SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- HABITAT STUDIES OF ENDANGERED AND RECOVERING LARGE WHALE POPULATIONS USING SATELLITE TELEMTERY AND SIGHTING DATA - RFQ FORM
- Notice Date
- 8/8/2011
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, Colorado, 80305-3328, United States
- ZIP Code
- 80305-3328
- Solicitation Number
- RA133F-11-RQ-1124
- Archive Date
- 8/16/2011
- Point of Contact
- DianaRomero, Phone: 303-497-3761
- E-Mail Address
-
diana.romero@noaa.gov
(diana.romero@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SF 18 RFQ FORM COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION Scientist to develop and apply satellite tagging methods and to develop habitat models for both telemetry and sighting data for large whales (I) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (II) This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). Submit written quotes on RFQ Number RA133F-11-RQ-1124. (III) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-53. (IV) This solicitation is unrestricted and open to all sources. The associated NAICS code is 541990. The small business size standard is $7.0M. (V) This combined solicitation/synopsis is for purchase of the following commercial services: CLIN 0001 - Services, non-personal, to provide all equipment, labor and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary for a Scientist to develop and apply satellite tagging methods and to develop habitat models for both telemetry and sighting data for large whales in accordance with the statement of work. (VI) Description of requirements is as follows: STATMENT OF WORK HABITAT STUDIES OF ENDANGERED AND RECOVERING LARGE WHALE POPULATIONS USING SATELLITE TELEMTERY AND SIGHTING DATA Scope The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) conducts various marine mammal research projects in the North Pacific Ocean with relevance for the conservation and management. Satellite telemetry and sighting surveys are two of the methods used for these projects. The scope of this contract is to hire a qualified scientist to develop and apply satellite tagging methods and to develop habitat models for both telemetry and sighting data for large whales. Emphasis will be given to endangered (North Pacific right whales, Eubalaena japonica) or recovering (humpback, Megaptera novaeangliae, and fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus) baleen whales in the North Pacific Ocean, but research to facilitate development of satellite telemetry, particularly follow-up studies to assess possible short/medium term impact of implantable tags in large whales, may be carried out in other regions. Background Management of marine mammal populations falls within the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 and, for some species, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The agency is mandated to conserve the endangered species under its jurisdiction, and must undertake actions to prevent further decline of populations, facilitate their recovery, and safeguard the quality of their habitat. In the northwestern U.S., the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is partly responsible for overseeing and partially funding research on marine mammals, notably those populations listed as Strategic Stocks. Baleen whales were extensively hunted in the world's oceans for at least five centuries. Some populations (humpback whales [Megaptera novaeangliae] and right whales [Eubalaena australis] in the Southern Hemisphere) have shown signs of recovery, but others (Antarctic blue whales [Balaenoptera musculs], right whales [Eubalaena japonica] in the eastern North Pacific) are still relatively small and endangered (e.g. Clapham et al., 1999). The Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska correspond to the feeding grounds for almost all migratory baleen whale species in the North Pacific. However, seasonal occurrence, habitat use, movements, migration and wintering destinations of some species inhabiting these areas are poorly known. Because large baleen whales occupy upper trophic levels, they have the potential to strongly influence the organization and function of ecological communities (NRC, 1996; Bowen, 1997; Springer et al., 2003). Therefore, the recovery of some of these populations (e.g. of fin [B. physalus] and humpback whales) will likely result in an increasing removal of large biomasses of prey with potentially significant implications to the food web in the North Pacific Ocean ecosystems (e.g. Pfeister and DeMaster, 2006). An ideal area for studying the implications of the increased abundance of large baleen whales on the ecosystem is the Eastern Bering Sea within the framework of the BEST-BSIERP project. The NSF Bering Ecosystem Study (BEST) program focuses on understanding the impacts of changing sea-ice conditions on the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the ecosystem and human resource use activities. The NPRB Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (BSIERP) focuses on understanding key processes regulating the production, distribution and abundance of marine organisms in the Bering Sea, especially marine mammals, seabirds, and fish, and how they may respond to natural and human-induced influences, particularly those related to climate change and its economic and sociological impacts. Together they offer an integrated study of the whole Bering Sea ecosystem from physical dynamics up to baleen whales. Research conducted by NMML/AFSC/NOAA as part of the BEST-BSIERP project in 2008 and 2010 allowed for the concurrent collection of cetacean sightings, oceanographic variables, and information on potential cetacean prey. These data will enable the development of habitat models for fin and humpback whales (and potentially other species), with great relevance for management of these species. Knowledge of movements and migration of whales is essential to describe critical habitat and to understand how whales use their habitat on both short and long term basis (e.g. due to climate change), behavioral responses to environmental cues (e.g. prey availability as a function of physical changes in the oceans) and to human-related activities (e.g. hydrocarbon exploration and production activities, fisheries). In addition, the study of movements provides important insights into population structure and therefore is useful in defining stocks or management units. In the past decades, satellite telemetry has become one of the most powerful tools to study the movements, behavior, and habitat use of large whales particularly when these animals move to remote and relatively inaccessible sites (e.g. Mate et al., 1997, 2000; Heide-Jørgensen et al., 2006; Zerbini et al., 2006). NMML/AFSC/NOAA intends to continue developing a satellite telemetry program to better understand habitat use of large whales in the Bering Sea, Bering Strait and possibly Chukchi Sea. Because the effects of satellite tagging on large whales, NMML/AFSC/NOAA also intends to conduct studies to assess the possible short/medium-term effects of tagging on whales using humpback whales as a model. Objectives The main objectives of this contract are: 1) Develop implantable satellite transmitters and deployment methods for large whales to investigate habitat use, movements, migratory routes and migratory destinations. 2) Develop a study to assess the short to medium term impact of implantable satellite tags in large baleen whales. 3) Develop habitat models using sighting and telemetry data to investigate quantitative relationships between distribution and abundance of large baleen whales and environmental variables. 4) Provide advice to NMML/AFSC/NOAA or their collaborators on other research designed to assess distribution/abundance/trends, movements and habitat of cetaceans. Work Breakdown Structure An appropriate research vessel(s), equipment and additional logistical support will be supplied by NMML/AFSC/NOAA for the purpose of conducting the studies described here as well as others separate research tasks directed by NMML/AFSC/NOAA scientists. Objective 1: The Contractor will develop or set up satellite transmitters, including anchoring systems and deployment methods according to the latest technological developments. Transmitters will primarily follow specifications of implantable tags previously used for tracking large baleen whales and deployment methods appropriate for the delivery of such tags (Heide-Jørgensen et al., 2003; 2006; Zerbini et al., 2006a). The Contractor will also assess and deploy other types of transmitters (e.g. surface mounted, archival tags) if these are appropriate to answer some of the study questions outlined by NMML/AFSC/NOAA. Transmitters will be deployed primarily in the North Pacific Ocean during surveys organized by NMML/AFSC/NOAA, but research in other areas may be requested in order to improve tags or tag deployment methods. Objective 2: NMML/AFSC/NOAA has recently approved a proposal in collaboration with the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, the Australian Antarctic Division and the Marine Mammal Center to conduct implantable satellite tagging follow up studies with humpback whales. The Contractor is expected to participate in field surveys for tag deployment and follow-up studies and to take responsibility for data analysis and report/manuscript write-ups, in collaboration with other participants of this project. Objective 3: The Contractor be familiar with the sampling methods NMML/AFSC/NOAA uses in sighting surveys and will develop habitat models using sighting data (from the BEST-BISERP 2008 and 2010 cruises and other studies in the northern North Pacific Ocean [Moore et al., 2002; Zerbini et al., 2006b; Friday et al., in preparation]) and telemetry data (existing or collected under objective 1 above) to investigate relationships of whale occurrence (distribution and/or density/abundance) and oceanographic and biological variables. Different analytical techniques shall be explored including (but not limited to) general linear (GLM) and additive (GAM) models; classification and regression trees (CARTs) and Mantel tests (Mantel, 1967; Redfern et al., 2006). Model results and predictions shall be mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Objective 4: The Contractor shall provide advice on survey design, data collection and analysis for other studies conducted by NMML/AFSC/NOAA and their collaborators that she/he may not be directly involved. It is expected that advice be given primarily (but not limited to) to projects designed to study distribution and abundance, movements and habitat of cetaceans. Performance Period The performance period shall be from 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012. Quality and progress assurance The Contractor's performance shall be assessed by the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) on the basis of performance during the field project and related activities beforehand. It is the policy of AFSC that payment under the contract shall be made only upon satisfactory completion of the work described herein, as determined by the COTR. Transmittal/Delivery/Accessibility The research will culminate in reports and publications. Reports should be provided to the COTR by the end of performance year. The contractor shall be expected to submit the results of this study to appropriate refereed journals within a reasonable time after completion of the work. References BOWEN, W. D. 1997. Role of marine mammals in aquatic ecosystems. Marine Ecology Progress Series 158: 267-274. CLAPHAM, P. J., S. B. YOUNG and J. R. BROWNELL. 1999. Baleen whales: conservation issues and the status of the most endangered populations. Mammal Review 29: 35-60. HEIDE-JORGENSEN, M. P., K. L. LAIDRE, M. V. JENSEN, L. DUECK and L. D. POSTMA. 2006. Dissolving stock discreteness with satellite tracking: bowhead whales in Baffin Bay. Marine Mammal Science 22: 34-45. HEIDE-JORGENSEN, M. P., K. L. LAIDRE, O. WIIG, M. V. JENSEN, L. DUECK, L. D. MAIERS, H. C. SCHMIDT and R. C. HOBBS. 2003. From Greenland to Canada in ten days: track of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, across Baffin Bay. Arctic 56: 21-31. MATE, B. R., S. L. NIEUKIRK and S. D. KRAUS. 1997. Satellite-monitored movements of the northern right whale. Journal of Wildlife Management 61: 1393-1405. MATE, B. R., G. K. KRUTZIKOWSKY and M. H. WINSOR. 2000. Satellite-monitored movements of radio-tagged bowhead whales in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas during the late-summer feeding season and fall migration. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78: 1168-1181. MOORE, S. E., J. M. WAITE, N. A. FRIDAY and T. HONKALEHTO. 2002. Cetacean distribution and relative abundance on the central-eastern and the southeastern Bering Sea shelf with reference to oceanographic domains. Progress in Oceanography 55: 249-261. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL. 1996. The Bering Sea ecosystem. Pages 307. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. PFISTER, B. and D. P. DEMASTER. 2006. Changes in marine mammal biomass in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Region before and after the period of commercial whaling. Pages 116-133 in J. A. ESTES, D. P. DEMASTER, D. F. DOAK, T. M. WILLIAMS and R. L. BROWNELL, JR. eds. Whales, whaling, and ocean ecosystems. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. REDFERN, J. V., M. C. FERGUSON, E. A. BECKER, K. D. HYRENBACH, C. GOOD, J. BARLOW, K. KASCHNER, M. F. BAUMGARTNER, K. A. FORNEY, L. T. BALLANCE, P. FAUCHALD, P. HALPIN, T. HAMAZAKI, A. J. PERSHING, S. S. QIAN, A. READ, S. B. REILLY, L. TORRES and F. WERNER. 2006. Techniques for cetacean-habitat modeling. Marine Ecology Progress Series 310: 271-295. SPRINGER, A. M., J. A. ESTES, G. B. VAN VLIET, T. M. WILLIAMS, D. F. DOAK, E. M. DANNER, K. A. FORNEY and B. PFISTER. 2003. Sequential megafaunal collapse in the North Pacific Ocean: An ongoing legacy of industrial whaling? Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100: 12223-12228. ZERBINI, A. N., A. ANDRIOLO, M. P. HEIDE-JORGENSEN, J. L. PIZZORNO, Y. G. MAIA, G. R. VANBLARICOM, D. P. DEMASTER, P. C. SIMOES-LOPES, S. MOREIRA and C. BETHLEM. 2006a. Satellite-monitored movements of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the southwest Atlantic Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 313: 295-304. ZERBINI, A. N., J. M. WAITE, J. L. LAAKE and P. R. WADE. 2006b. Abundance, trends and distribution of baleen whales off western Alaska and the central Aleutian Islands. Deep-Sea Research Part I - Oceanographic Research Papers 53: 1772-1790. (VII) Period of performance shall be: September 01, 2011 through August 31, 2012 (VIII) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items (June 2008), applies to this acquisition. (IX) FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items (Jan 1999), applies to this acquisition. Offers will be evaluated based on price and the factors set forth in paragraph (a), and award will be made to the firm offering the best value to the Government. Paragraph (a) is hereby completed as follows: ((a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Experience: the contractor must have at least 10 years experience in the following: 1) designing, testing and deploying stallite telemetry tags on large whales, 2) habitat modeling of large whales based on telemetry, 3) biological survey design and analyses. Resumes should be submitted with quote with personnel. Past Performance: the contractor should submit at least two references, with point of contact, phone and email address. Price The Government intends to award a firm-fixed price purchase order on an all or none basis. (X) The offeror must submit a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (May 2011), with its quote. The offeror shall complete the annual representations and certifications electronically at http://orca.bpn.gov. (XI) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (Jun 2010) applies to this acquisition. (XII) The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (May 2011) applies to this acquisition. The following clauses under subparagraph (b) apply: (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Jul 2010) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note) (Effective March 1, 2011). (6) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (DEC 2010) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). (Applies to contracts over $30,000). (Not applicable to subcontracts for the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items). (21) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Apr 2009) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). (24) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755). (25) 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Jul 2010) (E.O. 13126). (26) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999). (27) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246). (29) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Oct 2010) (29 U.S.C. 793). (30) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (SEP 2010) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (36) 52.223-18, Contractor Policy to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (SEP 2010) (E.O. 13513). (37) 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies (Feb 2009) (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d). (40) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (June 2008) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury). (45) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C. 3332). The following clauses under subparagraph (c) apply: None apply. (XIII) The following clauses are also applicable to this acquisition: 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998) 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated By Reference (Feb 1998). This contract incorporates on or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address: http://www.arnet.gov (End of Clause) The following additional FAR terms and conditions apply: 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel (Jan 2011) 52.214-34, Submission of Offers in the English Language (Apr 1991) 52.214-35, Submission of Offers in U.S. Currency (Apr 1991) 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (Nov 1999) 52.242-15, Stop-Work Order (Aug 1989) Full Text FAR Clauses: None Department of Commerce Clauses: 1352.215-72, Inquires (Apr 2010) Offerors must submit all questions concerning this solicitation in writing to Diana Romero@noaa.gov. Questions should be received no later than 04:00 pm MDT Aug 11, 2011. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the question responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract. (End of clause) 1352.201-70, Contracting Officer's Authority (Apr 2010). The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to make or approve any changes in any of the requirements of this contract, and, notwithstanding any provisions contained elsewhere in this contract, the said authority remains solely in the Contracting Officer. In the event the contractor makes any changes at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract terms and conditions, including price. (XIV) Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating do not apply. (XV) Quotes are required to be received in the contracting office no later than 04:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time on August 15, 2011. All quotes must be E-mailed or by faxed to the attention of Diana Romero. The E-mail address is Diana.Romero@noaa.gov and the fax number is (303) 497-7719 (XVI) Any questions regarding this solicitation should be directed to Diana Romero by E-mail: Diana.Romero@noaa.gov or by fax at (303) 497-7719.
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