SPECIAL NOTICE
F -- SOUTHEAST ALASKA HARBOR PORPOISE AND KILLER WHALE SURVEY
- Notice Date
- 5/13/2015
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting 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
- NFFS7300-15-02208RDS
- Point of Contact
- RYAN STROUD, Phone: 303-497-5282
- E-Mail Address
-
RYAN.STROUD@NOAA.GOV
(RYAN.STROUD@NOAA.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- NFFS7300-15-02208RDS ***NOAA's Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Boulder, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Bridger Consulting Group, LLC of Bozeman, Montana for assisting the National Marine Mammal Lab requirement to conduct cetacean line-transect vessel surveys and collect biopsies in Southeast Alaska on harbor porpoise and photograph, collect biopsies, and place satellite tags on killer whales. ***The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Northwest Regional National Marine Mammal Lab (NMML) requirement to conduct cetacean line-transect vessel surveys and collect biopsies in Southeast Alaska on harbor porpoise and photograph, collect biopsies, and place satellite tags on killer whales. Biopsy darting any cetacean can be challenging but harbor porpoise present the most difficult scenario. Thus, this task requires the best possible marksman to perform this work. All darting attempts will be made from a 22-ft rigid hull zodiac. Bridger Consulting Group, LLC has 15 years' experience working with cetaceans in numerous countries with an emphasis on biopsy darting research and placing remote tags on numerous species of cetaceans. He is recognized internationally as an outstanding marksman. As a result, he has acquired unique skills which are deemed critical to the success of NMML's Southeast Alaska cetacean investigations. Bridger Consulting, LLC completed four trips to Southeast Alaska in 2010 and 2011 and successfully placed satellite tags on killer whales during these operations. Bridger Consulting, LLC is an experienced observer. Untrained or less experienced observers tend to miss a number of cetacean sightings (in particular harbor porpoise). He has also acquired the knowledge for collecting high-quality photo-identification photographs depicting the proper angle, timing, lighting conditions, distance, attempts to capture all individuals within the group. He has conducted years of photo-identification studies on cetaceans in the North Pacific. NMML has demonstrated in the past that untrained personnel will miss photographing all whales in a particular encounter as less experienced personnel tend to photograph only those well-marked whales or those whales that closely approach the boat. The proposed contractor is also familiar with our photographic equipment both auto-focus cameras and digital formats. In addition, he is also familiar with our field data recording forms and subsequent computer entry forms. Bridger Consulting, LLC has acquired the necessary skills for downloading, organizing, and archiving digital images. In many cases, when digital film is used, analysis is conducted during field research. This can be necessary if questions come up during field research over a specific encounter and/or biopsied or tagged individual whale. The instant feedback provided by digital data allows for a quick assessment of the data. The proposed contractor has acquired all associated computer skills needed for the analysis of digital film which greatly benefits this project. This survey work involves a small team of scientists working in confined situation. The team must work well together to successfully achieve the research goals. The work is very specialized requiring each individual to be highly qualified for the work to be properly collected. Bridger Consulting, LLC has all the necessary skills to be a highly effective participant. The period of performance is for two 14 day periods. The first survey would begin in the month of July 2015, and terminate after 14 days, while the second survey will begin in the month of September 2015, and terminate after 14 days. ***This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/MASC/NFFS7300-15-02208RDS/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: SOUTHEAST ALASKA, Alaska, United States
- Record
- SN03730397-W 20150515/150513235536-a2a677a9f5629d34c08ea977103e2317 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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