Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, MS2500, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817

B -- EAST AND WEST FLOWER GARDEN BANKS -- LONG TERM MONITORING SOL 3905 DUE 030698 POC Wallace Adcox (703) 787-1362 E-MAIL: Contracting Officer's E-mail, wallace.adcox@MMS.GOV. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the Department of Interior intends to competitively award a contract for monitoring environmental conditions of the coral reef zone of the East and West Flower Garden Banks. We anticipate awarding a firm-fixed price contract with a two-year period of performance. In addition, we will include a single option for another two-year period, exercised at our discretion. This means the contract has a potential life of four years. We estimate the cost of this contract to be between $150,000 and $200,000 per two year period. The total estimated cost for four years is between $300,000 and $400,000. PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY NOTICE THAT WILL BE ISSUED. Background: Studies to date indicate that the lease stipulations designed to protect biological or other resources of concern have been effective in protecting these valuable natural resources. This monitoring effort is important to continue to sustain or to invalidate this belief that the lease stipulations provide effective mitigation of impacts to the offshore environment. A considerable body of information presently exists related to the Flower Garden Banks and related submarine banks. Historically, MMS sponsored studies series concentrated on the geologic features, water circulation, and biologic communities of about three (3) dozen submarine banks located along the shelf edge of Texas and Louisiana. At the Flower Garden Banks studies included precision bathymetric mapping of topographic relief, sea floor and shallow subsurface geology, delineation and characterization of biologic communities, trace metal and hydrocarbon analyses, and elucidation of water circulation. Additional information has been compiled from other federal agency-sponsored studies and industry-sponsored, stipulation-required monitoring activities. The Flower Garden Banks have officially been designated as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary. The MMS and NOAA intend to continue environmental monitoring both for continuity of data and for generating information needed in resource management and regulatory decision making. In addition to providing information needed in environmental description, assessment and management, the monitoring program is needed to validate and sustain our present understanding that the lease stipulations provide effective mitigation of impacts to the offshore environment. This study is designed to monitor environmental conditions at the East and West Flower Garden submarine banks. The biological health of the reef crests, especially the coral reef community will be monitored over a two (2) year period of time to detect any significant effects from natural and human-induced activities that could potentially endanger community integrity. Study Area: The area of study is at the crests on both the East and West Flower Garden banks. Study sites shall be those used in the previous monitoring studies entitled, "Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks", MMS Contract No. 1435-01-96-CT-30822, in areas typical of the high-diversity, coral reef communities. The study sites are 100-meter by 100-meter squares located in less than 25 meters of water on the crests of each bank. The corners of the study sites shall be marked by small subsurface floats fixed to permanent anchor bolts drilled and cemented into the reef rock. The sites shall be accurately fixed by navigation aids. All sampling and survey work shall be carried out with appropriate collecting permits in compliance with NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Regulations. Prior to sampling during Year 1, the contractor shall ensure that stations under "Survey Requirements" (below) are properly established. It is likely that some encrusting growth, accretionary growth, and repetitive quadrant stations will have to be re-established and mapped to allow further collection of high quality data. General Survey Overview: Surveys at both Flower Garden Banks shall be carried out over a two (2) year period. Annual cruises shall be conducted during late summer or early fall (generally August or September) each year of the contract. Survey Requirements: In general, survey techniques follow those used in the study entitled, "Long-Term Monitoring ant the East and West Flower Garden Banks", MMS Contract No. 1435-01-96-CT-30822, and are discussed in detail in project reports from that study. The following observations shall be made to evaluate coral reef diversity, growth rates, long-term changes in individual coral colonies, accretionary growth, and general community health: 1) Fourteen (14) random photographic transects within each study site shall be photographed. These transects shall each be ten meters in length and shall be located randomly, except that sand flat areas shall be avoided in order to maximize the amount of coral population data collected and maximize dive time efficiency. Photographs along transects need not overlap but should be taken adjacent to one another. The camera system shall employ at least two (2) electronic strobes and each photograph shall be of an area approximately 55 x 80 cm. 2) Sixty (60) permanent stations for monitoring growth of Diploria strigosa shall be established in each study area. Repetitive close-up photographs shall be taken at steel spikes or other markers to enable them to be revisited and the same coral margins re-photographed. A framing device attached to the underwater camera shall be placed against the bolts to allow exact repetitive photography of approximately 20 cm of the coral margin. These monitoring stations may be located in clusters throughout the study area, but shall represent independent samples. To facilitate their relocation, they shall be mapped and, where appropriate, marked with small fishnet or foam floats. It may be necessary to reestablish, re-tag, and/or map stations occupied under previous monitoring efforts. 3) Forty (40) repetitive quadrants shall be established in each study site to detect and evaluate long-term changes in individual coral colonies. Each quadrant shall be marked with a permanent post. A T-shaped camera frame equipped with a high quality compass and bubble level shall be mounted on the post with the camera and a 15 mm lens at a 2 m film plane height to photograph an 8m2 area. This photographic approach and analysis shall conform to methodology used in the previous monitoring program. 4) During the second year of the study, at four (4) different Montastrea faveolata coral colonies on each bank; short (25mm or less) cores of 2.5 to 4.0 cm in diameter shall be taken, sectioned, and x-rayed to measure recent growth rates using sclerochronology. Core holes shall be appropriately plugged to allow healing of damaged tissue. 5) A minimum of two (2) videotaped transects of 100 m length shall be flown at each site to show the general conditions of the coral and to help locate certain individual coral heads and other features for future reference. Data collection shall follow that used in the previous monitoring study. The diver taking thevideo shall be accompanied by a second diver who will take still photographs of selected areas or features. If any diseased, damaged, or otherwise stressed coral heads, or groups of coral heads, are found; they will be photographed and their position mapped. Transects to be photographed are the north and east lines of the study site at the EFG bank (moving east and south) and the south and west lines at the WFG bank (moving west and north). Height of the video camera above the bottom shall be approximately 2m. 6) Recording light meters and thermographs (Onset Computer Corp., StowAway model) shall be deployed to record temperature every two (2) hours. Light meters shall measure photo synthetically active radiation (PAR) in the 400-700 nm waveband. One light meter shall be placed on each bank and a reference sensor shall be placed on a nearby production platform. 7) Instruments or arrays shall be deployed on each bank that will enable passive or active integrated quantification of dissolved or bioavailable organic contaminants over quarterly sampling intervals. Analysis: 1) The random photographs shall be evaluated to determine objective parameters of the high diversity coral community as follows: coral species dominance (percent cover), relative dominance, species frequencies, algae and sponge cover, total live cover, coral species diversity, and evenness. The transect analysis shall employ planimetric analysis methods. 2) Determining growth rates for corals shall be accomplished by a quantitative comparison of repetitive close-up photographs of coral margins. By comparison and measurement of photographs taken of these same sites in subsequent surveys, a quantitative determination shall be made of rates of advance or retreat, the amounts of tissue gained or lost, and the proportions of tissue margin advancing, retreating or remaining stable. 3) Each quadrant shall be analyzed using generally accepted repetitive photographic methodologies. Changes in coral cover shall be measured, where appropriate, and the apparent causes of change determined, if possible (e.g. disease, bleaching, mechanical damage). 4) Annual rates of accretionary growth shall be calculated for each site and compared to values observed in previous studies. 5) Videotapes and photographs shall be analyzed to indicate the general conditions of the reef community. Special attention shall be given to diseased, damaged, or bleached areas that may be indicative of stressful conditions. 6) Correlations, as possible or feasible, between hydrography and the health of the coral reefs shall be made. This should particularly emphasize the relation between changes in hydrography and anomalies in, for example, coral growth, and disease or bleaching incidence. 7) Water quality sampling arrays shall provide quarterly, integrated levels of hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and pesticides. Data Interpretation and Synthesis: The contractor shall produce a narrative report that documents any changes in the health and viability at the East and West Flower Garden Banks. Environmental threats such as increased recreational diving and commercial and recreational fishing on the coral reefs should be documented. All information gathered from the analysis effort shall be interpreted and synthesized to characterize the study sites and document any changes in their health over a period of time. As an integral part of this report, the contractor shall prepare appropriate maps or schematics indicating the study area sampling stations, and documenting coral and other reef formations. The contractor shall evaluate the effectiveness of current water quality monitoring at the Flower Gardens in an ongoing effort to develop a comprehensive plan for water quality monitoring. The contractor shall propose revisions to this plan for future Flower Gardens monitoring efforts. Measurement parameters shall be consistent with monitoring programs in other reef environments, but may include parameters that address concerns unique to the Flower Gardens setting. Parameters should be chosen for their utility in monitoring water quality changes that could result from present use and future changes in human use of Flower Gardens resources (e.g. increasing use for recreational purposes). Emphasis shall also be placed on existing literature and data relevant to the proposed study area. The following topics shall be discussed as background material for synthesis effort: 1) Literature relevant to the study area. 2) Ecology and diversity of coral reefs of the Flower Garden Banks. 3) Importance of the coral zone as an indicator of environmental condition, particularly such issues as the relationship between sea urchin (Diadema) populations and macrophytic algae, disease incidence, and bleaching of corals due to the expulsion of symbiotic algae. 4) Relation of study area to all human activities, including OCS petroleum exploration and development, that may impact the conditions of the coral reefs. 5) Concentration of hydrocarbons and trace metals in comparable marine environments. Primary products of this contract are Program Management Plan Updates, Field Logistics Plan, Quarterly Status Letters, Progress Presentations and Deliverable Summaries, Synthesis Report, Technical Summary, NODC Data Archiving Submission, Presentation Slides Sets, and Journal Publications and/or Oral Presentations based on the monitoring. HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this contract interested parties MUST demonstrate that they are qualified to perform the work by providing, BY FOUR O'CLOCK EASTERN TIME ON MARCH 6, 1998, a Capabilities Statement detailing: (1) your key personnel (those who would have primary responsibility for performing and/or managing the study) with their qualifications and specific experience; (2) your organizational experience and facilities; and (3) specific references (including contract number & project description, period of performance, dollar amount, client identification with the point of contact & telephone number) for previous work of this nature that your key personnel or organization hasperformed within the last four years (references will be checked). If you believe the Government will find derogatory information as a result of checking your past performance record, please provide an explanation and any remedial action taken by your company to address the problem. Following review of all Capabilities Statements, we will establish a list of those deemed most qualified to perform the work. Offerors will then be contacted and told their evaluation. We will provide additional proposal instructions at that time. Proposals will essentially consist of an oral technical presentation and written cost/business proposal. Further details of proposal requirements and logistical considerations will be provided at a later date. Your Capabilities Statement will be evaluated based on your key persons' skills, abilities and experience; your organization's experience and past performance (including number, size, and complexity of similar projects, adherence to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of programmanagement, willingness to cooperate when difficulties arise, general compliance with the terms of the contracts, and acceptability of delivered products.) Questions should be faxed or E-mailed as soon as possible to fax (703)787-1009 or E-mail "wallace.adcox@mms.gov." Please include with your question(s) your full name, the RFP number & title, your organization, complete address, and phone and fax numbers. Telephonic questions or requests are strongly discouraged. (0042)

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