NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION USA Tender

Notice Of Intent To Negotiate A Sole-source Contract national Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (noaa), National Marine Fisheries Service (nmfs) Hereby Gives Public Notice Of The Intent To Negotiate A Sole-source Contract Pursuant To The Authority Of Federal Acquisition Requirements (far): Far 6.302-1(a)(2) And 41 Usc 3304(a)(1) Establishes Authority For The Government To Seek Services From Hjr Reefscaping. scope Of Work: the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (sefsc), Sustainable Fisheries Division (sfd) Is Continuing A Fishery Independent Lobster Recruit Survey In Puerto Rico To Provide Abundance And Size Composition Data To Inform Fisheries Management Decisions. Implementing Annual Catch Limits (acls) Is Hindered By The Lack Of Adequate Catch Monitoring And Biological Information In These Small-scale, Multi-species, Multi-gear Fisheries Which Require Complex Methods And Indices To Assess. without This Investment, Noaa Will Continue To Lack The Scientific Information Needed To Meet Its Regulatory Mandates Under Msa And Endangered Species Act (esa), Diminishing Its Reputation Among Stakeholders And Its Ability To Manage Stocks, Continuing Uncertainty, And Unnecessary Economic Burdens On Commonwealth Communities.  The Stock Status Of Many Commonwealth Fisheries Populations Will Remain Unknown, Potentially Leading To Overfishing And Closures, As Well As Possible Esa Petitions And Listings. Commonwealth Communities, Particularly Those Dependent On Subsistence Fishing, May Experience The Loss Of Vital Near-shore Resources With Severe Economic And Cultural Consequences. the Project Will Utilize A Scientific And Technical Consulting Service To Coordinate, Obtain, And Pay For The Services Of Three (3) To Six (6) Separate Commercial Fishing Vessels To Conduct Fieldwork In Puerto Rico, During The Period January 15th, 2024 – January 14th, 2025.  Fishing Vessels With Onboard Observers Will Deploy Standard Lobster Traps To Collect The Size Composition Of Spiny Lobsters (panulirus Argus And Other Panulirus Spp.). The Project Will Build Upon The Preliminary Cooperative Research Program (crp) Funded Project When Working Relationships With Fishers Were Developed, Logistical Issues Resolved, And Initial Methods Tested. task Requirements: as An Overall Guide, The Lobster Sampling Program Will Utilize Fisher And Investigator Expert Opinion To Determine Standard Trap Designs And Sampling Locations.  As More Data Are Collected And Analyzed, Those Data Will Be Used To Inform The Survey Design Further. The Following Activities Will Be Carried Out: task 1 Initial Trap Design, Sampling Plan, And Statistical Design: the Contractor, Participating Fishers, And Sefsc Personnel Will Discuss Standard Trap Designs For The Project, The Program Sampling Plan, And Other Standard Procedures.  The Outcomes Of These Meetings Will Be Considered In The Further Development Of Trap Design, Sampling Design, And Protocols. contractor Will Provide An Initial Sampling Design To Sefsc Staff Based Upon The Results Of The Meetings Described Above And Within 30 Days Of The Final Meeting. task 2 Trap Design And Construction a Total Of 40 Traps Will Be Constructed Following The Standard Design As Developed In Task 1. Twenty (20) Of The Traps Will Be Designed To Capture And Retain Spiny Lobster Less Than 89mm Carapace Length. Another 20 Traps Will Be Built To A Standard Design, But Will Follow The Fishery Management Regulations For Commercial Lobster Traps In Puerto Rico.  task 3 Collection Of Spiny Lobster Size Composition Data permitting - Exempted Fishing Permit (efp) Through Noaa National Marine Fisheries Will Be Obtained By Sefsc Staff If Needed.  Permission For Scientific Purposes Permit Through The Puerto Rico Department Of Natural And Environmental Resources Will Be Acquired By The Contractor As Necessary. sampling Locations – The Contractor And Participating Fishers Will Collaborate To Develop A Comprehensive List Of Potential Sampling Locations In The Coastal Waters Of Puerto Rico. season And Habitat – This Program Will Continue To Investigate Potential Changes In Size Composition And Catch Rates At Sampling Locations With Respect To Season And Habitat (depth And Substrate Characteristics). sampling Protocols – The Contractor, Participating Fishers, And Sefsc Staff Will Collaborate To Revise As Necessary Sampling Protocols For Obtaining And Recording Necessary Information For Estimating Fishing Effort, Catch, And Size Composition Of Lobster. The Protocols Will Define Exactly What Each Captain And Crew Should Do When On Site.  Protocols Will Address The Following Key Aspects Of Sampling Including, But Not Limited To: Paired Trap Deployment And Sampling, Types Of Bait, Soak Time, Trap Design. sampling Equipment And Supplies – The Contractor Will Purchase All Necessary Field Sampling And Supplies.  Supplies May Include, But Not Necessarily Be Limited To, Materials For Trap Construction, Calipers, Measuring Boards, Measuring Tape, Clipboards, Pencils, Data Sheets (on Waterproof Paper), Camera, Safety Equipment (pfd With Strobe Light), Foul Weather Gear, And Tools And Supplies For Sampling Gear Repair At Sea. training Of Field Personnel - The Contractor Will Train Captains And Crews In Sampling Methodologies.  data Entry System, Quality Assurance / Quality Control (qa/qc) Measures – The Contractor Will Develop An Initial Database To Record And Error Check Data Collected During The Sampling Project. The Contractor Will Train Personnel In Its Use.  The Contractor Will Serve As The Local Database Manager.  The Contractor And Sefsc Will Jointly Develop Qa/qc Procedures. oversight – The Contractor And The Sefsc Will Collaborate To Develop Oversight Procedures For Verifying That Assignments Are Being Conducted Appropriately. monthly Progress Meetings - Monthly Progress Meetings Between Contractor And Sefsc Staff Will Be Conducted Via Conference Calls.  These Meetings Will Serve To Update Sefsc Staff And Discuss Any Modifications To Procedures.  Monthly Progress Report To Include, But Not Necessarily Be Limited To, The Following: Accomplishments, Issues Encountered, Travel (including Purpose, Significant Outcomes, Action Items), And Recommendations If Applicable task 4  Analyses And Reporting Of Data the Project Database Will Be Provided To The Sefsc.  contractor Will Be Responsible For Data Analyses.  Analytical Results Will Be Shared With Sefsc Staff. the Contractor Will Be Responsible For Developing The Statistical Survey Design. the Contractor Will Produce A Final Project Report Summarizing All Project Activities And Findings Within 90 Days Of The Project End Date. far 6.302-1(a)(2) And 41 Usc 3304(a)(1) Establishes Authority For The Government To Seek Services From Hjr Reefscaping To Perform The Spiny Lobster Management Project. responses To This Notice Must Be Provided Within Fifteen (15) Calendar Days From The Date Of This Notice. Vendors Who Believe They Can Meet This Requirement Are Required To Submit In Writing An Affirmative Response Demonstrating A Comprehensive Understanding Of The Requirements. All Written Responses Must Include Proof Of Possessing Permits And A Written Narrative Statement Of Capability, Including Detailed Technical Information Demonstrating Their Ability To Meet The Requirement. The Response Must Be Sufficient To Permit Agency Analysis To Establish A Bona Fide Capability To Meet The Requirement. Failure To Submit Such Documentation Will Result In The Government Proceeding As Previously Stated. A Determination By The Government Not To Open The Requirement To Competition Based Upon Responses To This Notice Is Solely Within The Discretion Of The Government. Affirmative Written Responses Must Be Received No Later Than 2:30 P.m. Pacific Standard Time, January 19, 2024. The Responses Must Be Submitted Via E-mail To Jamie Abu Shakrah, Contract Specialist, At Jamie.abushakrah@noaa.gov.