Department of the Interior, National Biological Service, OAD-BA, Procurement Staff, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop 710, Arlington, VA 22203

B -- NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEM PROGRAM: DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF MARINE MAMMALS Contact Joseph McHugh, Contracting Officer, 703/358-2371. The National Biological Service (NBS) intends to negotiate a contract on a sole source basis with the Texas A&M University at Galverston (TAMUG) and an Interagency Agreement with the National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) as a partner to conduct research into the diversity of marine mammals and their behavior in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. This proposed contract is a continuation of a research effort started in 1991 by TAMUG under contract 14-35-0001-30619 and Interagency Agreement 16197. The research will focus on the location, identification and behavioral monitoring of marine mammals in the deep waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The research will utilize aerial and shipboard observations as well as the use of shipboard acoustic surveys. The contract will be for a four year period. This action is being pursued on a sole source basis with the TAMUG and NMFS due to their development of well defined set of protocols and criteria used to identify and record observations of marine mammal activities. The TAMU and NMFS research team led by Randall Davis, Bernd Wursig, and Gerald Scott has acquired the experience and knowledge to ensure that the observations of marine mammals are accurately identified and recordded using strict identification criteria to ensure consistent data sets. Consistency and proper application of methods and protocols is essential to acquire data that are accurate, and above all, comparable with earlier collected data. In addition, since this proposed effort is for the completion of prior research, it is expected that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of costs to the NBS that is not expected to be recovered through competition. Interested parties must submit written capability statements and resumes demonstrating at a minimum: 1. Extensive training, knowledge and experience in establishing and applying of protocols for use in the identification of marine mammals; 2. Extensive knowledge and experience in conducting ocean surveys using aerial, shipboard and acoustic electronic devices to locate and monitor marine mammals; 3. Extensive experience and knowledge in planning and managing a research project heavily dependent of the use of research vessels, aircraft and acoustic devices used in the recording of vocalization of marine mammals; 4. Through understanding of the relationship between the distribution and abundance of marine mammals and measured environmental variables in the Gulf of Mexico. No telephone calls will be accepted. Written responses should contain sufficient information to determine technical capability, and must be received in this office within thirty calendar days after publication of this notice. See Numbered Note 22. (086)

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