SPECIAL NOTICE
F -- SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE ANNUAL PHOTO IDENTIFICATION AND HEALTH ASSESSMENT SERVICES
- Notice Date
- 7/16/2024 7:54:08 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541620
— Environmental Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA SEATTLE WA 98115 USA
- ZIP Code
- 98115
- Solicitation Number
- 1305M324R0095
- Response Due
- 7/31/2024 2:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 08/15/2024
- Point of Contact
- JAMIE ABU SHAKRAH, Phone: 2065266021
- E-Mail Address
-
jamie.abushakrah@noaa.gov
(jamie.abushakrah@noaa.gov)
- Description
- NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE (SRKW) ANNUAL PHOTO IDENTIFICATION (ID) AND HEALTH ASSESSMENT SERVICES INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NOAA Fisheries 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 the Center for Whale Research. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The NOAA, NWFSC is a government agency charged with the mission of stewardship for living marine resources. The NWFSC's mission is to conduct the science necessary to conserve marine and anadromous species and their habitats off the Washington, Oregon, and northern California coasts and in freshwater rivers of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The research provides reliable, relevant, and credible information to help decision-makers and natural resource managers build sustainable fisheries, recover endangered and threatened species, maintain healthy ecosystems, and protect human health. The CBD of the NWFSC conducts science to support the conservation of marine species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The CBD�s Marine Mammal Program is responsible for research on the ecology, distribution, abundance, and threats to marine mammal species in the Northwest, primarily endangered SRKW which were designated as �endangered� due to their low abundance and variety of threats to their persistence by NOAA Fisheries in 2005. PURPOSE: The first purpose is to collect high quality, usable SRKW population data.� The second purpose is to enumerate all the individuals present in the population through photo-ID.� The third purpose is to provide SRKW health assessments through visual means and biological samples.� The fourth purpose is to complete other SRKW Annual Survey services tasks and analyses as required. TASKS: The contractor shall conduct the annual census of SRKW population and provide for the periodic conduct of health assessments of this population. In addition, the contractor shall undertake other ancillary tasks that are determined to be within scope on an as needed basis. The contractor shall provide all services, personnel, material, supplies, supervision, labor, expertise, and equipment necessary to accomplish the tasks. Task 1: Annual Census The contractor shall address the annual need to determine the population size of the SRKW population and enumerate all individuals present in the population through photo- ID. This will involve collecting and providing individual ID and sighting location information to include photo-ID on killer whales, particularly J, K, and L pods. The primary focus is on J, K and L pods of the SRKW population. Opportunistic information on other killer whale populations, including northern residents, transient and offshore ecotype killer whales, should also be obtained, but is a second priority. Photo-ID is defined here as photographic mapping of each side of the whale, so each whale can be identified from either side. Each year, animals acquire new marks, and juvenile animals grow in size, such that high-resolution photographs are required to document these changes which must be taken closer than 200m, requiring a federal research permit. Staff must have the ability to recognize all individuals in the SRKW population (approximately 75 whales) from memory, immediately when the whale is at the surface for only about 4 seconds, using the fin shape, saddle pigment pattern, and subtle nicks and scratches, all when viewed from tens of meters away so photos of the same whale are not taken over and over again. The contractor shall conduct annual surveys of the SRKW population in the late spring or summer each year of the contract that document the presence or absence of each whale that had been in the prior year�s census and any new whales in the population due to births or immigration. During encounters from these surveys the contractor shall to the extent possible collect photo-ID data of each SRKW. Data collected for each encounter, to the extent possible, is to include a clear photograph suitable for ID of each individual and include the date, time, location of the sighting (descriptive and latitude/longitude), and which other whales were present. TASK 2: Killer Whale Health Assessments The contractor shall provide for the periodic conduct of health assessments of individual whales and individuals identified as animals of concern in this population. TASK 2A: Visual Assessments Visually observe and monitor individual whales for changes in health status, including, but not limited to, unusual or atypical behavior or appearance; high risk interactions with people or vessels; signs of serious injury or infectious disease; interactions with fishing gear (e.g. hook in mouth, entanglement in line; change in reproductive status; or other indications of a life-threatening condition). TASK 2B: Sample Collection Collection of killer whales fecal, mucus, breath, or other bodily samples for biological analysis. All samples shall be collected only under a current NMFS permit and any conditions described therein. Samples shall be stored appropriately for genetic, chemical, hormonal, and pathological analysis, and shall include complete field sampling information including the latitude and longitude coordinates of the sample, the unique identifier of any associated whales in the area, the method of sample collection, and the amount of sample collected. FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) and 41 USC 3304(a)(1) establishes authority for the government to seek services from the Center for Whale Research to perform the SRKW Annual Photo ID and Health Assessment Services. 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 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 2:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, July 31, 2024. The responses must be submitted via e-mail to Jamie Abu Shakrah, Contract Specialist, at Jamie.AbuShakrah@noaa.gov.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/c9be03bad982436d8934ad3355cbfac4/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN07129588-F 20240718/240716230108 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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