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B -- ANALYSIS OF BENTHIC MACROFAUNA AND SEDIMENT PROPERTIES IN ESTAURIES THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL UNITED STATES SOL 52-DGNC-0-90024 POC Edward F. Tennant, Jr., Contracting Officer, 301/713-0823 or Mary Watson, Procurement Technician WEB: Click here to download a copy of the RFP, http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~amd/SOLINDEX.HTML. The Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NOAA National Ocean Service has a requirement for a Contractor to perform the analysis of benthic macrofauna and sediment properties in samples of estuarine sediments from various U.S. coastal regions. This solicitation is for quantities beyond the minimum quantities specified in existing Solicitation 52-DGNC-9-90062. The work is intended to support environmental monitoring and assessment needs of multiple studies conducted by CCMA for the purpose of assessing status and trends in the quality of the Nation's coastal resources and determining relationships between potential biological impacts and sources of disturbance due to either natural or anthropogenic factors. The Government anticipates use of an indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-unit prices, provided on a per-sample basis for the various types of analyses (macrobenthic species composition and abundance; sediment organic content, water content, and % silt-clay; and optional determinations of macrobenthic biomass and full sediment grain-size distributions). Samples will be provided by CCMA to the Contractor. Field collections will not be the responsibility of the Contractor. It is expected that the Contractor will be providing support on multiple projects under the contract, with each new project being conducted under a separate Delivery Order. The period of performance shall include one base period of approximately six months and up to three additional 12-month option periods within which analyses can be ordered. A final report on results of each project (Delivery Order)is expected within 12 months of the start of the corresponding project. Thus, the period of performance could extend to one year beyond the end of the initial base period or any subsequent option period. If all option periods are exercised and orders placed up through the end of the third option period, the overall period of performance would extend to October 31, 2004. A minimum quantity of 150 samples -- to be analyzed for macrobenthic species composition and abundance, % silt-clay and water content, and organic carbon -- is identified for the initial base period. Solicitation 52-DGNC-0-90024 will be issued on or about February 1, 2000 and will close on or about March 3, 2000. Parties with Internet capability interested in receiving this solicitation should access it at the web address indicated in this announcement. Parties interested in receiving a written copy of the solicitation should submit a written request to the mailing address listed in this announcement. Such written request should contain the solicitation number and the name of the Point of Contract (POC) identified in this announcement. See Notes 12 and 26. Posted 01/11/00 (W-SN414938). (0011)

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