SPECIAL NOTICE
F -- Steller Sea Lion Research and Protected Species Management Coordination - Notice of Intent to Sole Source
- Notice Date
- 8/9/2023 2:49:31 PM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA SEATTLE WA 98115 USA
- ZIP Code
- 98115
- Solicitation Number
- 1305M323QNFFS0147
- Response Due
- 8/24/2023 2:30:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 09/08/2023
- Point of Contact
- JAMIE ABU SHAKRAH, Phone: 2065266021
- E-Mail Address
-
jamie.abushakrah@noaa.gov
(jamie.abushakrah@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- SBA Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- Description
- NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) hereby gives public notice of the intent to negotiate a sole-source contract pursuant to the authority of Federal Acquisition Requirements (FAR): FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and 41 USC 3304(a)(1) establishes authority for the government to seek services from North Pacific Wildlife Consulting, LLC. The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML) conducts research on Steller sea lions, a species listed as endangered (western stock) under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and on northern fur seals, a species listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Both species range across the North Pacific Ocean rim from Japan to southern California, thus an important component of the studies includes the collection, analyses, and interpretation of data on populations outside the United States. Steller sea lions in the Commander Islands, Russia, are genetically related to sea lions in the western stock of Alaska, and there is movement of sea lions between Russia and Alaska. These movements indicate that even temporary immigration could influence abundance estimates in either area and suggest that population demographics should be examined throughout the range, not just in the United States. Combined with ecological similarities and contrasts between the two (2) areas, MML has contracted for collaborative studies to understand Steller sea lion abundance, trends, and vital rates in Russia during 2009-2023. The MML seeks assistance involving protected species pinniped research and management in Russia and Alaska, conducted from the United States. This work involves the interpretation, translation, analysis, and presentation of results (as publishable manuscripts and conference presentations) originating from past field data collected at Steller sea lion rookeries in Russia; maintenance of remote cameras installed at Steller sea lion rookeries in Alaska; development of an automated method for reviewing remote camera images of Steller sea lions; facilitation of� cross-border cooperation of Steller sea lion and other marine mammal studies; presentation of results in publications and at professional meetings; installation of new remote camera systems in Alaska for future data collections; development of automated methods� of counting Steller sea lions from aerial survey images; and, development of automated methods of counting northern fur seals from images collected by uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV). TASK REQUIREMENTS: Task 1: Estimate vital rates, movements, and counts of Steller sea lions in Russia and Alaska. This task utilizes image data collected from over 40 remote camera installations on rookeries in the Russian portion of the western stock, and from data cards collected from 41 cameras in western Alaska. This task continues to develop protocols and methods for extracting and collating the image data from camera data cards, an automated method to review, filter, and identify images for brand identification by developing and testing a software program to automate extraction and image analysis, and provide that information to MML scientists for the purpose of vital rates analyses.� Images shall be available that have been recording images since 2022 and are expected to be retrieved in summer of 2023. Extract images from camera cards collected from the western Alaska cameras during the summer of 2023. Images from cameras in the Kuril Islands, Commander Islands, and northern sea of Okhotsk were downloaded in 2022 and are currently in the United States; also, any new images contained on data cards potentially collected in the summer of 2023 shall be included. Extract all images from camera cards collected from the Russian Steller sea lion rookery cameras in 2022 and 2023, if available. Run extracted images through the algorithm, and revise machine learning algorithms to improve the detectability of marked sea lions from remote images. Manually review images to search for branded Steller sea lions and use those images to train a machine learning algorithm to complete an image processing methodology capable of selecting a minimum of 90% of the images with branded sea lions present. Task 2: Maintain the network of remote digital camera installations at Steller sea lion haulouts and rookeries within the Steller sea lion western range (41 cameras as of May 2023, plus any added). In association with MML or USFWS vessel-based trips service, repair, or replace remote camera installations to maintain year-round functionality. Retrieve/replace data cards. In 2024 potentially an early-season (May-June) voyage with USFWS departing from Homer, Alaska would allow visits to Sugarloaf and Ugamak Islands, with debarkation in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Visits to Aleutian Island sites would occur with MML/FWS in June-July originating in Adak and ending in Adak or Dutch Harbor. Task 3: Serve as a liaison between United States and Russian scientists to assist with facilitating meetings of the United States Government Project 02.05-61, �Marine Mammals,� under Area V of the U.S./Russia Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. The contractor shall provide logistical and organizational expertise in setting up meetings and language translation, and document results of meetings and conference calls. The working group�s main purpose is to promote scientific collaboration and to exchange scientific information to better manage and conserve marine mammal species shared by both countries. Because work under this task may be impacted or modified by pandemic status, travel advisories and governmental relations between the U.S. and Russia, it is presumed these activities shall be virtual should they occur. Task 4: Communication and publications Present research results at the 2024 Alaska Marine Science Symposium, in Anchorage, Alaska. Prepare a draft manuscript describing the spatial distribution and movement of Steller sea lions along the Asian Coast.� Provide support to MML users of algorithms. D.�� Provide monthly reports. E. The contractor shall meet (via teleconference) with NMFS PRD and AEP to discuss the data analysis tasks, plan, and deliverables prior to the start of analyses; and contribute information to quarterly MML-AKR Otariid meetings. Task 5: Expand locations of remote camera installations. This task shall enhance future data collections for Steller sea lion studies by designing and building 13 remote camera boxes for installation at sea lion rookeries and haul-outs in Alaska (e.g., at Marmot Island). The vendor shall acquire all necessary cameras, solar panels, batteries, boxes, and associated supplies to build the functioning cameras and provide three (3) to five (5) personnel to construct and install the cameras over a three (3) day period. The government shall provide vessel access and camera installation supplies (e.g. lumber and hardware).� Task 6: Automate the counting of Steller sea lion aerial survey images. This task shall expand on earlier efforts using VIAME (Video and Image Analytics for the Marine Environment) to develop machine learning approaches to automate aerial survey image processing. Those prior efforts resulted in image registration processing, animal detection and age-sex classification. MML now has two (2) different modes to test for image registration with various mosaic abilities, as well as up to five (5) detection and classification algorithms to assess and validate. The capabilities of these various algorithms need to be evaluated in order to allow MML to select the optimal algorithms, as well as understand where and how the algorithm may be further improved to automate counting of Steller sea lion aerial survey images. The contractor shall meet (via teleconference) with NMFS PRD and AEP to discuss the data analysis tasks, plan, and deliverables prior to the start of analyses and provide written or verbal updates of progress quarterly for the duration of the contract The contractor shall conduct quality assessment and quality control of Steller sea lion machine learning algorithms using the VIAME DIVE interface to review and edit each annotation and enter codes reflecting the accuracy of detection and classification. The contractor shall provide Steller sea lion pup and non-pup count results to MML and AKR PRD and provide a description of the utility of those counts to be incorporated into the annual Stock Assessment Reports. Task 7: Develop a computer algorithm to automate the counting of northern fur seals from images captured by uncrewed vehicles (UAV). This task shall use a provided data set of images collected by UAVs from northern fur seal rookeries in Alaska (Pribilof Islands and Bogoslof Island) to create and refine a model for automating counts. Also include analysis that compares and contrasts results for different rookery substrates (e.g., rock, grass, sand). This algorithm is separate from that of Task 1C. The contractor shall meet (via teleconference) with NMFS PRD and AEP to discuss the data analysis tasks, plan, and deliverables prior to the start of analyses and provide written or verbal updates of progress quarterly for the duration of the contract. Refine models for differentiating pup and non-pup northern fur seals and for automating counts from UAV images from breeding areas in Alaska. Work with MML scientists to assist in the analyses, image preparation, and counting of northern fur seals from images collected from breeding areas in Alaska since 2021. FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and 41 USC 3304(a)(1) establishes authority for the government to seek services from The Whale Museum to maintain the killer whale database. Responses to this notice must be provided within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of this notice. Vendors who believe they can meet this requirement are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the requirements. All written responses must include proof of possessing permits and a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the requirement. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirement. Failure to submit such documentation will result in the Government proceeding as previously stated. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement to competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than 2:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, August 24, 2023. The responses must be submitted via e-mail to Jamie Abu Shakrah, Contract Specialist, at Jamie.AbuShakrah@noaa.gov.
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