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

B -- NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS GROUUP. SOL wasc9-1932 POC Randall Brown (206) 526-6226/FAX (206) 526-6025 Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract with Environmental Statistics Group (ESG). Purpose of contract is to assist the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) develop a Recovery Plan for Steller sea lions and provide guidance on what research and steps NMFS should conduct to facilitate recovery. ESG recognized expert in seal and sea lion population dynamics and trends. Work under proposed contract highly technical in nature and limited to those knowledge and familiar with recent publications on time series analysis as applied to biological data sets. Further, work needs to be initiated within the next 30 days so NMML can meet its obligations in completing analysis of efficacy of buffer zones prior to the June 2000 Council meeting. Questions concerning this action may be directed to Randall Brown at (206) 526-6226. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000. Posted 07/14/99 (W-SN354003). (0195)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0033 19990719\B-0010.SOL)