SOURCES SOUGHT
V -- ALBACORE TUNA SAMPLING AND TAGGING
- Notice Date
- 6/25/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 483114
— Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Region Acquisition Division, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, Washington, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- WAD-NFFP7100-15-03259
- Archive Date
- 7/18/2015
- Point of Contact
- Maria L Mendoza, Phone: (206)526-6671
- E-Mail Address
-
Maria.L.Mendoza@noaa.gov
(Maria.L.Mendoza@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is not a presolicitation announcement. The purpose of this Market Research and Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified Small Business, HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran owned, and Women owned Small Business firms. Responses to this Sources Sought Synopsis will be used by the Government in making appropriate acquisition decisions. I. Objectives We are seeking a contractor with a vessel or fleet of vessels that has access to the albacore fishery throughout both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. The contractor must have the experience and resources to manage albacore fishing, sampling and tagging which includes providing vessels, fuel, crew, and fishing gear. II. Introduction/Background: As mandated by the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Fishery Management Plan, SWFSC conducts biological and economic research on several highly migratory species including albacore tuna. SWFSC albacore research has been ongoing since the 1970s and recent efforts involve gathering information on albacore movement and behavior, and albacore biology and life history in the north Pacific. These research goals can only be accomplished with a cooperative effort between SWFSC and the albacore fishing industry. We are seeking a contractor who works closely with members of active fishing organizations, such as the Western Fishboat Owner's Association (WFOA), whose membership includes owners of commercial baitboat, handline, and/or troll vessels that target albacore tuna in two areas of interest, the northeast Pacific and the central Pacific Ocean. The fleet must include vessels that have low access to the water, which is ideal for albacore tag and release and for collecting fish in good condition for the biological studies. Albacore tag deployments will be conducted in both areas of interest. In the northeast Pacific, the archival tag deployments will be done supporting research efforts of understanding migration patterns and stock structure of juvenile albacore. In the central Pacific, pop-off archival tags will be deployed on adult albacore to gain information on the movements and behavior of the adult population. In addition, the contractor will coordinate the collection, storage and shipping of whole juvenile albacore from the northeast Pacific for the SWFSC's studies on albacore life history and ecology. The results of this research will contribute to a better understanding of the behavior and habitat utilization of this species and therefore strengthen SWFSC's ability to effectively assess the stock status. III. Description of Work and Services: The contract is to manage and provide albacore fishing resources including vessels, fuel, crew, and fishing gear in support of the SWFSC albacore tagging and biological sampling programs. During each performance year of the contract, a minimum of two albacore tagging trips will be completed in the northeast Pacific. The number of days accumulated from both of these trips should not exceed 16 days. The contractor will also coordinate the collection of 50 to 100 juvenile albacore during each performance year. In addition, during each performance year up to 4 days of handline fishing for pop-off tagging of albacore will be completed in the central Pacific between the months of June and October off the coast of Hawaii. Prior to tagging trips, SWFSC will provide the contractor with a list of minimum requirements for vessel selection (see below), information regarding the number of tags to be deployed, and a time frame during the contract period when a fishing platform will be required. According to these requirements the contractor will provide a list of at least two vessels for each of the tagging trips from which SWFSC scientists and the contractor will chose. The contractor will be responsible for managing the charter process through completion of all tagging trips, while ensuring all resources required for meeting research goals are made available including tags, and tagging and sampling equipment. The contractor will also assist with managing the data relating to the tagging and sampling trips. IV. Tasks / Deliverables: The contractor shall be paid intermittently over the course of the project, submitting invoices as costs are incurred. In general it is anticipated that invoices may be submitted for costs and time spent in the planning stages, upon completion of each tagging trip, and upon completion of the biological sampling and shipping. Fishers can retain dead catch for sale during the tagging trips, provided the fishing operations do not interfere with the research objectives. The ex-vessel price of the catch is to be deducted from the charter invoice. 1. Serve as tagging trip coordinator including providing appropriate vessel and crew to complete the work, and overseeing logistical arrangements including invoicing. Coordinate the procurement of tagging/sampling supplies if needed. 2. No later than one month prior to the desired tagging trip window (see above for time periods for the base period) provide a list of vessels that meet the minimum requirements as stated in the SOW for final selection by SWFSC. 3. No later than two weeks before the desired tagging trip date, provide a vessel for a tagging trip. Northeast Pacific tagging trips will be up to 10 days (to be initiated within allotted window) and no more than a combined 16 days for two trips. Central Pacific tagging will be up to 4 nights of fishing. Contractor will manage charter contract, including payment. Contractor will liaise between charter and scientists and arrange port call where and when SWFSC scientists can join the vessel. Actual trip start days will be dependent on fish availability and weather and should be finalized between contractor and SWFSC personnel as the trip window approaches. 4. During tagging trips, open communications between SWFSC scientists and contractor must be available, by satellite phone or radio. Contractor will liaise between scientists and charter captain (as required at sea) and ensure research goals are met. 5. No later than two weeks after the tagging trip, contractor will provide trip information from the Captain's log including vessel track, latitude and longitude of areas fished and sea surface temperature. 6. Coordinate the collection and shipping of 50-100 juvenile albacore from the north Pacific for biological studies. 7. Coordinate data entry and data management of the fishery data relating to the research. V. Minimum Requirements for selected vessels: 1. Vessels must meet Coast Guard safety standards. 2. Vessels operating in the northeast Pacific will be equipped with commercial albacore gear appropriate for live capture of albacore for tagging and release of up to 100 healthy albacore per trip, including: hand line, lift pole, rod and reel, and troll gear. Vessel operating off Hawaii will be commercial handline vessel for capture and release of up to 10 healthy adult albacore. 3. Vessels will carry live bait in sufficient quantity to accomplish capture and tagging of the proposed number of fish. 4. Fishing methods will be approved in advance by the SWFSC scientist conducting tagging operations. 5. Vessels operating in the northeast Pacific will be capable and equipped to stay at sea for 15 days and have a range of 1,200 nm. Vessel operating off Hawaii will be capable and equipped to stay at sea for 5 days and have a range of 300 nm. 6. Meals will be provided for scientists. 7. Vessels will have adequate berthing and workspace, free of smoke, for 2 SWFSC scientists. 8. Vessels will have working head available to SWFSC scientists. 9. Captain must have minimum 5 years albacore fishing in the operating areas. 10. Vessels operating in the northeast Pacific must have a minimum 2 crew members (not including captain); one crew must have experience catching albacore using pole and line. VI. Scientific Personnel/Government provided property: Up to two (2) NOAA Fisheries scientists will participate in albacore tagging trips. NOAA SWFSC will provide all equipment needed for tagging albacore including tagging cradle, data collection sheets, archival, conventional tags, and biological sampling gear. All data generated will be property of the U.S. Government. The C&A requirements of clause 73 do not apply and a Security Accreditation Package is not required. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 483114 with a size standard of 500 employees. Interested firms shall provide, in writing, a brief narrative (no more than 3 pages in length) and documentation to support your firm's capability and experience meeting the requirements herein and include your firm's name, address, point of contact, telephone number, DUNS Number, CCR Cage Number, business type and size, i.e., small, large, non-profit, educational, and so forth. Any response that does not include this information will not be considered. The Government will review your response to determine if your firm has the experience, knowledge and capability to perform the services as specified above. This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. Nor does this request for information constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise that any procurement action that may be issued for the Government's requirements. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. All contractors doing business with the Government are required to be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). NOTE: THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded on the basis of responses received to this notice. Detailed information must be submitted by email to the Purchasing Agent Maria L. Mendoza at maria.l.mendoza@noaa.gov by 0900 AM local Seattle time (PST), on Friday, July 3, 2015. Questions of any nature must be addressed in writing as TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE HONORED.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/WASC/WAD-NFFP7100-15-03259/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: LA JOLLA, California, United States
- Record
- SN03776518-W 20150627/150625235656-6d5ceb24551c15c70ab708e3951dceaa (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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