SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- SAMPLING EXPANSION OF FISH COMMUNITIES
- Notice Date
- 4/27/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 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
- NFFN7600-11-04090SLW
- Point of Contact
- Sharon L. Walker, Phone: (816)426-7470
- E-Mail Address
-
sharon.walker@noaa.gov
(sharon.walker@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Marine Fisheries Service, (NMFS) in Miami, FL, acquires services from the Tavernier Science Center (TSC) of Audubon of Florida for sampling Network Expansion to fish communities of the coastal wetlands of Biscayne Bay. Dr. Jerome Lorenz of TSC has been conducting research in South Florida on coastal fish communities in relation to water and salinity patterns since 1989 and has a dissertation and several scientific papers on the topic. Dr. Lorenz has previously established a network of sampling stations in coastal wetlands of southeastern Florida, developed a sampling protocol, and applied it consistently on a periodic basis beginning in 1990 and gradually expanding. This procurement action will add funds to cover the cost of labor, maintenance, and monitoring at two additional sites not previously covered by NOAA-NMFS. These sites are part of the original established network, and the water quality monitoring equipment and fish sampling structure installed by the National Audubon Society Tavernier Science Center and employed and maintained by them for many years are still in place. Therefore, there will be no cost of NOAA-NMFS for installation of equipment. NOAA-NMFS has been benefiting from the information collected at these sites for many years and needs the information flow from these two sites to continue.. The sampling protocol that is required is unique and particularly applicable to coastal wetlands of south Florida, where sampling and analysis of the samples collected is extremely difficult due to the soft, highly fragile terrain and the fluctuating water levels that affect the estimation of faunal density. Dr. Lorenz's sampling and analytical approach is unique in the following respects: A 3 x 3-m sampling frame is established and maintained at the site and a bottom-weighted dropnet is deployed from a distance by means of a trip wire to obtain a sample. He clears the dropnet to acquire the sample. He has built a boardwalk at the site that is used by the sampler to avoid disturbing the substrate. The substrate consists of a thick, highly flocculent material made up primarily of microalgae complexed with calcium carbonate. At each site, samples are collected in two types of habitat, creek (deep water) and flats (shallow water). At each site, he has established automated data collection equipment with sensors that measure water level and salinity. Data from the data logger can be downloaded remotely at the Tavernier Science Center on a real-time basis. The water-level information is used to help integrate sampling results from creeks and flats. Creek and flats data are analyzed differently, depending upon water level, which determines water depth on the flats and whether the flats are covered with water. Dr. Lorenz has developed a hypsographic curve that allows him to convert his sampling data to biomass density with the use of the water-level information from the recorders and observations made at the time of samplng. Dr. Lorenz is the only known researcher applying this protocol, which is logistically complex and would be difficult to duplicate with the same efficiency and reliability. The two sites to be supported by NOAA-NMFS funding are part of an established monitoring network. To yield meaningful results, the proposed work must be consistent with past work at these same locations and other work already performed by Dr. Lorenz at Biscayne Bay. The only known source is Dr. Lorenz that can provide the consistent and knowledgeable monitoring approach that is necessary and an intrinsic part of this network. Dr. Lorenz is widely known for the sampling protocol and the new knowledge he has gained on South Florida's coastal wetlands. Dr. Lorenz has the knowledge and skills to apply the necessary protocol in a timely manner and to implement the project quickly. The National Marine Fisheries Service is obligated to provide sampling results for a System Status Report and a full project report in calendar 2012. Failure to complete this project on schedule would erode the NOAA relationship with other agencies participating in the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration effort and reduce NOAA's prestige in the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration community. Failure to complete the project on schedule could prevent NOAA from providing information to Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project in time for the information to be used. This might jeopardize the ability to define and protect the freshwater needs of southern coastal estuaries and allow their further degradation. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one known source the Tavernier Science Center (TSC) of Audubon of Florida. They are the only known company able to provide the service for the existing government requirement. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within ten (10) days after the date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. Interested firms shall include, in writing, the company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and business size; a statement regarding their detailed capabilities and qualifications to support their ability to provide this service, and any additional supporting literature. Submissions received in response to this notice shall be evaluated based on the technical ability and demonstrated past experience to meet the requirements described in the description section above. Vendor must provide a DUNS number (http://www.dnb.com/us/ ) and register with the Central Contractors Registration (http://www.ccr.gov/ ). Responses should be emailed to sharon.walker@noaa.gov or faxed to 816-274-6983, Attn: Sharon Walker.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/CASC/NFFN7600-11-04090SLW/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02434171-W 20110429/110427234216-52c00021730c3f9f61b4c6f91fdb26f7 (fbodaily.com)
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