B -- INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE ORDER

Notice Date

June 20, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, MS2500, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817

ZIP Code

20170-4817

Solicitation Number

PO18151

Response Due

July 3, 2001

Point of Contact

Wallace Adcox, Contracting Officer (703) 787-1362

E-Mail Address

Contracting Officer's e-mail address (wallace.adcox@mms.gov)

Description

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) announces its intention to award a sole source purchase order to Applied Sociocultural Research (ASR)for approximately $75,773 to conduct a pilot study on Bowhead whale migration and behavior using a combination of traditional knowledge and scientific data. The period of performance would be from award through September 30, 2002. This pilot study is intended to enable integrated dissemination of traditional knowledge and scientific information about bowhead whale migration and behavior in the Beaufort Sea. It will focus on the migration and whale hunting activities as observed and enacted at and near Cross Island. SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED: the proposed contractor will disseminate information about the whaling activities near Cross Island in the form of a newsletter or magazine-style report in which traditional and scientific information are presented in parallel with accompanying written descriptions, analysis, and photographic depictions. Additional areas may be covered more generally as necessary to develop sufficient context. Materials for the report will be identified and collected during the months preceding and following the fall hunt and fall bowhead migration research activities, compiled and analyzed during the winter months, then finalized and disseminated during late spring or summer months of 2002. The report will thus include quantitative and qualitative data and analytical discussion about the whale migration, the hunt, and associated environmental conditions including oil industry plans and initiatives in the region. Mr. Michael Galginiatis of ASR is uniquely qualified to perform this work. He has demonstrated through many previous research projects that the native whaling communities trust and accept him. Mr. Galginiatis is also currently conducting other social research on the Cross Island whale hunt in connection with MMS' ANIMIDA project. A secondary concern for MMS is to limit the burden imposed by researchers on the small whaling communities. The proposed contractor is accepted by the communities and is already on site. ASR is the only firm possessing the technical knowledge, expertise, native acceptance, and familiarity with the whaling communities to successfully perform this work while imposing a minimal burden on these communities. Any firm seeking to compete for this requirement would have to demonstrate an equal familiarity with and acceptance by native Alaskan whaling communities. Firms that believe they can provide the required services described above should identify themselves in writing to the Contracting Officer. Such firms must submit supporting evidence in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to meet the stated requirements. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes. Inquiries will only be accepted by fax at (703) 787-1387. See Numbered Note 22.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010622/BSOL001.HTM (W-171 SN50P4U4)