa.gov, courtesy copy to Brendon Johnson, Contracting Officer, at Brendon.Johnson@noaa.gov, and with a hard copy to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Eastern Region Acquisition Division, 200 Granby St., Room 815, Norfolk, VA 23510. Note: The phone number for the Contract Specialist is (757)-441-3413 and the fax number is (757) 664-3656. DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK 1. INTRODUCTION A comprehensive research program to assess the abundance and spatial distribution of marine mammals, sea turtles, and sea birds in US waters of the western North Atlantic Ocean has been established as an inter-agency agreement (IA) between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service). The research program is called Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS). The goal of AMAPPS is to coordinate the data collection and analysis efforts of the NOAA Fisheries Service Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers and the US Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Birds to accomplish six primary objectives: 1) Collect broad-scale data over multiple years on the seasonal distribution and abundance of marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds), sea turtles, and sea birds using direct aerial and shipboard surveys of coastal US Atlantic Ocean waters; 2) Collect similar data at finer scales at several (~3) sites of particular interest to NOAA partners using visual and acoustic survey techniques; 3) Conduct telemetry studies of sea turtles, pinnipeds and seabirds to develop corrections for availability bias in the abundance estimate and to collect additional data on habitat use and life-history, residence time, and frequency of use; 4) Explore alternative platforms and technologies to improve population assessment studies; 5) Assess the population size of surveyed species at regional scales; and 6) Develop models and associated tools to translate these survey data into seasonal, spatially-explicit density estimates incorporating habitat characteristics. 2. BACKGROUND The Protected Species Branch (PSB) of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a requirement for data from satellite tags on 20 juvenile and adult loggerhead sea turtles in the southern U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, ideally off of Virginia and northern North Carolina. Additionally, the requirement includes additional work to assess sea turtle availability bias by 1) conducting experimental detection trials, 2) comparing estimates of availability bias based on aerial survey data verses satellite tag data, and 3) using simulations to evaluate various methods for combining sea turtle behavior and line transect data. 3. SCOPE As a part of the AMAPPS initiative, the NEFSC seeks to obtain information from 20 satellite tags on loggerhead sea turtles captured (via dipnet or other appropriate means) in nearshore or inshore Mid-Atlantic waters. NEFSC wants to improve the estimation of availability bias for loggerhead sea turtles in Mid-Atlantic waters. The Contractor shall provide the personnel and materials necessary to perform the following services in accordance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW). Supply data from satellite tags on 20 loggerhead sea turtles tagged in Mid-Atlantic waters off Maryland through northern North Carolina. Capture, sample, handle, and tag twenty (20) loggerhead turtles in accordance with the Statement of Work. REQUIREMENTS Task 1. Contractor Vessel Requirements The contractor shall provide a seaworthy vessel for capturing and sampling loggerheads in offshore waters. The vessel shall be: 1.Capable of staying offshore for ten (10) sampling days, 2.Possess a small deployable inflatable boat for turtle capture, 3.Provide a method to transfer the turtle onto the deck of the contractor vessel, 4.Possess a sighting platform that is raised higher than the main deck to ensure juvenile and adult loggerhead turtles can be sighted from a distance 5.Possess a flat main deck that is large enough to complete the biological sampling. 6.The vessel shall be available for a sufficient number of days to capture 15 loggerheads or a maximum requirement of 10 sampling days. Task 2. Contractor Sampling Gear Requirements The contractor shall supply all necessary gear to sight, capture, tag, and sample 20 loggerhead sea turtles. Satellite tagging protocols shall describe the protocols which will be used to provide a thorough cleaning of the carapace prior to tag attachment. Satellite tags shall be attached to the loggerhead turtles using AnchorFix-1 epoxy. Additionally, the contractor vessel shall have the following gear: capture gear (dip net, etc), binoculars, several small golf cart sized tires and other appropriate restraint devices, disposable gloves, phlebotomy supplies for taking approximately 12 ccs from the turtle and separating it into 1 red topped vacutainer, 2 green topped vacutainers, 2 HVC tubes, 2 ISTAT cartridges, and 4 glass slides; one standard and one microhematric centrifuge; cooler for storage and shipping, a refractometer for measuring total blood solids, sharps container, a thermometer for measuring cloacal temperature, a stopwatch, a Doppler device for monitoring heart beat, flexible and rigid measuring devices for providing curved and straight measurements, a scale suitable for medium and large loggerheads (roughly 50 cm CCL to 100 cm CCL), cleaning supplies which includes Betadine, alcohol, and sterile cotton wipes) for preparing a sterile area, flipper tags and applicator, PIT tag scanner, applicator,/tags, biopsy punches and vials with DMSO, instruments to scrape keratin and vials for storage and shipment, vials to store and ship epibionts, thermometers for measuring air and water temperature, camera for taking digital pictures, supplies to clean the carapace and apply the satellite tag which shall include scrubbing pads, metal putty knives, rough and fine grit sandpaper, acetone, caulk gun, 2 tubes of AnchorFix-1 epoxy per turtle, rags, wooden tongue depressors, brightly colored electric tape, paper towels, rags and, and extra batteries for all electronic equipment. Depending on the vessel, it may be necessary to provide a canopy or other shading device so that the sea turtle can be shielded from the sun or light rain while on board the vessel. It is suggested that a portable ISTAT and multiple hand-held VHF radios be supplied. Ideally the contractor would have an existing ESA permit which covers the capture, sampling, handling, and tag application. Task 3. Contractor Vessel Capture, Sample, and Tagging Procedures In order to accomplish this, the contractor shall supply a minimum of four (4) qualified contractor vessel crew personnel. In past work when we captured turtles via dipnet, we needed AT LEAST four qualified personnel (but we always operated with more). When in the presence of turtles, one contractor vessel crew member shall operate the large vessel, one contractor vessel crew member shall stationed in a crow's nest and use binoculars to keep track of the location of a turtle and communicate its position to both vessel operators, one contractor vessel crew member shall operate the small vessel, and one contractor vessel crew member shall be stationed in the small vessel and operate the dip net. Both contractor vessel crew personnel in the small vessel shall have substantial upper-body strength in order to move the large dip net through the water and to capture a large loggerhead turtles. Captured loggerhead turtles may be heavy at approximately 250 lbs.) and large at approximate 100 cm curved carapace length. The contractor shall provide details about how turtles will be boated and released safely in the scientific approach. After the loggerhead turtle is captured, the contractor personnel shall safely bring the turtle on board to harmlessly and efficiently handle, sample, and tag the loggerhead turtle. When loggerhead turtles are on board, the contractor shall provide the personnel to have one data recorder, one turtle handler, and one turtle sampler, and one turtle tagger working as a team. If more than one turtle is brought on board the contractor vessel, the contractor shall increase the number of turtle handlers and samplers. The contracted staff shall have passed an approved fishing vessel safety course, which includes having been trained by a USCG certified trainer. NMFS may supply one person to assist with capture. The contractor shall capture, sample, and tag 15 loggerhead sea turtles in nearshore Mid-Atlantic waters, within 2-20 miles offshore of Maryland through northern North Carolina. The timeframe for proposed capture and sampling shall be justified. An ideal time for the fieldwork (capture, sampling, tagging) may be in early in May as loggerheads begin to migrate into the area. The size distribution of captured loggerheads shall be roughly proportional to the size distribution of loggerheads inhabiting the Mid-Atlantic nearshore waters. The handling and sampling for the fifteen (15) near shore loggerheads shall include the following: Epibiota removal; Count and survey; Instrument and epoxy attachment which includes the satellite tag); Mark and flipper tags; Mark and PIT tag; Measurements; Photograph and Video; Blood sample and analysis for health assessment; Blood samples and preparation for subsequent stable isotope analysis; Fecal Sample; Scute Scraping Sample (for subsequent stable isotope analysis); Tissue Sample which shall include including skin for subsequent stable isotope and genetic analysis; Handle, hold, and transport; Weight; Monitor and record heartbeat, Cloacal temperature, possible Cloacal lavage, Lesion swab, Clean pre-existing wounds. Once the above duties are complied with, the contractor shall return the turtles safely to sea, and submit the biological samples to NEFSC for processing as directed by the COTR. Task 4 Data Collection The contractor shall provide a complete dataset from five (5) additional satellite tags deployed on loggerheads in inshore or nearshore Mid-Atlantic waters between Maryland and northern North Carolina. The contractor shall provide the satellite tags and pay the ARGOS fees for these 5 turtles. To fulfill this portion of the contract, the contractor may supply data from tags previously deployed since January 2010) or tags that will be deployed in the future, so long as they are deployed prior to October 1, 2012. Tags deployed between March 2011 and April 2012 are preferred because this time period coincides with other NEFSC satellite tagging efforts) It is ideal but not necessary for the contractors to supply sample these 5 turtles according to the same protocols used to sample the 15 nearshore turtles (as above). The contractor-supplied satellite tag dataset must provide the average and standard deviation duration for surfacing events and for dive events. Additionally the contractor satellite tag datasets must provide the average percent of time spent within the top meter and within the top two meters. It is very strongly preferred that the tags provide all of the same information, in the same format, as is being provided by other tags funded by the NEFSC (>50 tags, all of which are built by Sea Mammal Research Unit and parameterized similarly). The parameterization of satellite tags used to support the 2011 loggerhead abundance estimate (NEFSC SEFSC 2011) can be found in the appendix of "2010 Annual Report to the Inter-Agency Agreement M10PG00075/0001: A Comprehensive Assessment of Marine Mammal, Marine Turtle, and Seabird Abundance and Spatial Distribution in US Waters of the western North Atlantic Ocean" by the NEFSC and SEFSC, available from NEFSC, Heather Haas, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543. Task 4. Samples and report The contractor shall send samples, supply data, and write a draft and final report. Contractors shall use a NMFS-supplied data sheet template for the non-telemetered data. Completed datasheets should be transferred to electronic format and returned to NMFS in hardcopy (original or photocopy) format as well as in electronic spreadsheet format. Flipper tag information should be reported directly to the Cooperative Marine Turtle Tagging Program (with CC to NEFSC). All telemetered tag data will be uploaded into a NMFS Oracle database. The contractor shall send biological samples (blood, skin, keratin, epibionts, etc.) to the appropriate contacts, as determined by NMFS. 3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance (for the base) shall be 1 year from the date the contract is awarded. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS and DATA AGREEMENTS The Contractor shall provide a report on vessel suitability and readiness that consists of documentation of chartered vessel and suitability of vessel and crew to facilitate study objectives. The Contractor must provide weekly reports to the COTR summarizing the research efforts during the time the fieldwork is being completed. Additionally, the contractor shall provide updates on the progress when requested. All data must be provided when requested and at the conclusion of the study. The contractor shall produce a final report which includes the methods used for capture, handling, and sampling; the data collected; a discussion on any unusual or unexpected events, as well as a list of recommendations for improving similar projects in the future. So long as the essential information (above) is included, the report may be brief and does not need to be in journal format. Quantitative analysis is not being requested in the final report. A draft of the final report shall be submitted to NEFSC within 45 days after the completion of fieldwork. The final report shall be submitted to NEFSC within 45 days after Contractor's receipt of the draft report back from NMFS/NEFSC. Both the final report and its draft shall be delivered in electronic format to the COTR at the Protected Species Branch, NEFSC, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543. All submitted products will be reviewed by the COTR for completeness within 45 days of receipt by NMFS/NEFSC. All data released to NEFSC by the contractors in this base project will become the property of NEFSC, and NEFSC will have exclusive publication rights to this data for the first three years after the completion of this project. NEFSC will invite the contractors to collaborate on the subsequent analysis and development of manuscripts (to be submitted to peer-reviewed journal). The contractors are not obligated to collaborate on subsequent manuscripts, and it is not anticipated that there will be funds to support this portion of the collaboration. II. OPTION ITEM REQUIREMENTS 5. OPTION ITEM Optional Item Contract Line Item (CLIN) 0002 BACKGROUND Producing reliable abundance estimates is a key component of the protected species stock assessment plan (NMFS 2004). In 2011 the SEFSC and NEFSC worked jointly under the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) to produce a preliminary abundance estimate of loggerhead turtles from Maine through Florida (NEFSC SEFSC 2011). The estimation of the surface abundance was calculated using the computer program Distance (version 6.0, release 2, Thomas et al. 2009). The AMAPPS study is unique because of its broad scale and the explicit use of contemporaneous sea turtle surfacing patterns to model availability bias. If sea turtles are not available to be seen by aerial survey observers because they sea turtles are diving deep below the surface, the abundance estimate will be negatively biased unless sea turtle behavior is incorporated into the analysis. Availability bias is a substantial source of bias (Marsh and Sinclair 1989); analytic methods for assessing availability bias should be developed and incorporated into the analysis of line transect data (Buckland et al 2004). Although line transect methods are often applied to marine animals (Buckland et al 2004), application of these methods to sea turtles has been minimal in comparison to marine mammals. There are several factors which make it difficult to model sea turtle availability bias and to combine sea turtle surfacing behavior with aerial survey data. Sea turtle surfacing behavior is highly correlated to environmental conditions (perhaps more so than endothermic marine mammals) and differ by an order of magnitude in space or time (NEFSC SEFSC 2011); sea turtles are relatively small and do not have large (whale blow) cues to aid in detection; and sea turtles can have very long dives. Typical methods (such as double platform) may be insufficient to estimate the abundance of long-diving animals because these animals can be completely missed while the observers pass (Okamura 2006). In marine mammal simulations, when diving time was long, the magnitude of bias can be nearly 50% and the interval between the 5th and 95th percentiles did not include the true population size (Okamura 2011). There are several methods (Laake et al 1997, Schweder et al 1999, Okamura et al 2011, Skaug et al. 2004; also see Buckland et al 2004) which could potentially be used or modified to model sea turtles well, but the appropriateness of these methods for sea turtle applications can only be accessed through simulation modeling. INTRODUCTION When discussing the shortcomings of the preliminary 2010 loggerhead abundance estimates, NEFSC and SEFSC (2011) recommended that more experiments be conducted to determine the approximate depth at which loggerheads are available to be detected by aerial observers. In addition to depth, sea turtle availability to aerial observers may be related to other variables such as turbidity and their orientation in the water (angle of ascent/descent). According to existing satellite tag data, loggerheads in the Mid-Atlantic are dry and at the surface ~ 10% of the time; <1m deep ~33% of the time, and 1-2 m deep ~ 7% of the time. We suspect that under certain conditions, turtles may be available to be seen within the first 0.5 m and under other conditions (offshore) turtles may be available to be seen within the first 2 meters. Because so much time is spent near the surface, it is important to clarify what proportion of the near-surface animals are available to be detected. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of CLIN 0002, is to assess sea turtle availability bias by 1) conducting experimental detection trials, 2) comparing estimates of availability bias based on aerial survey data verses satellite tag data, 3) using simulations to evaluate various methods for combining sea turtle behavior and line transect data. REQUIREMENTES Task 1: Experimental Detection Trials The contractor shall deploy twenty (20) model turtles in turbid areas which includes the Chesapeake Bay and in clearer areas which includes the Mid-Atlantic offshore at various depths and various angles. The contractor shall repeatedly fly over the models with a survey plane and conduct the detection trials in accordance with AMAPPS observing protocols. Turbidity levels shall be estimated from satellite-derived data and other reliable sources. Based on the experimental results, the depth at which turtles were available to be seen shall be estimated. The contractor shall focus on assessing availability bias, which occurs when turtles are not available to be seen. Perception bias occurs when turtles are available to be seen but are missed by observers and perception bias is accounted for in AMAPPS analysis by using double platform survey methods. Task 2: Estimate availability bias The contractor shall estimate availability bias using two methods. The contractor shall duplicate sea turtle aerial surveys in the Mid-Atlantic region in conjunction with line transect methodology to estimate availability bias. The contractor shall utilize existing aerial survey data or plans for surveys in 2012. The contractor shall propose additional surveys to achieve a sample size capable of robustly estimating availability bias. The survey work shall ideally occur in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. The contractors shall estimate loggerhead availability using existing satellite tag data. This component will use data from the 20 (15+5) satellite tag data from the base section of this SOW and compatible tags previously deployed by the NEFSC. In addition to calculating a point estimate and variability of availability bias from the satellite tag data, the contractor shall address the shortcomings of NEFSC SEFSC 2011 by analyzing the spatial, temporal, and individual variability in surfacing behavior. Task 3: Evaluate methods for modeling availability bias The contractor shall use simulation modeling to evaluate various methods for combining sea turtle behavior and lines transect data. The contractor shall build a simulation model with a range of sea turtle surfacing patterns and use the model to test several methods for incorporating availability bias into line transect methods. The results shall provide information on which methods are best suited to sea turtle applications. 5b. Optional Item CLIN 0003 Task 1: Experimental detection trials The contractor shall conduct experimental detection trials and analyze data to determine the depth at which turtles were available to be seen and its relationship to turbidity levels. The protocols used by the flight crew shall be similar to the AMAPPS protocols, including flight attitude.. The contractor shall supply an appropriate airplane pilot, two (2) to four (4) observers, and one (1) to two (2) data recorders. The contractors shall fabricate twenty (20) variably-sized, 3-dimensional models of loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and green sea turtles. The contractor shall create a subsurface anchoring system to ensure turtle models can be reliably anchored at various depths. Prior to the flight days, the contractor shall test the models to ensure the reliability of the anchoring system. In order to deploy and retrieve the turtle models, the contractor shall supply a seaworthy and appropriate vessel]. The contractor shall provide all necessary safety equipment for all contracted personnel and one NOAA representative (should NOAA choose to send a representative). Prior to analysis, the contractor shall enter all data into an electronic spreadsheet, and perform quality control checks on the data. Task 2: Estimate availability bias The contractor shall estimate loggerhead availability bias from aerial survey versus the satellite tag data. The contractor shall provide data from duplicate sea turtle aerial surveys in the Mid-Atlantic regions to estimate sea turtle availability bias by using line-transect survey methodologies. If additional flights are required to estimate the loggerhead availability bias, the contractor shall provide the necessary material and labor. Additionally, the contractor d shall follow AMAPPS protocols (as described in NEFSC SEFSC 2011. to the extent possible). The contractor shall estimate loggerhead availability using existing satellite tag data. In addition to calculating a point estimate (and variability) of availability bias from the satellite tag data, the contractor shall address the shortcomings of NEFSC SEFSC 2011 by also analyzing the spatial, temporal, and individual variability in surfacing behavior. Task 3: Evaluate methods for modeling availability bias The contractor shall use simulation modeling to evaluate methods for combining sea turtle behavior and line transect data. In this component, the contractor shall build a simulation model with a range of sea turtle surfacing patterns and use the model to test at least 3 methods for incorporating availability bias into line transect methods. The results shall provide information on which methods are best suited to sea turtle applications. 5c. Period of Performance (OPTION PERIOD) The period of performance (for the option) shall be 2 years from the date the contract is awarded. 5d. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS and DATA AGREEMENTS (OPTION) The Contractor shall provide a report on aircraft and vessel suitability and readiness that consists of documentation of chartered craft and suitability of craft and crew to facilitate study objectives. Report shall be delivered not later than 7 days prior to start of fieldwork. The Contractor must provide weekly reports to the COTR summarizing the research efforts during the time the fieldwork is being completed. Additionally, the contractor shall provide updates on the progress when requested. All data must beprovided when requested and at the conclusion of the study. The contractor shall produce a final report which includes a detailed description of the methods (including a copy of all the statistical and simulation code), raw data (in electronic format), results, and list of recommendations for future research. So long as the essential information (above) is included, the report may be brief and does not need to be in journal format. A draft of the final report shall be submitted to NEFSC within 18 months after the completion of fieldwork. The final report shall be submitted to NEFSC within 45 days after Contractor's receipt of the draft report back from NMFS/NEFSC. Both the final report and its draft shall be delivered in electronic format to the COTR at the Protected Species Branch, NEFSC, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543. All submitted products will be reviewed by the COTR for completeness within 45 days of receipt by NMFS/NEFSC. All data and results from this shall become the property of NEFSC, but publication rights will be jointly held by the contractors and NEFSC for the first three years after award of this contract. The contractors are under no obligation to prepare manuscripts intended for submission to peer reviewed journals, and it is not anticipated that there will be funds to support this portion of the collaboration. If the contractors choose not to participate in the development of manuscripts to submit to peer review journals, authorship standards (typical in the scientific community) should be followed. This will likely result in the contractors being the lead authors and NEFSC being secondary coauthors. If the contractors choose not to participate in the development of manuscripts to submit to peer review journals, the NEFSC will prepare the manuscripts and invite the contractors as coauthors. 6. SPECIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (BASE and OPTION). The COTR has determined that the final report to be delivered under this contract comes under Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-554), also known as the federal Information Quality Act of 2002. Consequently, there are additional requirements for documenting methods and providing data. Upon receipt of the electronic copy of the final contract report from the COTR, the NEFSC Editorial Office will subject the report to the NEFSC's standard scientific and technical manuscript review procedures in order to assure the quality of the data and information in the report. Based upon the NEFSC's review of the report, the NEFSC Editorial Office can request additional documentation from the contractor to assure the quality of the data and information in the report. The contractor is obligated to provide any such requested additional documentation. In particular, when preparing a final report on research activities and/or findings, an effort should be made by the contractor to fully document the methods (including any statistical analysis) and to fully cite the references associated with the research. By acceptance of this award, the contractor or recipient of this contract agrees to convey to the Government and others acting on its behalf a nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide right to reproduce, prepare derivative works, and distribute copies of the full and final report to the public. 7. QUALITY ASSURANCE/PROGRESS/COMPLIANCE The COTR will be responsible for determining that the work is performed as required. This is based on monitoring the progress of projects to which the contracted personnel are assigned. 8. LITERATURE CITED Buckland, ST, DR Anderson, KP Burnham, JL Laake, DL Borchers, and L Thomas. 2004. Advanced Distance Sampling: Estimating abundance of biological populations. Oxford University Press, 411p. Laake, JT, J Calambokidis, SD Osmek, DJ Rugh. 1997. Probability of detecting harbor porpoise from aerial surveys: estimating g(0). The Journal of Wildlife Management 61: 63-75. Marsh, H and DF Sinclair. 1989. Correcting for visibility bias in strip transect aerial survey of aquatic fauna. J. WildL. Manage. 53(4):1017-1024. NEFSC SEFSC 2011 Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2011. Preliminary summer 2010 regional abundance estimate of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in northwestern Atlantic Ocean continental shelf waterst. US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish Science Cent Ref Doc. 11-03; 33 p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026, or online at http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/ NMFS. 2004. A requirements plan for improving the understanding of the status of U.S. protected marine species. Report of the NOAA Fisheries National Task Force for Improving Marine Mammal and Turtle Stock Assessments. U.S. Dep. Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO, 112. Okamura, H, S Minamikawa, HJ Skaug, T Kishiro. 2011. Abundance Estimation of Long-Diving Animals Using Line Transect Methods. Biometrics. DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-0420.2011.01689.x Okamura, H, S Minamikawa, T Kitakado. 2006. Effect of surfacing patterns on abundance estimates of long-diving animals. Fisheries Science 72: 631-638. Schweder, T, HJ Skaug, M Langaas, XK Dimakos. 1999. Simulated Likelihood Methods for Complex Double-Platform Line Transect Surveys. Biometrics 55: 678-687. Skaug, HJ, N Øien, T Schweder, and G Bøthun. 2004. Abundance of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the Northeast Atlantic: variability in time and space. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 61: 870-886. Thomas L, Laake JL, Rexstad E, Strindberg S, Marques FFC, Buckland ST, Borchers DL, Anderson DR, Burnham KP, Burt ML, Hedley SL, Pollard JH, Bishop JRB, Marques TA. 2009. Distance 6.0. Release 2. [Internet]. University of St. Andrews (UK): Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment. Available from: http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distance/
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- Zip Code: 02543
- Zip Code: 02543
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