SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- BENTHIC AND FISH MONITORING IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
- Notice Date
- 7/3/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisition Division-KC, 601 East 12th Street, Room 1756, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106, United States
- ZIP Code
- 64106
- Solicitation Number
- NFFN7600-13-02845SLW
- Point of Contact
- Sharon L. Walker, Phone: (816)426-7470
- E-Mail Address
-
sharon.walker@noaa.gov
(sharon.walker@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), located in Miami, FL intends to award a purchase order to the University of the Virgin Islands to perform, data collection and data entry during a planned mission to the US Virgin Islands in the summer 2013. The data collected during this mission and in partnership with NOAA is critical to the success of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). Background NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) initiated the National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) designed to provide a consistent flow of information to assess and report the status and trends of environmental conditions, living reef resources, and the people and processes that interact with coral reef ecosystems. The NCRMP builds upon a decade of CRCP-supported monitoring, and reporting efforts such as The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States. While the scope is necessarily large and intended to "take the pulse" of coral reef ecosystem conditions throughout U.S. States and Territories, it has been carefully engineered to provide a steady and comprehensive context to show changing conditions at the local scale. It will provide a backdrop to help evaluate other more localized CRCP investments in coral reef conservation. When fully implemented over the course of several monitoring cycles, NCRMP will provide information needed to tailor investments and strategies to ensure that CRCP goals and objectives are achieved, and that U.S. coral reef ecosystems - and the communities that depend on them - benefit from our collective conservation activities. The NCRMP aims to answer the following questions across four monitoring themes (benthic community condition, fish community structure, climate, and human dimensions): • What is the status of coral reef ecosystem biota? • Is community structure changing over time? • What are the trends in temperature and acidification in waters surrounding coral reefs? • What is the status of human knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding coral reefs? • How are human uses of, interactions with and dependence on coral reefs changing over time? These questions will be answered in all of the primary coral reef jurisdictions of the United States, in both the Atlantic and Pacific Basin. In the Atlantic basin, benthic and fish monitoring will be conducted every other year (biennially). In 2013, activities will focus on the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and the Flower Garden Banks (near Texas). This contract is for services needed for the US Virgin Islands monitoring activities. Objectives This contract concerns the benthic and fish monitoring that will be conducted in the US Virgin Islands in 2013 using a stratified random sampling design throughout shallow water coral reefs (0-30m). NCRMP will monitor coral cover, coral community structure, rigidity, incidence of bleaching, and associated measures of fish community structure (abundance, diversity, size, etc.). Benthic and fish monitoring will be conducted on a biennial basis in the U.S. Atlantic/Caribbean. Scope This contract will support the participation of 2 contract vessels and 6 skilled and trained scientific divers (Principal Investigator, Research Techs and graduate students) in a 2 week long scientific mission to the US Virgin Islands in the summer of 2013. The University of Virgin Islands (UVI) is the only organization within the US Virgin Islands that the Government knows can execute the requirements of this project. The University owns and operates vessels that meet the specifications of the project. The University has skilled and trained SCUBA diving personnel that have experience using the protocols of this project. The UVI has the equipment and supplies necessary to fulfill this project. Since UVI, boats, personnel, equipment and supplies are all currently in the USVI; travel costs are minimized. Additionally, UVI personnel are proficient in dealing with data collection, data entry and quality control protocols. The University of the Virgin Islands possesses a unique suite of equipment, personnel skills, and experience to ensure successful completion of this complex and demanding project. Requirements •SCUBA Certified with AAUS (American Academy of Underwater Scientists) Reciprocity to 100 ft Seawater Depth •Certified to drive and dive off University of Virgin Islands and National Park Service vessels •Demonstrated ability in conducting CRCP National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) data collection protocols for benthic and fish monitoring •Training in water sample collection procedures for Ocean Acidification Assays •Proficiency in identification of benthic organisms and fish •Proficient in data entry and Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures •Two ocean-going marine boats with twin outboard engines and required safety equipment at least 22 ft in length, capable of speeds of at least 30 knots, and capable of carrying at least 4 divers each. Tasks All tasks will be conducted over a 2 week period during a Field Mission in the summer of 2013 (likely July 7-21, 2013). -The contractor shall provide 2 contract vessels (and gas) and drivers for the 2 week field mission. -The contractor shall provide 6 skilled and trained scientific divers for the 2 week mission -The contractor shall provide filled SCUBA cylinders and dive equipment for all personnel during the 2 week mission -The contractor shall conduct research dives over the 2 week mission with a team of NOAA, NPS and other scientists in support of NCRMP monitoring activities -Divers must be trained to perform benthic and fish monitoring activities in accordance with the NCRMP program written protocols -Divers must be able to collect water samples in accordance with the Ocean Acidification written protocols. -The contractor shall ensure all contractor collected data from the 2 week mission including QA/QC is entered by the end of the mission and provided to the NOAA Biogeography Program for inclusion in the Program Database Delivery All tasks must be delivered by the first day of the field mission and must be provided consistently throughout the two week field mission (July 7-21, 2013). Data must be entered, QA/QC, and delivered to the NOAA Biogeography Program for inclusion it the Program Database at the end of the field mission (July 21st). Government-Furnished Property The Government will provide underwater datasheets necessary to collect the NCRMP data and the bottles and reagents necessary to collect Ocean Acidification water samples. Security Considerations There are no special security considerations. Travel All travel will done in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations Special Material Requirements There are no special material requirements. Other Unique Requirements or Considerations There are no other unique requirements or considerations. Place of Performance This contract will be performed at the University of the Virgin Islands and in the territorial and Federal waters surrounding St. Thomas and St. John, US Virgin Islands. Period of Performance The period of performance on this award is July 1- Aug 30, 2013. The NAICS code is 541990. The Government knows of no other source with this level of experience and that could meet the Government's need. Firms who believe they can provide the services must submit detailed plan and information concerning their capability, along with detailed information about the proposed vessels. In addition shall include name, telephone number and address of concerns for which you have furnished this type of service previously. Interested parties must respond within (7) seven calendar days after publication of this notice. The Eastern Region Administrative Division (ERAD), requires that all contractors doing business with the Acquisition Office must be registered with the Systems for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM please access the following website: http://www.sam.gov/. In order to register with the SAM 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. The Government encourages all contractors submit their Certification and Representation thru the on-line Business Partner Network (BPN). The SAM is the single source for vendor data for the federal government. Contractors should go on-line at www.sam.gov. Faxed or email responses can be sent to 757-664-3845, Attn: Sharon Walker or emailed to Sharon.walker@noaa.gov.
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