SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Killer whale sighting database, vessel activity monitoring, Soundwatch boater education, hydrophone network, acoustic outreach
- Notice Date
- 5/31/2012
- 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), Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, Colorado, 80305-3328, United States
- ZIP Code
- 80305-3328
- Solicitation Number
- RFI_03494
- Archive Date
- 8/30/2012
- Point of Contact
- Susan L Labovitz, Phone: (303) 497-7943, Mark Caban, Phone: 303-497-6875
- E-Mail Address
-
susan.labovitz@noaa.gov, mark.caban@noaa.gov
(susan.labovitz@noaa.gov, mark.caban@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS OBJECTIVE: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR QUOTES AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. In preparation for a future procurement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is performing market research to determine potential sources. Based on market research results, NOAA reserves the right to set this action aside for small businesses or complete as a sole source procurement. This announcement is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, implied or otherwise, to issue a solicitation or award a contract. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow up information requests. The proposed project will eventually result in an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. TITLE: Killer whale sighting database, vessel activity monitoring, Soundwatch boater education, hydrophone network, acoustic outreach BACKGROUND: The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides scientific and technical support to NOAA Fisheries for the management, conservation, and wise use of the northwest region's marine and anadromous resources. The Marine Mammal and Seabird Ecology Team is responsible for research on the ecology, distribution, abundance, and threats to marine mammal and seabird species in the NW, primarily endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. For over 10 years, the Whale Museum, the incumbent contractor, has maintained long-term data sets on the location of killer whales, primarily in the inland waters of Washington and southern British Columbia and information about the number and types of vessels in close proximity to the whales. Whale location data enables assessment of intra- and inter-annual movement and habitat use patterns. The Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program conducts on-water boater education, and collects, compiles and analyzes data, and prepares reports on vessel activities around killer whales. Vessel data assists with management of endangered Southern Resident killer whales including evaluation of the number and types of vessels that are potentially affected by whale watching guidelines within the Haro Strait Region of Washington State and Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and the impacts of vessel activities on the recovery of the Southern Residents. PURPOSE: The Government is determining whether there are other additional sources that are capable of performing the same functions as the incumbent contractor. The Government is looking for a vendor that can perform all of the following tasks: (1 ) collect, compile and archive all sighting data of killer whales, particularly Southern Residents, from all available data sources throughout the entire contract; (2) maintain a centralized database of these data that is compatible with and includes previously collected data and is formatted for GIS analyses; (3) conduct on-water boater education and vessel data collection; (4) conduct vessel-based behavioral surveys of killer whales and vessels; (5) maintain 5 sites in the SeaSound hydrophone network and deploy additional sites as feasible, (6) develop outreach/education exhibits/programs; and (7) review available long-term data sets on killer whale sightings, vessel activities and ambient/anthropogenic sound around killer whales to conduct trend analyses for the purposes of generating data trends reports suitable for publication. TASK REQUIREMENTS: Task 1: Killer whale sighting database - The vendor will compile all killer whale detection data (sightings and acoustic detections) from inland and coastal waters of Washington, Oregon, and California each year. Southern Resident killer whale sightings should also include, to the extent possible, sightings/detections in British Columbia. Data collected should have the same variables as previously collected data to include date, time, descriptive location, latitude/longitude, fishery area, direction, count, pod/subpod, comments, and information source. The vendor shall follow-up on reports with incomplete or questionable information. The vendor will enlist the support of outside sources, as needed, for the collection and compilation of killer whale sighting data. Data from sources in central and southern Puget Sound is to be included. Task 2: Soundwatch Vessel Education and Monitoring Program - The vendor shall provide on-water education to boaters and monitor vessel activity and compliance with existing guidelines and regulations. Program shall be conducted to support Be Whale Wise guidelines and Federal regulations. As part of the Soundwatch program, additional hours of vessel monitoring and outreach specific to kayaks and the K.E.L.P. program will be conducted. Data collection on vessels, including kayaks, and kayak education complements the current Be Whale Wise campaign. The vendor will conduct additional outreach to boaters and regional boating communities about new vessel regulations utilizing new vessel regulations and updated Be Whale Wise materials. Vendor will provide a minimum of 50 on-the water monitoring and education days with the option to provide additional days on a daily rate basis. For the kayak component, the vendor will provide a minimum of 40 days outreach, 10 days naturalist training, 20 days data collection for monitoring and compliance, with the option to provide additional days on a daily rate basis. Task 3: Description of vessel activities around Southern Resident killer whales - 3a. The vendor shall report seasonal and yearly trends in vessel activities around the whales for specific year(s) identified by the NWFSC Reports will include historic and current data in a format consistent with previous reporting. Data will be collected according to standardized protocols to allow for comparison between years. 3b. The vendor will collect data on kayakers in proximity to Southern Resident killer whales along the Westside of San Juan Island. Data will be collected according to existing program protocols to allow for comparison between years. Task 4: Vessel-based behavioral surveys of killer whales and vessels - 4a. Surveys shall be conducted using an integrated equipment package which includes a global positioning system (GPS) with built-in data collector to record attribute data (e.g. whale identification, group size, and behaviors), a laser rangefinder to determine distance, and a compass for bearing. These components shall be physically/electronically connected and synchronized to generate geo-referenced data for focal whales and vessels. Two integrated equipment packages should be used to collect data simultaneously, with the first package dedicated to collecting data from killer whales and the second package dedicated to collecting data from vessels in the vicinity of the killer whales. 4b. Characterize the behavior of killer whales in the absence of vessel traffic and at varying levels of vessel traffic over a range of geographic areas. Behaviors should be recorded and categorized according to published behavioral states of killer whales. Additional criteria are as outlined. 1. Detailed group behavioral data, including behavior state and spatial structure, shall be collected from groups of focal animals representing the range of age-classes present (e.g. adult females, adult males, calves, juveniles, etc.). 2. Identify focal animals from existing photo identification databases so that behavioral responses of different pods can be compared. 4c. Collect data on vessel characteristics and behavior simultaneously with the collection of killer whale behavioral data during varying levels of vessel traffic and over several geographic regions. Also characterize the number of vessels present, types of vessels present, distance between killer whales and vessels, and vessel activity. Additional criteria are as outlined. 1. Collect data to assess whether vessel operators are more, less, or equally compliant with current voluntary whale watching boating guidelines in the presence of monitoring and/or enforcement vessels, and whether certain vessel types and/or vessel operators are more/less often in violation of particular guidelines. 2. Collect data on the vessel type and exact distance between the vessel and the tagged whale. This task may also be conducted in conjunction with Dtag deployments. Task 5: Hydrophone monitoring network - Repair, maintain, and expand the existing hydrophone sites (Lime Kiln Lighthouse, NW San Juan Island, Seattle Aquarium, Port Townsend, and Neah Bay). In consultation with the NWFSC, expand the network with additional hydrophone sites. Maintain and improve upon the automated detection, localization, classification, and notification system which provides near real-time alerts via email and/or text message. Expand system to include an app for using mobile devices like iPhones or Androids to listen live (e.g. at sites like Lime Kiln) and/or report human detections of killer whale locations (e.g. upon hearing sounds on the live streams or sighting orcas). Vendor will provide estimates for time and materials for repair, maintenance, and expansion on a per node basis. Task 6: Acoustic Outreach program - Maintain the hydrophone outreach infrastructure and update existing exhibit and web content(including use of web cameras), develop acoustic outreach programs for killer whales, including interactive exhibits, listening station software, and web-based tools. The outreach programs will complement existing information, hydrophones, and infrastructure at The Whale Museum, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the Seattle Aquarium, the Makah Cultural Center, and at educational facilities associated with future hydrophone sites. Expand acoustic outreach programs to include Lime Kiln Lighthouse and other nodes where appropriate. Messages and signage for acoustic programs will be consistent with information in the Recovery Plan for Southern Resident killer whales and other NOAA outreach materials. Task 7: Multi-year data compilation - Periodically, not to exceed once a year, the vendor will compile historic killer whale sightings, vessel activities and ambient/anthropogenic sound around Southern Resident killer whales, and shall report trends and spatial patterns for specific year(s) and parameters consistent with previous reporting. Additional Tasks: Tasks may be issued to the vendor to address issues that may arise in the study of the killer whales. Such projects may include social organization, prey relationships, vessel interactions, movements and distribution, and health assessment. This list is not inclusive but is given to provide the type of studies that may be required. If such requirements arise, a request for proposal will be sent to the vendor and the vendor shall respond with a cost estimate based on the pre-priced labor rates contained of this contract. The vendor shall respond within 5 days or as stated in the request for proposal provided to the vendor. The statement of work issued by the NMFS will fully explain all requirements required by the government. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: A five year contract is being considered. It will consist of a 1- year base period followed by four 1-year option periods. The contract is expected to be placed in September 20012 and potentially extend through August 2017. QUALIFICATION STATEMENT RESPONSE: The vendor's response to this Synopsis shall include the following information: 1. Vendor's name, address, point of contact, phone number and email address. 2. Vendor's interest in quoting on the solicitation when it is issued. 3. Vendor's qualifications and capability to meet all of the listed requirements. 4. Evidence of vendor's capability to execute and successfully perform comparable work in the past (list of customers). 5. Vendor's small business category and business size. The applicable NAICS code is 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)) with a size standard of 500 employees. You must be registered in the Central Vendor Registration (CCR) to be eligible to receive an award from any future Government solicitation. For additional information, please visit the CCR website at htts://www.bpn.gov/ccr/. You must be registered in the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) to be eligible to receive a future award from any Government solicitation. For additional information, please visit the ORCA website at https//orca.bpn.gov. Any interested vendors should submit capability statement with information that clearly demonstrates their capabilities to provide the services described above in reference to RFI_03494. The vendor's capability statement is merely an aid to NOAA's market research efforts. NOAA will consider all comments, supportive or critical, but may or may not use these individual comments. Standard vendor brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to the Sources Sought Synopsis. Qualification Statements will be treated separately from, and will have no bearing on, any subsequent evaluation of proposals submitted in response to any resulting future formal Request for Quotes. NOAA will not pay for information or comments provided and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of comments. Respondents are advised that NOAA is under no obligation to provide respondents with any feedback on the information received. Responses to the above should be submitted to Susan Labovitz at 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305-3328 or to susan.labovitz@noaa.gov no later than 3:00 PM MDT, Wednesday, June 13, 2012. EMAIL IS THE PREFERRED METHOD FOR RECEIVING RESPONSES TO THIS SYNOPSIS. Point of Contact: Susan Labovitz, 303-497-7943
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/MASC/RFI_03494/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Primarily in the inland waters of Washington and southern British Columbia, United States
- Record
- SN02762736-W 20120602/120531235925-6045c5575608b7921f07b8e074bab7d5 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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