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

F -- NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE STUDY SOL EASC 00-340 POC Edith W. McIntyre, Contract Specialist, (757) 441-6648 WEB: Click here to access our home page., http://www.easc.noaa.gov. E-MAIL: Click here to contact Contract Specialist via e-mail., Edith.W.McIntyre@noaa.gov. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)intends to solicit and negotiate on a sole source basis with the New England Aquarium (NEA), Boston, Massachusetts to conduct population monitoring of right whales in their single largest summer habitat in the Bay of Fundy. The work focuses on photo-identification and biopsy of individual whales. The data collected will be integrated into a longitudinal database to update information on population status, reproduction, mortality, human-caused scarring, genetics and contaminant loads. Concurrent with this research, communication with the ship traffic control system and local shipping companies using the port of St. John, New Brunswick will be established to maintain awareness by the shipping community and to develop strategies toward mitigating ship/right whale collisions. NEA has conducted annual surveys in the study area since 1980, and is recognized as the central institution for work in the Bay of Fundy. Having the experience, resources, staff and specialized knowledge to coordinate a project on this scale, NEA is uniquely qualified to perform this requirement. The period of performance will be from July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 41 USC 253 (c)(1), Only One Responsible Source. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Fax requests to (757) 441-3786. Telephone requests will not be accepted. Posted 06/12/00 (W-SN463955). (0164)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0040 20000614\F-0005.SOL)