SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- CHARACTERIZATION OF GULF OF MEXICO DEEPWATER HARD BOTTOM COMMUNITIES WITH EMPHASIS ON LOPHELIA CORAL
- Notice Date
- 4/23/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Minerals Management Service Procurement & Support Services Division 381 Elden Street, MS 2500 Herndon VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 22170-4817
- Solicitation Number
- 0103AN72323
- Response Due
- 5/14/2003
- Archive Date
- 4/22/2004
- Point of Contact
- Michael W. Hargrove Contracting Officer 7037871367 Michael.Hargrove@mms.gov;
- E-Mail Address
-
Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEASEC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE NOTICE CAREFULLY. THE MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE SOLICITS CAPABILITY STATEMENTS FOR THE STUDY ENTITLED "CHARACTERIZATION OF GULF OF MEXICO DEEPWATER HARD BOTTOM COMMUNITIES WITH EMPHASIS ON LOPHELIA CORAL", AS DESCRIBED BELOW. INTRODUCTION: Although the vast majority of the bottom in deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is comprised of soft sediments (mixtures of sand, silt, and clay), it is well known that there are some locations with significant areas of hard bottom, particularly associated with the tops and flanks of salt diapirs. These hard bottom areas are generally created through biogenic precipitation of carbonate by chemosynthetic bacteria. Resulting authigenic carbonate deposits can subsequently become exposed above surrounding slope sediments providing substantial substrate for attached animal communities to develop. Hard bottom substrates can be colonized by diverse assemblages of megafauna in the deep sea; however, organic input, hydrographic characteristics, and other factors are believed to limit distribution of high-density, high-diversity communities. Deepwater assemblages of scleractinian corals are a particularly significant community type in the deep sea due to their ability to create extensive additional habitat within the structure formed by the coral itself. It is not known if these remarkable coral or habitats are common in other parts of the Gulf or if they are extremely rare. Hard bottom areas have been observed at numerous sites on the upper GOM slope and there appear to be vast differences in the density and diversity of attached faunal communities that occur on these exposed carbonate features. A number of hypotheses explaining the heterogeneity of high density non-chemosynthetic communities have been suggested, but none have been studied to date. To address this knowledge gap, the MMS is conducting this study. STUDY OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) Use results from previous related work, in-house MMS seismic data, and hypotheses to define and select sampling areas that represent both known and probable areas of exposed hard bottom with associated high density communities that are not necessarily associated with active hydrocarbon seepage within specified depth ranges. 2) Design and implement submersible survey and sampling techniques that will characterize the types of non-chemosynthetic megafauna communities that live on deepwater hard substrate outcrops, and 3) Investigate and describe the environmental conditions that result in the observed distribution and development of high density communities, particularly extensive areas of Lophelia coral. THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF THIS STUDY SHALL BE THIRTY-SIX (36) MONTHS. The field work is anticipated to occur during the first two years and the third year shall be dedicated to analyses, synthesis of results, and completion of all deliverables. The study area is the region of the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope between 300 and 1,000 m of depth. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THIS STUDY IS BETWEEN $1,000,000 and $1,400,000. THIS STUDY CONSISTS OF SIX (6) MAIN TASKS: (1) refinement of proposed hypotheses; (2) site selection; (3) coordination with USGS field work; (4) field sampling; (5) sample and data analysis; and (6) data interpretation and reporting. IN ORDER TO COMPETE FOR THIS CONTRACT, interested parties must demonstrate that they are qualified to perform work by providing Capabilities Statements not later than 5 PM on MAY 14, 2003, detailing: (1) Your KEY PERSONNEL, scientific and technical, (those who would have the primary responsibility for performing and/or managing the project) with their qualifications, specific expertise, and experience. Particularly relevant is their expertise in the fields of deep-sea biology (including field and laboratory work experience) demonstrated by qualification and authorship in peer-reviewed publications. Information about technical personnel who will be responsible for the organization of information and the production of documents and manuscripts must be provided. (2) Your ORGANIZATION'S EXPERIENCE with this type of work and a description of your facilities. Specifically, the MMS will look at your ability to timely complete projects, adhere to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of cost controls, and quality of products delivered; degree of comparability of past projects to the current project, including number, complexity, and size. Information about your subcontracts, partners, and quality of cooperation between organization, staff, key personnel, and the client must be provided. (3) SPECIFIC REFERENCES (including project identifier/contract number and description, period of performance, dollar amount, client name, and current telephone number) for work of this nature that your personnel or organization is currently performing or has completed within the last three (3) years. Also, please include any negative references and your rebuttal explaining your side of the story. HOW TO RESPOND: Offerors shall submit an Original and four (4) copies of the Capabilities Statement to Michael W. Hargrove, Contracting Officer, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, MS 2510, 381 Elden St., Herndon VA 20170-4817. Seven (7) additional copies shall be submitted to Ms. Connie Landry, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS 5431, New Orleans LA 70123-2394. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure that the Capabilities Statements are received by the dates and time set forth above. Timeliness of receipt of submissions will be determined by the time received in the Procurement Operations Branch, Herndon VA. YOUR CAPABILITIES STATEMENT WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON: (1) Past Performance, which includes: adherence to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of cost controls, the acceptability of previous products delivered, effectiveness of program management, and the Offeror's willingness to cooperate with the customer in both routine matters and when confronted by unexpected difficulties. (2) The degree of comparability of past projects to the current project, including number, complexity, and size. (3) The experience and expertise of all scientific and technical Key Personnel. Evaluation factors include the length and quality of experience for each person assigned to perform specific tasks, their experience and expertise in the fields applicable to the performance of this study and their level of effort commitment towards this study. (4) Your Project Manager's demonstrated leadership ability and experience with managing a large team and ability to control costs and to keep project performance and document preparation on schedule. Following Step (1), the review and evaluation of all Capabilities Statements, only those determined from the evaluation factors described above to be most qualified to successfully perform the effort will be invited to Step (2), provided the Request for Proposal. ALL OFFERORS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE RESULTS OF STEP (1). Offerors are strongly encouraged to submit any questions via E mail or Facsimile. Please submit questions to Michael.Hargrove@mms.gov and Paula.Barksdale@mms.gov. ALL INQUIRIES MUST INCLUDE RFP NUMBER 72323, AS WELL AS YOUR FULL NAME, ORGANIZATION NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS. If it is necessary to call for information, contact Michael W. Hargrove between the hours of 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, EST, Monday-Friday, on 703-787-1367 or via FAX # 703-787-1022.
- Web Link
-
Please click here to view more details.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOI/MMS/PO/0103AN72323/listing.html)
- Record
- SN00310204-F 20030425/030424064610 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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