SOURCES SOUGHT
U -- Training and Advise SeFC Stock Assessment Staff on Quantitive Methods of Technical Writing
- Notice Date
- 8/21/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541711
— Research and Development in Biotechnology
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisition Division-KC, 601 East 12th Street, Room 1756, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106, United States
- ZIP Code
- 64106
- Solicitation Number
- NFFN76001016851KLC
- Point of Contact
- Karen L Christian, Phone: (816)426-7286
- E-Mail Address
-
karen.l.christian@noaa.gov
(karen.l.christian@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SERVICES SOURCES SOUGHT: The U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, Eastern Region Acquisition Division-Kansas City (ERAD-KC) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) intend to procure for Training and Advise SEFSC) Stock Assessment Staff on the Quantitative Methods of Technical Writing. Scope of Work: Fisheries science is becoming increasingly quantitative and new statistical, mathematical and computational methods are continually being developed for studying population dynamics and assessing stocks. There is thus a critical need for government scientists to maintain and improve their quantitative skills and to adopt the latest methods. At the same time, there is increased need for scientists to document and communicate their scientific findings to peers and to the general public. New methods can be introduced to government scientists, and new approaches can be developed, by providing training to government scientists and by engaging outside experts in collaborative projects so that technology and knowledge can be both developed and transferred. Government scientists' communication skills can also be developed by providing training in technical writing. Objectives: 1) Provide training to Government scientists in state of the art quantitative methods and in technical writing; and 2) Develop collaborative research projects that create new quantitative methods and apply the new methods to real fisheries problems. Description of Work: The trainer will visit the National Marine Fisheries Service's Miami Laboratory three times for a period of 8-10 days each time. During each visit, the trainer will provide a short course on a technical topic or on technical writing. The three short courses are: 1) Statistical and graphical analysis in R (4 days). Course presupposes no previous knowledge of R and covers: data input and output, basic syntax, built-in functions, error messages, sub-setting and manipulating and summarizing data, graphing data, conditional execution and loops, writing functions, finding information. Statistical methods covered will include linear models, generalized linear models, nonlinear regression, optimization and maximum likelihood estimation, bootstrapping. The trainer will provide materials for reference and for continuing education (for use after the course ends). 2) Technical writing for scientific journals and reports (2 days). A systematic approach enabling rapid writing of a scientific paper is presented. Pitfalls to writing are identified and steps to overcoming these problems are presented. In-class writing exercises are used to enable participants to gain proficiency in the techniques. 3) Mathematical statistics for fishery biologists (4 days). Basic concepts in mathematical statistics are explained and illustrated using examples from fisheries science. Topics include: mathematical expectation, bias, variance, mean squared error, covariance, independence, sampling error, maximum likelihood, bootstrapping. The trainer will also work with scientists from the Miami Laboratory on a variety of collaborative research projects including design of a fishery survey in St. Croix, development of a multispecies mortality estimator and other mortality estimators based on mean length, interpretation of spatial data on commercial catch rates in a fishery, and other topics raised by NMFS scientists. Deliverables: 1) Presentation of three short courses of up to 3 days duration along with all class notes, computer codes, and sample datasets used in the courses; and 2) A separate report on each collaborative research project identified above. Evaluation Criteria: 1) Experience teaching population dynamic and stock assessment; 2) Experience teaching technical writing for peer0reviewed journals; 3) experience teaching advanced courses in statistical and graphical analysis in R language; 4) Demonstrated ability to develop statistically efficient sampling programs; 5) Experience conducting stock assessments for marine fish and invertebrates; and 5) Demonstrated record of scientific excellence as evidenced by numerous publications in scientific journals on statistics, fish population dynamics and stock assessments. The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one known source under the authority 41 USC 253(c) (1). Dr. John Hoenig with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science offers the expertise to conduct the training for the stock assessment program. Dr. Hoenig has a Master's degree in statistics and a dozen publications in statistical journals such as Biometrics, American Statistician, and Environmetrics as well as in the Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences. He also has a doctorate in biology oceanography (fisheries) and 85 additional peer reviewed publications in biological journals. He has taught mathematical statistics, computer simulation modeling, stock assessment methods, and statistical and graphical analysis in R. He has also developed a teaching module for technical writing for scientific journals. Dr. Hoenig is an expert in stock assessment methods and a Centre of Disciplinary Expertise in stock assessment and survey methodology for the Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans for seven years. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 7 calendar days after the date of this announcement will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses 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. In order to be considered, firms must furnish detailed information concerning their capability to provide this service. Such information shall include at a minimum: name; telephone numbers of firms to whom this service or similar service have been previously provided. Interested firms may identify their interest and capability by sending an email message referencing the Requisition No. NFFN76001016851KLC to karen.l.christian@noaa.gov or send a fax request with an email address to telephone number 816-426-7530 ATTN: Karen Christian. Failure to provide the required information will deem your request non-responsive. The Government reserves the right to solicit bids based on receipt of affirmative responses to this notice. The NAICS code for this action is 541711. Responses may be sent to email address karen.l.christian@noaa.gov or fax to 816-274-6952 ATTN: Karen Christian. All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be considered by the Agency. All contractors doing business with the Eastern Region Acquisition Division (ERAD) must be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in CCR. For information and to register, please access the following website: http://www.ccr.gov/. In order to register with the CCR offerors must have a Dun & Bradstreet number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at http://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or by phone at (800) 333-0505. The Government urges all contractors to submit their Certification and Representations through the online Business Partner Network (BPN). The BPN is the single source for vendor data for the federal government. Contractors should go online at www.bpn.gov.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/CASC/NFFN76001016851KLC/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NOAA/NMFS, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, Florida, 33149, United States
- Zip Code: 33149
- Zip Code: 33149
- Record
- SN02250132-W 20100823/100821233315-bb9c93abfaa68975642558f96eb950e9 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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