U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, WASC, Acquisition Management Division WC3, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bin C15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070

T -- SOURCES SOUGHT TO COLLECT PHOTO ID AND PREPARE ANALYSIS SOL WASC7-1067 DUE 042597 POC Randall Brown, (voice) (206) 526-6226, (FAC) (206) 527-5848 Sources sought to provide photo identification of humpback and blue whales during summer/fall 1997 along the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. Contractors must be knowledgeable about humpback and blue whales (qualified biologist preferred). Contractor will develop methods to obtain photographs, rate photographic quality, and ensure that all duplicate individuals are identified. Contractor will conduct all necessary field work and provide personnel, a boat, fuel, safety equipment, and all necessary camera equipment to complete the field work. Contractor will also prepare and submit an analysis and report documenting the number of whales that were approached for photo-identification, number of whales photographed, and the number of useable photographs obtained. Primary purpose of the contract is to photograph humpback and blue whales, provide written report, and make photographs available for marine researchers; however, it is expected that work will be completed by qualified biologist(s) since contractor must use scientific methods to estimate whale population abundance, and the resulting abundance and variance estimates. Photographers would not be able to complete this project. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000. (0078)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0112 19970321\T-0003.SOL)