SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Analysis of Genetic Samples from Pilot Whales and Sperm Whales
- Notice Date
- 5/21/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- 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
- WAD-NFFS7300-13-01777
- Archive Date
- 6/20/2013
- Point of Contact
- Maria L Mendoza, Phone: (206)526-6671
- E-Mail Address
-
Maria.L.Mendoza@noaa.gov
(Maria.L.Mendoza@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is not a presolicitation announcement. The purpose of this Market Research and Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified Small Business, HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran owned, and Women owned Small Business firms. Responses to this Sources Sought Synopsis will be used by the Government in making appropriate acquisition decisions. The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) requires an analysis of genetic samples from pilot whales and sperm whales in order to examine the social and foraging ecology of deep-diving odontocetes. The proposed study is to take place in the Great Bahama Canyon allowing comparison of the behavioral ecology of these species in an area of high sonar use at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) with the surrounding low disturbance areas in the canyon. This project will provide baseline information to identify biologically relevant population units and evaluate population-level effects of anthropogenic sounds on cetaceans in the northern Bahamas. This project will provide key baseline data on animal movements in areas without acoustic stimuli to relate to future work monitoring whale movements during sonar exercises at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC). This project will also contribute baseline information for the Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program (ICMP) recently initiated by the US Navy. The project has been funded by the Navy through an Interagency Agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service. Navy sonar has been linked to unusual strandings of beaked whales and other odontocete species, highlighting the need for baseline information on the behavioral ecology of priority species. To fill key data gaps, the contractor will employ molecular genetic analyses to evaluate the feasibility of examining population and social structuring for both short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), thus providing key information to facilitate the identification of significant population units and allow future estimation of gene flow within and among study areas; a critical piece of data for understanding and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic activities on these acoustically sensitive populations. Project Details Molecular genetic approaches will be employed to assess both population and social structuring of sperm whales and pilot whales both within and among sites across the survey region in the Great Bahama Canyon. The researcher will be required to utilize a suite of molecular genetic markers including polymorphic nuclear loci (microsatellite markers), mitochondrial sequencing (1000bp control region) and sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY). These markers will be used to generate multi-locus genotypes for individual samples collected from individually identified whales. Optimization of laboratory protocols will be performed for the genetic analysis of sperm whale samples. Genetic analysis will be conducted on all existing BMMRO (Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization) tissue samples collected from both pilot whales and sperm whales, as well as those to be collected during the June 2013 ship-based survey. Genotypic data generated using a suite of molecular genetic markers, appropriate for examining patterns of molecular genetic heterogeneity in these species, will provide a critical first-step towards examining the population structuring and social organization of these enigmatic deep-diving odontocetes. Assessing the genetic population and social structuring of these cetacean species in the Great Bahama Canyon will contribute significantly to the understanding of population structure across the North Atlantic. The Bahamas are an important area to address sperm whale stock structure as they lie between the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) where unique haplotypes have been found, and the North Atlantic where multiple haplotypes have been identified (Engelhaupt et al. 2009). There also exists a lack of information regarding stock structure of short-finned pilot whales in this area that represents a potential confluence of western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Carribean populations. Analyses of samples from the Bahamas will provide data to address these data gaps and facilitate examination of patterns of gene flow that are likely responsible for social and geographic population delimitation. This contract will require 12 months of a salaried position for a researcher to generate molecular genetic data from the collected samples and quantify the patterns of genetic divergence among sites within Great Bahama Canyon. Technical Requirements: In order to meet the requirements of this contract, the researcher MUST meet the following minimum qualifications: (1) A minimum of 7 years' experience with molecular genetic techniques on odontocetes at the Ph.D level (2) A minimum of 7 years research experience with odontocetes in the Bahamas (3) Prior experience with the use of molecular genetic markers on sperm whales and short-finned pilot whales, including polymorphic nuclear loci (microsatellite markers), mitochondrial sequencing (1000bp control region) and the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY). (4) Confirmation of having research access to sperm whale and pilot whale samples collected by the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization (BMMRO). Deliverables: A report documenting: • A full description of all genetic methods. • Quantification of DNA extracted from all collected samples and an assessment of sample viability for future analyses of population genetic structuring. • Genetic sex determination for both pilot whales & sperm whales. • Mitochondrial control region haplotypes identity for both pilot whales & sperm whales. A database containing: • The mtDNA sequence of each sample. • The nuclear genotype of each sample. • The sex of each sample. • All molecular genetic data linked to corresponding field collection data. The period of performance is anticipated to be from date of award through June 2014, with no option period thereafter. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 541690 with a size standard of $14M. Interested firms shall provide, in writing, a brief narrative (no more than 3 pages in length) and documentation to support your firm's capability and experience meeting the requirements herein and include your firm's name, address, point of contact, telephone number, DUNS Number, CCR Cage Number, business type and size, i.e., small, large, non-profit, educational, and so forth. Any response that does not include this information will not be considered. The Government will review your response to determine if your firm has the experience, knowledge and capability to perform the services as specified above. This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. Nor does this request for information constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise that any procurement action that may be issued for the Government's requirements. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. All contractors doing business with the Government are required to be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). NOTE: THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded on the basis of responses received to this notice. Detailed information must be submitted by email to the Purchasing Agent, Maria L. Mendoza at maria.l.mendoza@noaa.gov by09:00 AM local Seattle time (PST), on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. Questions of any nature must be addressed in writing as TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE HONORED.
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