SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Exploration & Research of Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Natural and Artif
- Notice Date
- 3/3/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- MMS Procurement Branch, HQ 381 Elden Street, MS 2101 Herndon VA 20170-4817 US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- M08PS00032
- Response Due
- 3/18/2008
- Archive Date
- 4/17/2008
- Point of Contact
- Coleman, Mary E. 703-787-1070, mary.coleman@mms.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Coleman, Mary E.
(mary.coleman@mms.gov)
- Description
- PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AS IT WILL BE THE ONLY NOTICE THAT WILL BE ISSUED. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS), Procurement Operations Branch, is the contracting office for this procurement and the resultant contract administration. All vendors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (www.ccr.gov) in order to receive Government contracts. The Government intends to award a cost reimbursement type contract for the effort described herein. SCOPE OF WORK: This solicitation for research proposals is offered under the auspices of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP). NOPP is a collaboration of fifteen Federal agencies to provide leadership and coordination of national oceanographic research and education programs. This solicitation directly addresses two of five elements of the NOPP Investment Strategy that represent emerging national ocean research needs and agency priorities Operational/Routine Observations and Outreach/Education). Both Minerals Management Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research will be collaborating agencies with separately-funded companion studies conducted by U.S. Geological Survey. This interagency study will focus on the exploration and investigation of deepwater non-chemosynthetic biological communities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) that have developed on both natural and artificial hard substrates including platforms and shipwrecks with emphasis on deepwater coral habitats. An additional aspect includes exploration of unidentified shipwreck sites in the deep Gulf with both historical and biological objectives. Although the vast majority of the bottom in deepwater areas of the GOM is comprised of soft sediments (mixtures of sand, silt, and clay), it is increasingly well known that there are numerous locations with significant areas of hard bottom, particularly associated with the tops and flanks of salt diapirs and associated faulting. The vast majority of these deepwater hard bottom habitats are unexplored and their biological communities poorly understood. 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. Additional types of corals including antipatharians (black corals) and gorgonians (e.g., sea fans) also add significant community structure and potential for high community diversity. Two major communities that include significant accumulations of Lophelia coral have been reported in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is not known if similar remarkable coral habitats are located in other parts of the Gulf or if they are indeed extremely rare. Past research has clearly demonstrated that deepwater coral habitats are important biodiversity hotspots and significant biological resources with intrinsic and socio-economic value. These basic discoveries together with increased knowledge of potential threats have highlighted the urgent need to prevent further degradation of these vulnerable habitats. Although knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of deep-sea coral communities in the northern Gulf of Mexico has increased in the last decade, data are lacking on what regulates the observed patchy distribution and how extensive deep-sea coral banks form. The oil and gas industry has, and will continue to move into deeper water in their continuing search for extractable energy reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. Knowledge of the distribution, relative abundance, and population structures of deepwater organisms provides critical information to MMS to estimate the potential effects of deepwater exploration and production and allow refinement of mitigation measures. NOAA OER explores the ocean and maps its resources, to gain new insights about its physical, chemical, biological, and archaeological characteristics, and it?s living and non-living resources and seeks innovative scientific objectives that will bring new discoveries and allow the public to engage in exploration through education and outreach activities connected to expeditions. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS: NATURAL HARDBOTTOM, PLATFORMS AND SHIPWRECKS: A. Natural Hardbottom: (1) To determine environmental conditions that result in the observed distribution of significant high-density hard bottom communities on the continental slope that are sensitive to impacts from oil and gas development activities (especially extensive areas of Lophelia and other corals). Near bottom physical oceanography is an important component; (2) To explore new, previously undocumented hard bottom sites selected through the use of remote sensing data and; (3) To conduct process studies and experimental hypothesis-based studies. Deepwater coral habitats are the main priority and previously studied deepwater coral habitats shall be included. B. Platforms: (1) To document biological communities on deep GOM oil and gas structures through direct observation and sample collection and determine to what degree they are serving as artificial reefs with some environmental value. Structures will be selected matching specific criteria of age and water depth; (2) To explore the basic question: Do man-made artificial structures function as artificial reefs in deep water? (3) To investigate deepwater coral colonization including both stony corals and other coral taxa such as antipatharians (?black corals?) and; (4) To gain an understanding of deepwater coral ecology and ecosystem-wide distribution dynamics through analysis of geographic and environmental conditions where deepwater corals are found on platforms and through samples collected for genetic studies, etc. C. Shipwrecks: (1) To positively identify each vessel investigated and, where possible, establish its type and date of construction, nationality, ownership (past and present), use history, mission and cargo at time of loss; (2) To determine each vessel?s past and present condition and state of preservation; and, through sampling of relevant metals make observations relating to its rate of deterioration; (3) To determine the horizontal extent of the debris field surrounding each site and; (4) To determine potential eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places through archival research and the analysis of imagery and to prepare a National Register nomination form for potentially eligible vessels. Additional basic biological survey objectives will also be a part of this component with emphasis on coral communities and to assess impacts of biofouling communities to these shipwrecks to determine the stability of these sites. The period of performance of this study shall be forty-eight (48) months. The field work is anticipated to occur during the first, second and third years with the remaining time 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 below a depth of 300 m. The estimated cost of this study is between $2,480,000 and $3,340,000. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (NOAA OER) may provide, at no cost to the Offeror, up to 22 days of field time on the R/V Nancy Foster not including any submergence facilities in early September 2008 and a similar number of days of field time including research vessel and submergence facilities such as an Remotely Operated Vehicle for the 2009 and 2010 field years. This study consists of ten (10) main tasks: (1) selection of a Scientific Review Group; (2) refinement of hypotheses, field methodologies and logistics; (3) coordination with U.S. Geological Survey efforts (conducting concurrent collaborative studies); (4) site selection; (5) field sampling; (6) conduct a deepwater Gulf of Mexico commercial fishing review; (7) sample and data analysis; (8) data interpretation, synthesis and reporting; (9) development of educational outreach materials; and (10) interaction with international marine life database organizations. No proposal that offers less than the total required effort will be considered for award. HOW TO RESPOND: For a full copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP), please contact Mary Coleman via email at mary.coleman@mms.gov Please include in your request the RFP Number M08PS00019 and title ?Exploration and Research of Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Natural and Artificial Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Coral Communities: Reefs, Rigs and Wrecks?, your organizations name, point of contact, Dun & Bradstreet number, address, telephone and fax numbers and email address. Requests must be made no later than 5:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Savings Time, Monday, March 18, 2008.
- Record
- SN01522604-W 20080305/080303224250 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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