SOLICITATION NOTICE
V -- Vessel Charter for Swordfish and Highly Migratory Species Research Cruise
- Notice Date
- 5/25/2012
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 483114
— Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Region Acquisition Division, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, Washington, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- AB133F-12-RP-0106
- Point of Contact
- Mimi Antonio Hetzel, Phone: 206-526-6032
- E-Mail Address
-
Mimi.A.Hetzel@noaa.gov
(Mimi.A.Hetzel@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) is planning a research cruise in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off of the coast of California for highly migratory species including swordfish and albacore during the fall of 2012. The overall goals of the survey are: 1) to conduct longline fishing for swordfish deep during the day to document catch depth, deploy electronic tags to characterize essential habitat and collect biological samples to examine feeding habits and the potential for stock heterogeneity of swordfish entering the U.S. west coast fisheries; 2) to conduct trolling for albacore for the deployment of archival tags and to collect biological samples to examine age and maturity, feeding habits, and the potential for stock heterogeneity of North Pacific albacore entering the U.S. west coast fisheries; 3) to collect oceanographic data to examine environmental effects on the distribution and catch rates swordfish, albacore and any other fish caught; and 4) tag and release healthy Highly Migratory Species (HMS) other than swordfish including sharks and opah caught during longline operations and collect biological samples from mortalities. These objectives will help SWFSC researchers address some of the goals prioritized by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC), the Swordfish Leatherback Use of Temperate Habitat (SLUTH) Initiative and the SWFSC/Albacore Industry Cooperative Research program and provide a better understanding of the California Current ecosystem. Swordfish longlining: Commercial swordfish fisheries are the second most important fisheries for HMS off the U.S. West Coast. To achieve the objectives listed above, swordfish will be targeted deep during the day at depths of 200 m or greater. Two types of electronic tags will be used: (1) Pop-up satellite tags log data while on the fish and then after a programmed period of time, the tags release, float to the surface and download their data to satellite. These tags need not be recovered to obtain the data. (2) Archival tags do need to be recovered but typically provide much longer and more detailed records than satellite tags providing better information on large-scale movements and behaviors. The information on swordfish behaviors and essential habitat will improve efforts to differentiate swordfish and leatherback turtle habitat which could be used to help fishers target swordfish while avoiding endangered turtles. Biological sampling and electronic tagging data will help to resolve questions of stock structure. The designated sampling area is thought to be one of mixing between swordfish originating from Hawaii and Mexico. Combining data on large-scale movements with studies using isotopes from muscle tissue and otoliths micro-chemistry will improve our understanding of local population dynamics and stock structure. In addition, samples will be used to examine feeding habits, maturity, age and growth, and their ability to tolerate hypoxia, which will provide insight into potential limits to vertical movements. Albacore trolling: The U.S. North Pacific albacore surface fishery is one of the few remaining open access fisheries for HMS on the West Coast. The North Pacific-wide stock is managed domestically as well as by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). There remain uncertainties about both the age and growth model of albacore and stock structure assumptions used in assessments. These uncertainties can influence biomass and fishing mortality estimates and consequently stock assessments. The SWFSC has been actively studying albacore in cooperation with both the west coast recreational and commercial fleets; however, access to whole fish for tagging and biological sampling is limited to areas targeted by these fleets. Albacore will be targeted throughout the sampling area using several different fishing methods including rod and reel, handline, and troll, supplemented by chumming with live bait. Subsamples of fish will be provided for use by other scientists of the ISC Albacore working group (ALBWG) as identified under the ALBWG research priorities as well as within the SWFSC for age and growth, feeding habits, otolith microchemistry, and genetics studies. Tagging and sampling of non-target species: While swordfish and albacore are the targets of this research, there are numerous other HMS that will likely be encountered during fishing operations. The SWFSC has ongoing research projects on opah, sharks and other tunas. Sharks and opah caught in good condition will be tagged with satellite tags or conventional spaghetti tags to document stock structure and essential habitat. For tagging it is necessary to bring sharks onto the deck using a large cradle attached to a winch. Opah can be tagged over the side with a long tagging pole. All fish not in condition for release will be taken for biological samples in support of ongoing biological studies. OBJECTIVES: 1) Target albacore and swordfish off CA for biological and oceanographic studies. 2) Tag and release healthy albacore with archival tags. 3) Tag and release healthy swordfish with satellite and archival tags. 4) Collect biological samples from up to 30 albacore, opportunistically from swordfish and other fish caught including otoliths, fin spines, scales, gonads, muscle, heart, reproductive tissue, stomach contents, and whole specimens. 5) Conduct oceanographic measurements in the fishing areas using CTD deployments and by monitoring acoustic backscatter. 6) Document all animals captured and determine species, sex and size distribution by area. 7) Tag and release healthy sharks and opah caught during longline fishing operations with conventional and satellite tags for studies of migration and essential habitat. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Duration: Ten (10) consecutive days minimum to complete operational work. In addition, up to ten (10) optional consecutive days may be contracted pending available funds. The first survey will start approximately September 17; start date will be finalized at time of award. In addition, two option years of ten (10) consecutive days are contemplated, each with up to ten (10) additional optional charter days. The Contractor shall furnish the vessel, necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified) to perform as following: The Contractor shall provide a vessel greater than 65 and preferably less than 100 feet length, greater than 15 feet beam width, and the ability to cruise at 8 knots or higher with a range of up to 20 days. Vessel is required to have 2 main and 2 auxiliary (generator) engines. The vessel shall be made available with full fuel tanks immediately prior to the beginning of the survey. Safety. Vessel must have a current Coast Guard safety inspection and meet safety requirements as per NOAA guidelines. At least one crew member or Captain must be certified in first aid and at least 1 certified in CPR. This could be the same individual to satisfy requirements. Vessel must be equipped with skiff or inflatable raft large enough to fit captain, crew, and scientific staff. Immersion suits must be provided for crew and scientific staff. Fishing Operations. Vessel shall have longline capability to efficiently conduct all described work. During trolling operations, the vessel shall be capable of maintaining course while cruising at 3-6 knots. Skippers must have at least 5 years of experience in conducting pelagic longlining and albacore trolling and a minimum of 2 crew members have at least 2 years of experience in conducting pelagic longlining and albacore trolling. Berthing and Habitability. Vessel shall also be capable of accommodating at least five (5) fishery scientists/observers in addition to a minimum crew of four (including captain) members that are experienced with deploying and retrieving longline gear and conducting other required fishing and piloting operations. The vessel shall have a marine head (toilet) and shower facilities that are clean and sanitary. Bunks, work spaces, and galley shall be adequately ventilated and free from tobacco smoke. Vessel shall be capable of carrying provisions for up to 20 days at sea for all personnel. Vessel must be able to make and store enough freshwater to accommodate captain, crew, and scientific staff for 20 days. An experienced cook must be provided. The charter is required to provide three (3) meals, water and non-alcoholic drinks, and a light snack each day for all personnel. Vessel shall have sufficient seating for a minimum 5 scientific crew in the galley/mess area. Equipment, Working Area, and Storage. Required electronic equipment include a GPS plotter, radar, satellite phone, VHF and SSB radio, fish finder, depth sensor, and water temperature sensor. A computer to access satellite weather and water conditions is required. A work area and table inside the vessel where laptop computers can be used is required. Access to an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is required on the bridge. At least two 110v outlets must be provided in working areas inside the deckhouse to plug-in personal laptop computers. Access to 110v electricity near deck working area is also required. An overhead hydraulic crane with a minimum boom length of 12 feet that can reach at least 6 feet over the side of the vessel, and the ability to lift a minimum of 1000 pounds is required in order to lift a tagging cradle from the water to a working area on the vessel deck. A winch or crane must be available to deploy oceanographic instrumentation (up to 200 lb and 3 cu. feet). A bait tank to keep live bait for albacore trolling and chumming operations is required. Deck space to land sharks in a cradle and room for scientists to conduct biological sampling is required (minimum 150 square feet open deck space). Access to freshwater on deck is preferred. Access to high and low pressure saltwater on deck is required. The vessel shall have a freezer and/or sufficient ice box for storage of bait necessary to conduct up to twenty (20) days of fishing and for storage of up to ten (10) whole shark specimens and thirty (30) albacore for biological studies. In addition, a dry area for storage of tagging and sampling equipment is required (minimum 45 cubic feet). This procurement is a small business set-aside. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 483114 with a size standard of 500 employees. A Request for Proposal (RFP) may be available mid-June 2012 at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. The estimated response due date may be late June/early July. Paper copies of this RFP will not be issued. Interested parties should use the FedBizOpps [Add To Watchlist] and [Add Me To Interested Vendors] features which provide a notification when the RFP becomes available for download as well as all postings of information associated with this RFP, thereafter. Each potential contractor is responsible for checking the FedBizOpps website to gain all current information related to the solicitation. The solicitation and any further announcements regarding the solicitation will be posted only at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Email any questions regarding this procurement to Mimi Antonio Hetzel, Contract Specialist at mimi.a.hetzel@noaa.gov. All vendors doing business with the Government are required to be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). 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 also 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. This procurement also requires offerors to complete the On-Line Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) at https://orca.bpn.gov/. Veteran employee reports are required to be filed at https://vets100.vets.dol.gov/VETS-100.pdf.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/WASC/AB133F-12-RP-0106/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Off the California coast., San Diego, California, 92037, United States
- Zip Code: 92037
- Zip Code: 92037
- Record
- SN02758856-W 20120527/120525234838-ac76072bc288e8c221dd45eee96b347c (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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