Biennial Bottom Trawl Surveys of Alaskan Groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, Continental Slope of the Eastern Bering Sea, and Midwater and Pelagic surveys of the Northeastern Bering Sea
Solicitation Number:
AB-133F-15-RQ-0023
Notice Type:
Pre-Solicitation Notice
Synopsis:
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), has a requirement for a vessel charter for the Biennial Bottom Trawl Surveys of Alaskan Groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, Continental Slope of the Eastern Bering Sea, and Midwater and Pelagic surveys of the Northeastern Bering Sea.
AFSC requires one (1) commercial stern trawler with experienced crew to execute stock assessment bottom trawl surveys of groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska in odd years (2015, 2017, and 2019) and in even years (2016 and 2018) to execute stock assessment bottom trawl surveys of the upper continental slope of the Eastern Bering Sea and to conduct midwater and surface trawls to investigate the impact of loss of sea ice on the marine ecosystem of the Northeastern Bering Sea. The vessel will need to be completely rigged for trawling with a stern ramp and gallows or gantry, two net reels each with capacity for a four-seam Poly Nor'Eastern bottom trawl and a Cantrawl model 400/580 hexagonal mesh trawl, as well as be equipped with modern navigation, fish-finding, and communications electronics. AFSC will provide the trawls, bridles, and trawl doors. The bottom trawl survey areas comprise stations at depths that range 10 up to 1,200 m (6-660 fm) requiring the vessel to have split trawl winches with a minimum of 1,463 m (800 fm) of 2.53 cm- (1 in-) diameter steel core trawl cable in good condition and available for fishing on each drum (not total capacity) but a preference for vessels having 1,830 m (1,000 fm) or more of 2.53 cm- (1 in-) diameter steel core trawl cable or more available for fishing on each drum (not total capacity) to ensure complete coverage of the deeper sites in the bottom trawl survey areas. An experienced skipper and a four-member fishing crew will be needed to operate the vessel and the fishing gear, while a team of six scientists will direct survey operations. The Gulf of Alaska survey operations span 75 days and will be conducted from mid-May to late July where approximately 280 tows will be conducted by each of three (3) vessels - this vessel included - in conducting the fishery survey. On alternate years, this vessel will be used separately to conduct the Eastern Bering Sea upper continental slope bottom trawl survey, completing approximately 200 tows over a 55-day period during early June to early August, followed by survey operations in the Northeastern Bering Sea comprising a series of midwater and surface trawls over 25 days at 156 established sites to investigate the ecological impact of loss of sea ice.
Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, transportation and services necessary to perform the requirements for the Biennial Continental Slope Bottom Trawl Survey of Groundfish Resources in the Eastern Bering Sea, except as noted in the Statement of Work.
The resulting firm-fixed-price (with reimbursable line items for communications and moorage with an optional line for Government Property Transport) contract will have a base period of performance and four option periods. The yearly charter will occur from approximately mid-May to mid-August each year, depending on the survey required, for up to 75 charter days. Currently, fuel is planned to be provided by the Government via Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) contract. Should the DLA not be available, then fuel shall be reimbursed at cost.
The proposed contract will be FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. The NAICS code for this procurement is 483114 and the size standard is 500 employees. All responsible and fully responsive sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Agency. Any resulting contract will be awarded as a firm-fixed price contract. Solicitation documents will be made available for download on or about December 19, 2014 at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Paper copies of this solicitation will not be issued. Interested parties should use the FedBizOpps [Add To Watchlist] and [Add Me To Interested Vendors] features which provide a notification when the RFP becomes available for download as well as all postings of information associated with this solicitation, thereafter. Each potential offeror is responsible for checking the FedBizOpps website to gain all current information related to the solicitation. The solicitation and any further announcements regarding the solicitation will be posted only at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. The estimated response due date is January 20, 2015; however, the actual date offers are due will be stated within the solicitation documents and will be adjusted based on the release date of the solicitation. All questions of any nature regarding this procurement are to be sent to Contract Specialist, Ms. Maria Horn at Maria.Horn@noaa.gov with a copy to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Kate Steff at Kate.R.Steff@noaa.gov or via fax at 206.527.6940.
***All vendors doing business with the Government are required to be registered with the SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) (this replaces the former CCR and ORCA).***
NO award can be made unless the vendor is registered in SAM. For additional information and to register in SAM, please access the following web site: http:///www.sam.gov/. This procurement also requires offerors to complete the On-Line Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) within their SAM registration.
In order to register with SAM and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all vendors must also have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or by phone at (800) 333-0505.
Maria Y. Horn, Contract Specialist, Phone 2065264497, Email maria.horn@noaa.gov - Kate R. Steff, Contracting Officer, Phone 2065266370, Fax 2065276940, Email kate.r.steff@noaa.gov
