SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Smart Tags- Radio Frequency ID
- Notice Date
- 3/18/2010
- 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
- EM133F10RQ0416
- Archive Date
- 4/15/2010
- Point of Contact
- Francena Monell-Simard, Phone: 978-281-9247
- E-Mail Address
-
francena.monell-simard@noaa.gov
(francena.monell-simard@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), located in Gloucester, MA., intends to issue a fixed price purchase order for the design, testing and delivering of commercial fishing line radio frequency ( RFID) tags. Fishing gear marking, a component of the ALWTRP,( Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan) is required for gear identification purposes if gear is recovered from an entangled animal. Gear marking techniques are useful in determining, for example, if the gear was fished legally, the types of fisheries involved in entangling whales, etc. The goal of this project is to develop a type of tag that could be successfully deployed on fishing lines to help gather information on the origin and type of fishing gear. Understanding gear origin and type of gear can help guide management decisions and assist in disentanglement efforts. This " smart" tag must 1) be capable of being manufactured in multiple fluorescent colors, 2) contain a readable bar code utilizing a portable reading system, 3) be capable of sticking to both wet and dry line, and 4) be easily attached with a durability of at least one year of commercial fishing at sea. Additional necessary characteristics of the tag include easy storage onboard vessels, low cost to purchase, and high visibility while hauling. It must contain bar code information that includes the type of gear, part of the gear it is attached to (e.g., buoy line, groundline), and origin of gear (state and owner). The intent is that several RFID tags would be placed along the line between the surface system and gear on the ocean floor and also on lines between traps on the ocean floor. Lines have a range of between 5/16" to ¾" in diameter. Lines are often set in depths of up to 250 fathoms. Lines are at sea for several years so tags would need periodic replacement with a target of at least one year of operation The lines are used repeatedly over several years, but the tags would function a full year before replacement. In addition to be submerged most of the year, the tag receives considerable abuse several times per week. The tags are tossed around in both placement and retrieval. On retrieval the line is wrapped a rotating V-pulley such that the bottom of the "V" has no width. As the line is wrapped, it is trapped in the "V" and pulled in with tensions in excess of 3000 lbs. It is possible that the tag would be trapped in some way between the line and the V-pulley side applying great pressure on the IC. If the tags extend out from the line like a flag there is the potential they would be permanently crimped. The lines are run over a rotating type block and through a hauler where tensions could exceed 3000 lbs and crimping of the tag is very likely. Introduction Management of marine mammal populations falls within the jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries' National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 and, for some species, under the Endangered Species Act ( ESA ) of 1973. Section 118 of the MMPA directs NMFS to establish Take Reduction Teams (TRTs) to assist in the development of draft take reduction plans (TRPs) for strategic stocks of marine mammals that interact with a category I or II fishery. The long term goal of the take reduction planning process is reduce the mortality and serious injury of marine mammals to insignificant levels approaching a zero mortality and serious injury rate goal while taking into account the economics of the fishery, the availability of existing technology, and existing state or regional fishery management plans. Presently the NMFS Northeast Regional Office (NERO) has three active take reduction teams working to address the incidental serious injury and mortality of marine mammals associated with various commercial fishing activities. The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) was established to address serious injury and mortality of right, humpback, fin and minke whales in the several fixed-geared fisheries including the Gulf of Maine and Mid-Atlantic lobster trap/pot fishery, the Mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery, and the Gulf of Maine sink gillnet fishery. At the 2003 ALWTRT meeting, members agreed by consensus on two overarching principles for the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP): 1) reduce entanglement risks associated with groundlines (the lines that connect multiple traps/pots to each other in a trawl or, for gillnet gear, lines that connect an anchor or buoy line to a gillnet or gillnet bridle); and 2) reduce entanglement risks associated with vertical lines (buoy lines associated with trap/pot or gillnet gear). Background To address the entanglement risks associated with groundlines, NMFS, with input from the ALWTRT, has implemented a broad-based gear modification strategy that requires, amongst other measures, sinking groundline for trap/pot and gillnet gear (72 FR 57104, October 5, 2007; 73 FR 51228; September 2, 2008). Sinking groundlines reduce entanglement risk to large whales by sinking to the ocean bottom rather than arcing up into the water column. A continuing concern in the evolution of the ALWTRP is the risk of entanglement in vertical line. Regarding entanglement risks with vertical lines, to better understand the vertical line entanglement risks, and potential biological and socioeconomic impacts of additional management measures intended to address them, NMFS is seeking additional information that can be ascertained from entanglements between commercial fishing gear and large whales. At present, NMFS lacks very important gear characterization information that can be essential to management initiatives to further conserve large whale species. To achieve this information needed by NMFS, NMFS is seeking to explore a new technology to mark vertical lines. The new technology is called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). The goal of this study is to develop a RFID tag, in consultation with the NMFS PRD Gear Research Team, which would be able to identify source of line recovered from entangled marine mammals. Line tagging concepts that have been experimented with, but not completed include: Injectable RFID - these units have been worked into the braids of the line and held in place by silicon caulk. This suffers from being very time consuming and spreads the braids of the line A long narrow dipole is captured in smaller braided twine and then the twine is braided into the fishing line. This potentially increases the likelihood the IC will be crushed as well as the IC will be separated from the antenna by experiencing the tension and subsequent elongation of the fishing line.. Ideally tags would be able to stick to wet or dry line to accommodate line already in service. The intent is to read the tags with a handheld reader, so 1-2 ft range is acceptable with a handheld reader. Presently the quest to just be able to determine type of fisheries, location gear was originally set, where in the gear (buoy line or ground line) and owner of gear. Test Protocols : Submersion Test - submerge so-called waterproof tags in a near ocean salinity water solution and test for RF function and observe for wick once a week for 13 wks. Any tag that fails because of water migration fails that waterproofing approach. Use 25 of each design approach. Abuse Test - pull fishing line with inlays attached under tension with a V-pulley using difference inlay design and orientations seeing if any naturally avoid V-pulley abuse. Run 25 of each design approach. Simulate 100 "haul-ins". Read the inlay to identify damaged tags and plot the loss for each inlay attachment execution. Final Test- Build 25 of the proposed tape/inlay tags and attach to fishing line. Submerge in a similar salt water bath and pull through the V pulley once a day under tension for 3 weeks. Record and analyze any RFID read failures or permanent tag deformation. Performance Period The performance period for this project is one year from the date of the contracts award. Deliverables The contractor shall provide a final written report within 30 days of completion, presenting the details on product development, testing and evaluation. Upon completion, supply the NMFS GRT with 25 units of the most promising design for us to put into the field for a commercial pilot test. Budget and Invoicing The contract will be a fixed cost contract. Prospective respondents must submit a cost estimate to complete all of the work specified in the statement of work and successfully provide NMFS with the items identified in the Deliverables section of the state of work. Invoicing Payment contingent upon: •· Successful completion of contracted tasks •· Submission of satisfactory reports and products. The anticipated performance period is date of award through one year. To be considered, firms must furnish detailed information concerning their capability to provide service by fax no later than March 31, 9AM EST. Such information shall include, at a minimum, name, telephone number and address of concerns for which you have furnished this service previously. Information should provide sufficient detail that demonstrates the firm's knowledge and ability to perform the requirement. Only affirmative responses to this notice will be evaluated to the extent necessary for the Government to determine whether it is feasible to conduct a competitive acquisition considering demonstrated knowledge and experience. Submissions received in response to this notice shall be evaluated based on demonstrated technical ability to successfully provide the required services as stated herein. This notice is for service for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302. Interested parties must respond within (10) days after publication of this notice. If no affirmative responses are received, the government intends to issue a purchase order for UPM Raflatac, Hebron KY. Faxed responses can be sent to 978-281-9117, Attn: Francena Monell-Simard. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed acquisition based upon the response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The NACIS code for this action is 541712. The NOAA Acquisition office requires that all contractors doing business with the Acquisition Office must be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in CCR. For additional information and to register in CCR please access the following website: http://www.ccr.gov/. In order to register with the CCR and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all offerors must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or by phone at (800) 333-0505. The government now requires all contractors submit their Certification and Representation thru the on-line Business Partner Network (BPN). The BPN is the single source for vendor data for the federal government. Contractors should go on-line at www.bpn.gov. Award will not be made to any contractor that is not registered in CCR and BPN. Responses should be faxed no later than MArch 31, 9AM EST to 978-281-9117. Attn: Francena Monell-Simard.
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