Department of Commerce, NOAA, 200 World Trade Center, Room 209, Norfolk, VA 23510-1624

F -- DOMESTIC FISHERY OBSERVERS SOL 52-EANF-8-00068 POC Lynne Phipps, Contract Specialist (757)441-6881, Melvyn DesJarlais, Contracting Officer, (757)4416647 WEB: 52-EANF-8-00068, http://www.easc.noaa.gov. E-MAIL: Lynne Phipps, Lynn.B.Phipps@noaa.gov. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), has a requirement to collect scientific, management, compliance and economic data about fisheries through observers placed aboard U. S. domestic fishing vessels in the northwest Atlantic. This data, which cannot be obtained either dockside or while aboard government research vessels, is necessary for the management of fisheries occurring in the U. S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as the management of fisheries occurring on the high seas outside the EEZ. The NMFS also has specific responsibilities concerning marine mammals and sea turtles within state waters as specified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This work requires deploying certified observers to meet coverage levels prescribed in sea day schedules. The contractor shall support, as specified, the observers during each phase of their employment period,including training, briefing, travel, accomplishing requisite land duties, data collection on fishing vessels, and debriefings. Observers shall collect scientific, management, compliance and other data at sea through interviews of vessel captains and crew, observations of fishing operations, measurements of selected portions of the catch and fishing gear and collection of samples. For most domestic fisheries, observer coverage is mandated by several Fishery Management Plans (FMP) or Take Reduction Plans (TRP). Data collected once per trip includes data on the vessel, crew, fishing practices and cost of operation. The contractor shall provide all necessary logistical and administrative support to deploy observers to ports from which fishing vessels depart. This includes making travel arrangements, providing travel advances for observers, reimbursing vessel operators for observer meals and reimbursing observers for travel expenses. The contract period of performance will be for one (1) year with four (1) one-year options, to start on or about September 1, 1998. The anticipated issue date for the solicitation is June 12, 1998 with a closing date on or about July 13, 1998. All responsible offerors may submit a proposal that will be considered by the agency. This solicitation replaces RFP 52-EANF-7-00025, which was canceled. If you requested that solicitation, you need not submit a request for the new solicitation. All requests for the solicitation package must be in writing. The request may be faxed to (757) 441-3786. (0147)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0025 19980529\F-0002.SOL)