SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Solomon Islands Sea Turtle Conservation, Management, Mitigation & Outreach
- Notice Date
- 6/29/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Administrative Support Center, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, WA, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- WASC-5-1012
- Response Due
- 7/13/2005
- Archive Date
- 7/28/2005
- Description
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation to increase the likelihood of survival of sea turtles that are captured during the course of commerical tuna fishing operations in Solomon Islands, and to heighten the awareness generally to the increased concern of the depressed state of the sea turtle populations found in the country and the greater Western Pacific fot the period of award of contract to June 30, 2006. SOLOMON ISLANDS SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT, MITIGATION, AND OUTREACH PROJECT Objective The purpose of the project is to increase the likelihood of survival of sea turtles that are captured during the course of commercial tuna fishing operations in Solomon Islands, and to heighten awareness of the depressed state of sea turtle populations found in the country and the greater western Pacific in general. The project has three major objectives: 1. To expand the activities of the Solomon Island?s Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources (DFMR) fisheries observer program by increasing the capabilities of DFMR staff and observers in recognizing, handling, and reporting interactions between sea turtles and the relevant commercial fisheries in Solomon Islands; 2. To familiarize commercial fishing operations in Solomon Islands with techniques of handling sea turtles caught incidentally to fishing operations, and provide appropriate equipment and instructions on how to address specific sea turtle interaction with commercial fishing gear. 3. To integrate the topic of sea turtle interaction with commercial fishing operations into DFMR?s ongoing fisheries management program. This will enable the DFMR and Solomon Islands commercial fisheries to acquire a broader understanding of how to handle sea turtle interactions at sea and to lay the foundation for future fisheries management activities, if required. Beyond these objectives, it is expected that the project will collect baseline information on sea turtle-fisheries interactions, and enhance cooperation between DFMR and other government agencies or environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) involved in turtle conservation. Background The Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has supported projects, via grants and contracts, aimed at lessening the adverse consequences of interactions between sea turtles and commercial tuna fisheries in Pacific Island countries for over two years. These projects have been aimed at staff and institutional capacity building in government agencies of several Pacific Island countries engaged in marine resources management, along with heightening the awareness of sea turtle bycatch issues in the fishing industry. The focus of these projects have been to provide Pacific Island government fisheries managers and locally based commercial fishers with a broader understanding of the level and consequences of sea turtle interactions with commercial fisheries in the countries concerned, and to increase the likelihood of survival by sea turtles that are captured incidentally during the course of commercial fishing operations. Training of onboard fishery observers in sea turtle release techniques and the use of such observers as a conduit to change attitudes and enhance awareness of sea turtle bycatch issues has been crucial components in each project. Each of the countries participating in these projects to date have an ongoing fisheries observer programs: Federated States of Micronesia (implementation in 2003), Marshall Islands (2003 and 2004), and Papua New Guinea (2004). Work Elements The project consists of 5 tasks and report writings. It shall entail 30 days of in-country work in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Work shall consist of a minimum of two workshops for observers where they shall be introduced to the subject of bycatch mitigation and shall be trained in appropriate turtle bycatch mitigation techniques and the use of specific mitigation tools. Information shall be provided on the Solomon Islands turtle resource, with particular attention to those species considered most under threat at the present time. Task 1 Preparation or compilation of instructional materials. The contractor shall: Provide materials for distribution of vessel operators and crew in Japanese, Korean, Bahasa, and English. Creation of information shall include but not be limited to the western Pacific turtle identification, de-hooking, handling in the event of hooking, for tuna longline and purse seine vessels. Task 2 Increasing DFMR Staff and Observer Capabilities: The contractor shall: Conduct two (2) workshops of three day duration to include training for DFMR fishery observers and industry in the proper handling of sea turtles incidentally hooked or entangled in fishing gear. During the workshops, a presentation on the importance of reducing turtle interaction from the commercial fishing industry standpoint shall be made. Mitigation devices shall be explained, and instructional materials provided. Videos showing proper mitigation techniques practiced in other longline fisheries shall be shown. Create a training syllabus for use in the training sessions as well as for use in future training sessions to be conducted by senior DFMR staff, and provide adequate reference documents for use by onboard observers; Provide relevant tools to observers and training for their use on board fishing vessels, focusing on the tuna and shark longline fisheries. The focus of activities shall be with those companies based proximal to Honiara, but travel shall also be undertaken to visit purse seiner(s) based in Noro, Solomon Islands. Task 3 Integration of the Topic of Sea Turtle Interaction with DFMR?s Ongoing Fishery Management Program The contractor shall: Review current in-country data collection programs, including purse seine and longline log-sheets and observer data collection forms and the data collection protocols, to determine what, if any, adjustments might be useful for current programs for the purpose of improving turtle related information; Recommend appropriate protocols and arrangements for the sharing of sea turtle interaction information collected by DFMR with regional fishery management and environmental organizations. Hold a workshop of at least one day for Honiara-based ENGOs to explain interaction mitigation steps being taken by DFMR and to present information on the subject. Based on the review of the data detailed above, along with any relevant information from regional organizations, provide a report to DFMR detailing the extent of sea turtle interaction with commercial fisheries in Solomon Islands. Compare and contrast these results with the results from like projects or sources of information in other Pacific Island Countries or from regional organizations. Task 4 Tuna Industry Outreach The contractor shall: Hold informational meetings with vessel agents and operators, as their schedule allows to explain the importance of the topic and provide background information on devices and method to mitigate the adverse effects of interactions between sea turtles and commercial fishing in Solomon Islands. Meet with tuna longline vessel operators and explain observer tasks and duties relating to sea turtle interaction, and provide appropriate handling and release instructions. Emphasize the new role of DFMR observers in utilizing these techniques and assisting vessel captains where necessary; Provide materials in Japanese and Korean for longline vessel captains, and in Bahasa and English for deck bosses or others in positions of authority onboard. Provide the relevant domestic purse seine company regarding interactions in their payao-based (fish aggregation device) fishery. Task 5 Other Activities The contractor shall: Organize a meeting of relevant DFMR staff with ENGOs, including but not be limited to, The Nature Conservancy, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the International Waters Program (IWP) based at the South Pacific Regional Environment Program and the Solomon Islands Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) to publicize the DFMR?s activities and intentions with regard to sea turtle data collection, conservation, management and interaction mitigation. A regular channel of communication exists between DFMR and DEC, and this can be expanded by encouraging participation of person(s) responsible to attend the workshops in Honiara to gain familiarity with the subject matter and project objectives. An arrangement between DEC and DFMR for information-sharing and input by DFMR into the national turtle tagging database will be encouraged. NOAA FISHERIES: The NOAA Fisheries will facilitate access by the contactor to the appropriate Solomon Islands Ministry of Natural Resources, Department of Fisheries and Natural Resources personnel. The NOAA Fisheries will request that a DFMR representative, ideally one from the DFMR Observer Program, accompany the contractor and participate in all industry meetings. The NOAA Fisheries will provide access to all relevant informational materials developed to date on sea turtle identification, mitigation and handling on longline vessels fishing under domestic authorizations. Deliverable(s): The final work product shall be a report to the PIRO, indicating if each of the Task(s) were fulfilled and if not, why. The report will provide copies of all training materials and syllabus developed for the various meetings / workshops detailed above, along with a copy of the report detailed in Task 3. The Report.  An electronic version (MSWord) draft report shall be submitted to the PIRO for review 240 days after the date of initiation of the contract. The report will be reviewed by the PIRO and returned with written comments or suggested revisions to the contractor within 14 days. $___________________  The final draft report incorporating the PIRO comments, shall be submitted 20 days thereafter. $__________________  The final report shall be submitted in both hard copy and electronic form (MSWord). $__________________  The final report should include such visual aids as are appropriate to illustrate the findings, i.e. maps, figures, tables. $_________________  The final report shall include endnotes referencing the documents consulted. $________________ Timetable: Day 1 Contract begins Day 240 Interim Report Due. Day 274 Final Report Due. It is recognized that the planning and coordination of these activities will be challenging given communication with the DFMR ? and it is for this reason a 8 month period of time has been provided. Estimated Projected Start Date: August 1, 2005 This is a simplified acquisition that is not expected to exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. The Western Administrative Support Center, Acquisition Management Division, requires that all contractors doing business with this acquisition office must be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) before October 1, 2003. After this date, 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 offerors must 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.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Solomon Islands
- Record
- SN00838671-W 20050701/050629211900 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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