0 SOW NFFO20002302395.pdf

SUPPORT FOR WHITE ABALONE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM

NOAA/NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SUPPLY

WEST COAST REGION

STATEMENT OF WORK

WHITE ABALONE REARING

A. Background:

In 2001, white abalone received the dubious distinction of being the first marine invertebrate listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The marine mollusk was once prevalent off the West Coast south of Point Conception to Baja California (with historical estimates of more than 300,000 individuals off the coast of California) but will likely number fewer than 1,000 within 10 to 15 years.

Intense commercial harvesting of white abalone began in 1969 and peaked in 1972 at about 143,000 pounds of white abalone per year. Just six years later, the fishing industry caught less than 5,000 pounds. Unfortunately, it appears that there have been few, if any, offspring produced since the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. A likely reason for the inability of white abalone to rebound is their need to be close to each other when reproducing. The relatively short duration but high impact of the fishery diminished the density of the species, making it difficult for the remaining individuals to reproduce. A captive rearing and enhancement program may be the species’ only chance of restoring white abalone populations in the wild.

In April of 2019, the captive breeding program successfully produced over 20 million white abalone larvae. Another few million larvae have been produced from 2020-2023. These production numbers require rearing and settlement capacity at aquaculture facilities where knowledge, appropriate water quality and space, and suitable geographic location exist.

The work described here supports NOAA’s mission to recover the federally endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni). Our desired action is the production of appropriately sized and healthy white abalone from an entity so that the abalone may be out planted in an effort to restore wild populations. The entity we are seeking must be in the process of obtaining or in possession of an ESA permit issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The production of white abalone for out planting is necessary in order to meet the recovery criteria outlined in the NMFS White Abalone Recovery Plan.

B. Objectives NOAA NMFS West coast Regional Office (WCR) is seeking to obtain abalone from an entity that has initiated the process of being issued or is in possession of a NMFS ESA white abalone research permit and can support the captive rearing of endangered white abalone. The white abalone produced by the entity are essential for NMFS efforts to successfully restore white abalone populations in the wild.

C. Scope This contract supports the production of approximately 250,000 healthy white abalone that would be produced for the NOAA white abalone recovery program to enhance (throughout planting) populations in the wild. During the first 12 months, ~62,500 abalone that have reached a size of ~ 10 mm shell length will be produced. During months 13-24, ~62,500 abalone that have reached a size of ~ 25 mm shell length will be produced. This same pattern would be repeated during months 25-36, ~62,500 abalone that abalone that have reached a size of ~ 10 mm shell length will be produced. During months 37-48, ~62,500 abalone that have reached a size of ~ 25 mm shell length will be produced.

D. Tasks:

The contractor is responsible for producing ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) in the base year over a 12-month period, ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) in the option year 1 over a 12-month period, ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) in the option year 2 over a 12-month period, and ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) in the option year 3 over a 12-month period . Not later than 24 months from the date of award, the contractor shall provide a short report that summarizes how the funds were used to produce the healthy white abalone.

Base Year - Task 1 - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) - 09/01/2023 through 08/31/2024 and a progress report to NMFS (Melissa Neuman) to include 1) the approximate total number of abalone produced within each shell length target (10 mm and 25 mm shell length); 2) a list of any challenges/limitations encountered; and 3) measures taken to overcome said challenges/limitations.

Option Year 1 - Task 2 - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) - 09/01/2024 through 08/31/2025 and a progress report to NMFS (Melissa Neuman) to include 1) the approximate total number of abalone produced within each shell length target (10 mm and 25 mm shell length); 2) a list of any challenges/limitations encountered; and 3) measures taken to overcome said challenges/limitations.

Option Year 2 - Task 3 - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) - 09/01/2025 through 08/31/2026 and a progress report to NMFS (Melissa Neuman) to include 1) the approximate total number of abalone produced within each shell length target (10 mm and 25 mm shell length); 2) a list of any challenges/limitations encountered; and 3) measures taken to overcome said challenges/limitations.

Option Year 3 - Task 4 - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) - 09/01/2026 through 08/31/2027 and a progress report to NMFS (Melissa Neuman) to include 1) the approximate total number of abalone produced within each shell length target (10 mm and 25 mm shell length); 2) a list of any challenges/limitations encountered; and 3) measures taken to overcome said challenges/limitations.

E. Deliverables:

The contractor is responsible for producing Base Year - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) over a 12-month time frame no later than 08/31/2024, Option Year 1 - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) from months 13-24 no later than 08/31/2025, Option Year 2 - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) from months 25-36 no later than 08/31/2026, Option Year 3 ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) from months 37-48 no later than 08/31/2027.

The contractor shall provide a short report that summarizes how the funds were used to produce the healthy white abalone on Tasks 1 through 4.

Period of Performance

Base Year: 09/01/2023 through 08/31/2024 Option Year 1: 09/01/2024 through 08/31/2025 Option Year 2: 09/01/2025 through 08/31/2026 Option Year 3: 09/01/2026 through 08/31/2027

F. Place of Performance: Contractor’s location

G. Non-Personal Service Contract Statement Contractor employees performing services under this order will be controlled, directed and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Contractor employees will perform independent of and without the supervision of any Government official. Actions of contractor employees may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the U.S. Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 (Inherently Governmental Functions) and 37.1 (Service Contracts) of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. The Government will perform the inspection and acceptance of the completed work.

H. Education/Experience Required:

● The contractor must be in the process of obtaining or have a NMFS-issued ESA permit

● The contractor must be a member of the white abalone captive breeding program

I. Other:

DATA PRIVACY:

Should work on this agreement require that personnel have access to Privacy information, personnel shall adhere to the Privacy Act, Title 5 of the U.S. Code, Section 552a and applicable agency rules and regulations. Data created, obtained and collected during the performance of this agreement is the property of NMFS. Data may not be released by any party without written consent from the NMFS POC. Data must be protected from unauthorized disclosure. Personnel must comply with all Federal, DOC, NOAA, and NMFS policies relating to IT and data security.

J. Billing/Invoicing to be completed on a monthly basis.