Department of Commerce, NOAA, 200 World Trade Center, Room 209, Norfolk, VA 23510-1624

B -- SORTING OF BENTHIC GRAB SAMPLES SOL 51EANF900038 POC Annette Stevenson, Contract Specialist (757)441-6526, Lynne Phipps, Contracting Officer (757)441-6881 WEB: EASC HOMEPAGE, www.easc.noaa.gov. E-MAIL: Contract Specialist, annette.s.stevenson@noaa.gov. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, has a requirement for a contractor to process collected Benthic Grab Samples. The contractor shall sort, identify, count, and weigh benthic macrofauna from sediment samples. Samples shall be processed using dissecting microscopes. Specimens shall be identified to species or the lowest taxon possible. Wet weight (blot dried on absorbent toweling for three minutes) biomass shall be determined at specified taxonomic levels. Weights may be estimated for species with <1 mg of biomass in a grab. The period of performance shall be the effective date of award through one year with option to extend three additional years. An indefinite quantity contract is anticipated. Any party interested in receiving a copy of the solicitation shall provide written notice to the Contracting Office. The solicitation document will be issued on or about August 15, 1999. Fax request to (757) 441-3786. Telephone requests will not be accepted. No contract award will be made on the basis of quotations received in response to this notice since this synopsis cannot be considered a Request for Proposal. All responses from responsible sources will be considered. Posted 07/22/99 (W-SN357506). (0203)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0014 19990726\B-0001.SOL)