SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Movement ecology of hawksbills in the Hawaiian Archipelago
- Notice Date
- 8/21/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NOAA-Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96818, United States
- ZIP Code
- 96818
- Solicitation Number
- PIFSC-14-010
- Archive Date
- 9/10/2014
- Point of Contact
- Julie A. Whitaker, Phone: 808-983-5355
- E-Mail Address
-
Julie.Whitaker@noaa.gov
(Julie.Whitaker@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT. IT IS NOT A SOLICITATION, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE A SOLICITATION WILL BE ISSUED. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. Any information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Announcement is strictly voluntary. The Government will neither award a contract solely based on this notice, nor pay for any information submitted by respondents. This notice is a request by the Government to collect information from interested vendors for the purpose of market research. Failing to provide a response to this announcement will not prohibit/exclude an interested vendor from participating in a future solicitation. The Government is looking for vendors who can perform the following requirements: Background:The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) share responsibility for management and recovery of listed sea turtle species found in waters and on lands under U.S. jurisdiction. As such we are mandated to understand population abundance and trends, as well as enhance survival. Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) were listed as endangered throughout their range on June 2, 1970 under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In Hawai`i, hawksbill sea turtles are present in nearshore waters and preliminary information suggests they do not mix with other Pacific stocks (see Dutton 2008) spending their entire life cycle within the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) (see Parker et al. 2009). Hawaiian hawksbills are one of the smallest distinct populations (Wallace et al. 2010) of sea turtles on Earth yet their occurrence and abundance are not well known (Van Houtan et al. 2012). The most extensive hawksbill surveys are nest-monitoring programs in the main Hawaiian Islands on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. These efforts have never totaled more than 20 nesting females a year (Hutchinson et al. 2008; Seitz et al. 2012). Specialized Experience Required: Contractors must be familiar with the known hawksbill turtles, i.e. existing database, and be able to distinguish when new locations and turtles are found. Contractors must be able to identify individual turtles from visual observation. Also, due to the importance of sea turtles in Hawaiian culture, contractors must have cultural awareness and work in an appropriate and respectful manner while completing the research. It is imperative that the contractors have the ability to identify individual hawksbill turtles from simple visual observations. The population of adult hawksbills may be less than 50 individuals and because of IACUC and ESA10a1A constraints were are not allowed multiple takes or attempts at a take of the same turtle. Therefore, the contractors must have knowledge of known turtles and be able to identify a turtle prior to attempted capture. Furthermore, the contractor will be working independently under our permits as a Co-Investigator (CI). The contractors must have previous experience conducting surveys, capturing, handling, and satellite tagging hawksbill turtles to be added as a CI. PROJECT SUMMARY: In-water surveys, nesting surveys, capture, and tagging (identification and satellite tags) of hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are needed in the Hawaiian Archipelago, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. The services are needed from September 2014 (start of nesting season) through September 2015. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITES: The contractors must have small boat handling capabilities, be able to recognize marine turtle species based on morphology (visual observations) and based on nesting tracks, and have experience handling/capturing/tagging (including satellite tagging) marine turtles. Furthermore, contractors must have previous experience and local knowledge to the Hawaiian Archipelago including knowledge of marine turtle habitat use in the areas. Contractors must be familiar with the known hawksbill turtles, i.e. existing database, and be able to distinguish when new locations and turtles are found. Contractors must be able to identify individual turtles from visual observation. The services will include visual observation of marine turtles from small boat operations while conducting snorkeling surveys, nesting beach surveys, and hand capture of turtles in accordance with NMFS ESA10a1A, NMFS IACUC, and USFWS regulations and guidelines. The contractor will be responsible for and must have experience with flipper tagging, PIT tagging, and satellite tagging of marine turtles using the two-part epoxy method. Contractors will be responsible for 10 satellite tag applications of in-water and nesting hawksbills of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Contractor will be responsible for travel/lodging between islands, chartering boats for 6 survey days and 3 targeted capture days in Greater Maui, and all related gear/supply costs including gear transport. TIMEFRAME/SCHEDULE Contractors are responsible for 12 full days of in-water survey for hawksbill turtles. The surveys are to take place once per month, rotating between Molokai and Maui. On Maui contractors must have access to their own vessel. On Molokai contractors will need to charter a vessel suitable for a 6 person crew. After 6 months or more of surveys contractors will be responsible for targeted capture of hawksbill turtles for satellite tagging purposes. Contractors must have expertise/skill, or sub-contract personnel experienced at hand-capture of marine turtles in depths up to 30+ meters. Contractors are responsible for 3 additional Molokai/Lanai/Maui boat charters for targeted capture. Contractors are responsible for 12 days of nesting surveys on the islands of Molokai and Lanai. Contractors must cover the costs of travel, lodging, per diem, and transportation. Nesting females of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai may be included in the 10 satellite tagged turtles. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 541990 with a size standard of $7.0 million. Interested Contractors are requested to provide the following information in response to this Sources Sought Announcement: 1) A statement that you believe your firm has the capability to meet all these requirements and perform these services. 2) Your firm's DUNS number & CAGE code; 3) Your firm's SBA certified small business concern status. Specifically identify if your firm is HUBZone-certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or in the SBA's 8(a) program. If your firm is not small, please state that it is a large business. 4) A brief description of your firm's recent past experience (within past 3 years) performing similar services. The information provided in response to this announcement is limited to three pages or less. All information shall be provided free of charge to the Government. The Government will not return any data or materials provided in response to this announcement. This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. 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. Responses shall be provided to the contracting officer, Julie Whitaker, via email at Julie.Whitaker@noaa.gov no later than 4:00 PM (Hawaii Time) on August 26, 2014.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/b50d4ab0d43f108c3cbccc042bb0584d)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Maui, Lanai, and Molokai, Hawaii, United States
- Record
- SN03474195-W 20140823/140821235111-b50d4ab0d43f108c3cbccc042bb0584d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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