SOLICITATION NOTICE
19 -- Vessel Charter for Highly Migratory Species off the Southern California Coast
- Notice Date
- 4/19/2011
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 483113
— Coastal and Great Lakes Freight 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
- AB133F-11-RP-0090
- Archive Date
- 6/16/2011
- Point of Contact
- Kate R. Steff, Phone: 2065266370, Judi M. Jzyk, Phone: (206) 526-6039
- E-Mail Address
-
kate.r.steff@noaa.gov, judi.m.jzyk@noaa.gov
(kate.r.steff@noaa.gov, judi.m.jzyk@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), has a requirement for commercial supply vessel charter off the coast of California in the Southern California Bight for Highly Migratory Species in that area. NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) is planning a research survey in the Southern California Bight (SCB) for highly migratory species including pelagic sharks, swordfish, and albacore during the summer of 2011. The overall goals of the survey are: 1) to conduct a fishery-independent longline survey for juvenile mako and blue sharks continuing a 15 year abundance time series; 2) to conduct longline fishing for swordfish to deploy archival tags and collect biological samples to examine age and maturity, feeding habits, and the potential for stock heterogeneity of swordfish entering the U.S. West Coast fisheries; 3) to conduct trolling for albacore for the deployment of archival tags and to collect biological samples to examine age and maturity, feeding habits, and the potential for stock heterogeneity of North Pacific albacore entering the U.S. West Coast fisheries; and 4) to collect oceanographic data to examine environmental effects on the distribution and catch rates of sharks, swordfish, and albacore. The survey is being conducted to support research and data needs identified by NMFS and affiliated scientific organizations and committees including the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the International Scientific Committee for Tunas and Tuna-like Species in the North Pacific (ISC), and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). Conducting swordfish and albacore sampling will also help address some of the objectives of the Swordfish Leatherback Use of Temperate Habitat (SLUTH) Initiative and the SWFSC/Albacore Industry Cooperative Research program and provide a better examination of the large pelagic fish component of the SCB ecosystem. Longline survey for juvenile mako and blue sharks: The SCB is a nursery ground for neonate and juvenile shortfin mako and blue sharks. From 1988 through 1991, there was an experimental pelagic longline fishery for these sharks, but due to concern over the high catch of juveniles and the lack of a market for blue sharks, the fishery was discontinued. This abundance survey was initiated to monitor trends in catch rates of juvenile mako and blue sharks. Seven California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) defined fishing blocks (each 10 x 10 minutes; see Figure 1) were selected as survey locations based on their consistently high catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and low variability during the months of June through August for the experimental fishery. Gear used for the survey is the same as was used to target sharks during the fishery. During the past 17 years (1994 through 2010 with the exception of 1998 and 1999) fifteen surveys have been conducted within the focal areas. The data are to be used in support of stock assessments for mako and blue sharks, the two species caught in the greatest numbers during the survey. The survey also provides the opportunity to conduct tagging and studies of age and growth, reproductive status, and other aspects of the life history of these vulnerable species. Swordfish longlining: Commercial swordfish fisheries are the second most important fisheries for HMS off the U.S. West Coast. Swordfish longlining during the HMS research cruise will be conducted to: 1) collect additional information on swordfish essential habitat; and 2) examine stock structure off California. To achieve both objectives swordfish will be targeted at night in areas identified by sea surface temperature (SST) and frontal features in the SCB. Archival tags, which typically provide longer data records than can be obtained using pop-up satellite tags that are limited to ~9 months or less, will be deployed to examine swordfish fine-scale movements. Concurrent oceanographic measurements will be made to characterize swordfish habitat. The additional information on swordfish essential habitat will improve efforts to differentiate swordfish and leatherback turtle habitat. Long term records from archival tags will also provide information on swordfish stock structure. The area of the U.S. West Coast is thought to be one of mixing between fish originating from Hawaii and Mexico. Observations on parasite loads, skin morphology, and the presence of cookie cutter shark bites from all live individuals will help address this question. In addition, samples from swordfish that do not survive capture will be used to examine feeding habits, maturity, age and growth, and their physiological low oxygen threshold, which will provide insight into potential limits to vertical movements due to hypoxia. Albacore trolling: The U.S. North Pacific albacore surface fishery is one of the few remaining open access fisheries for HMS on the west coast. The North Pacific-wide stock is managed by the PFMC, IATTC, and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The last stock assessment conducted by the ISC concluded that current fishing effort may be above long term sustainable levels. The PFMC is considering potential regulatory measures, but there remain uncertainties about the age and growth model and albacore stock structure assumptions used in the assessment that may affect biomass and fishing mortality estimates. The SWFSC has been actively studying albacore in cooperation with both the west coast recreational and commercial fleets; however, access to whole fish for tagging and biological sampling early in the season when fish return to the SCB is limited and has been identified as a priority. Based on logs of the commercial passenger fishing fleet in southern California from 1981 through 2007, areas with high catch rates in June and July have been identified for targeting albacore (see Figure 2). Albacore will be targeted using several different fishing methods including rod and reel, handline, and troll, supplemented by chumming with live bait. Subsamples of fish will be provided for use by other scientists of the ISC Albacore Working Group (ALBWG) as identified under the ALBWG research priorities as well as within the SWFSC for age and growth, feeding habits, otolith microchemistry, and genetics studies. Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, transportation and services necessary to provide a vessel charter in the Southern California Bight as noted in the Statement of Work. The resulting firm-fixed-price (with reimbursement of fuel at cost) contract will have a base period of performance from approximately June 15, 2011 through June 14, 2012, with one (1) option period, consecutively occurring after the base period. The proposed contract is a 100% Small Business Set-Aside. The NAICS code for this procurement is 483113 and the size standard is 500 employees. All responsible and fully responsive sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Agency. Any resulting contract will be awarded as a firm-fixed price IDIQ contract with delivery orders issued. Solicitation documents will be made available for download on or about April 22, 2011 at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Paper copies of this solicitation will not be issued. Interested parties should use the FedBizOpps [Add To Watchlist] and [Add Me To Interested Vendors] features which provide a notification when the RFP becomes available for download as well as all postings of information associated with this solicitation, thereafter. Each potential offeror is responsible for checking the FedBizOpps website to gain all current information related to the solicitation. The solicitation and any further announcements regarding the solicitation will be posted only at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. The estimated response due date is June 1, 2011; however, the actual date offers are due will be stated within the solicitation documents. All questions of any nature regarding this procurement are to be sent to Contract Specialist, Kate Steff at Kate.R.Steff@noaa.gov or via fax at 206.527.6940. All vendors doing business with the Government are required to 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 web site: http:///www.ccr.gov/. In order to register with the CCR and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all vendors must also 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. This procurement also requires offerors to complete the On-Line Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) at https://orca.bpn.gov/.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/WASC/AB133F-11-RP-0090/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Southern California Coastal Waters, San Diego, California, 92037, United States
- Zip Code: 92037
- Zip Code: 92037
- Record
- SN02427661-W 20110421/110419234326-0954750d664f0b1ff5f306a9fe54f9b7 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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