R -- - NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRCT WITH THE FARALLONES MARINE SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION.

Notice Date

March 14, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, WASC, Acquisition Management Division WC3, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-6349

ZIP Code

98115-6349

Description

Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract with the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA) for the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS). Purpose of proposed contract is for education and interpretive services which are critical components of the Sanctuary program and the primary avenues for increasing public appreciation for the Sanctuaries' resources. Term of proposed contract is one year. For the past 3 years, the FMSA has been under contract to the government (GFNMS) to provide integrated educational and interpretive services. FMSA has developed and implemented educational and interpretive programs for the Sanctuary that are ongoing and continuing them effectively would require the same contractor. FMSA is able to maintain the continuity and service level of these programs with minimum involvement from GFNMS staff. The government, GFNMS, has invested considerable amount of time and resources in training FMSA to perform these services. Programs that FMSA are currently doing for GFNMS require continuity and include ongoing monitoring of Sanctuary resources. This requires taxonomic expertise that has been acquired through training and working at Sanctuary sites. FMSA has developed and offers school programs through the Sanctuary's visitor center. FMSA staffs and provides for interpretive programming from the Sanctuary visitor center five days a week. FMSA now provides training to all new personnel in operation of the visitor center and its education and interpretive programs. In addition FMSA has developed and maintains the interpretive displays for the visitor center. FMSA is currently developing a summer camp for children and a workshop for teachers that would require their knowledge and expertise to continue. FMSA is also developing specific curriculum to be used by GFNMS in its education programming. For the Sustainable Seas Expeditions (SSE), FMSA acquired specialized training operating submersibles through NOAA. The SSE program is ongoing and FMSA's expertise is critical to GFNMS maintaining this program. Without FMSA, GFNMS would be unable to fulfill these required Sanctuary functions. A new contractor would require intensive training from GFNMS, which is unable to do this at this time due to staffing constraints. FMSA has also secured outside funding to complement the GFNMS contract to improve the provided level of service. The arrangement with this contractor has proven to be the most cost-effective and in the best interest of the government. Questions concerning this acquisition may be directed to Randall Brown at 206-526-6226 or fax 206-526-6025. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010316/SPMSC007.HTM (W-073 SN50G279)