SOW_for_RFQ.doc

Vessel Support for Current Meter Deployments in the

New York / New Jersey Harbor

Background The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is one of several bureaus of the U.S. Department of Commerce, a cabinet level agency of the executive branch of the United States of America. Since the mid-1800’s NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services and its predecessors have been collecting tidal current information to maintain and update the predictions in U.S. Tidal Current Tables. Mariners rely on this information to plan for safe and efficient maritime transportation. Every year CO-OPS deploys dozens of current meters in multiple locations around the country. In the summer / fall of 2019, NOAA will be measuring currents in the New York / New Jersey Harbor (NY/NJ) region (Map 1). Vessel support is requested for both the deployment and recovery of bottom-mounted ADCP current meters at stations in NY/NJ Harbor (Table 1).

To conduct this current observation work, NOAA seeks the services of a vessel, captain and crew to be available to deploy and recover the scientific instruments based upon the timeline provided below (Table 2).

REQUIREMENTS

Vessel

Due to the relatively small geographic survey region and its proximity to a major metropolitan region, the vessel may make several trips to deploy all locations. However, the vessel shall be large enough to carry the mooring platforms and instrumentation for at least three stations at once to mitigate time spent in transit. A typical mooring will require at least 40 square feet on deck. The vessel shall also have the space for safe movement around all mooring equipment. The vessel shall be USCG safety inspected, provide the name of the USCG inspector, and the captain must provide proof of licensure.

The minimum requirements are, the vessel shall:

· Be equipped with navigational (functional GPS and VHF radio), depth sounding, and medical safety equipment, as prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard.

· If possible, GPS data (NMEA format) should be available via serial cable.

· Have a valid USCG safety inspection

· Have at least 1 deck hand plus the captain/skipper

· Have safety equipment on-board (fire extinguisher, EPIRB, etc.)

· Have an A-frame, crane, boom, or similar lifting device/structure with a safe dynamic working load of at least 2000 lbs.

· Have a winch, capstan or other device with the capability to haul 5/16” spectra line, or similar line with a length 60 m (three times the length of the deepest station in Table 1).

· Have sufficient unobstructed deck space to perform operations in a safe manner with multiple (3 or more) mooring platforms on deck.

· A working head in a lockable bathroom.

· Be 50 to 100 feet in length, larger vessels are acceptable but not necessary.

· Have at least 375 square feet of unobstructed deck space.

· Have space to accommodate at least four (4) NOAA personnel during operations.

· A supply of potable drinking water.

· A work area for computer use and paperwork.

The vessel Captain shall

· Possess knowledge of the study areas and deployment and recovery operations.

· Be U.S. Coast Guard Certified for the vessel to be used.

Locations

There are 19 stations that will be deployed and then recovered. Table 1 provides the list of stations indicating each station id, name, latitude, longitude, depth, and mount type. Figure 1 shows the station locations and the general location of the staging area in a map of the harbor.

NOAA CO-OPS retains the right to adjust the station locations within the region if deemed necessary. NOAA CO-OPS is determining our base of operations (staging area) during the survey which will be in the general area of the Upper Bay near either at the USACE base in Jersey City, NJ or the USCG ATON base in Bayonne, NJ. Other ports may be proposed in the proposal and will be considered.

NOAA CO-OPS anticipates all operations, including loading and transit for each cruise period, to require between six (6) to eight (8) days depending on weather, seas and vessel size, as described in Table 2. Routes should be planned to optimize the timing of deployments and recoveries to take place near slack water. The final schedule is up to the discretion of the vessel captain, pending NOAA approval. NOAA CO-OPS is aware that weather and other events can change timing. Some stations are in shallow water and may require a deployment/recovery during times of high-water based upon vessel draft.

Period of Performance The Captain, crew, and vessel shall be available for deployment operations commencing in early August 2019 with all station deployments completed by mid-August 2019. Final recoveries shall be conducted during the last two weeks of October 2019. A tentative schedule is described in Table 2. This schedule is subject to change based on scheduling with the vessel and NOAA personnel. Final schedule will be determined during the kick-off meeting with the vessel operator. Table 1 provides a planned station deployment list, slight changes in the mounts may arise as recovered stations will be used at another site in the second round of deployments. Two stations on the list were added after site reconnaissance in June / July 2018. Water depth and bottom type were determined from charts and will be updated during before work begins.

Table 1 – Stations

Notes:

* These four stations are located in the East River and deployment and recovery should be planned to be near as possible to low flow. Operations will coordinate with vessel crew to best optimize operations these locations.

** These two stations were added during after the reconnaissance was completed and the location will be assessed during first deployment using the NOAA small boat.

Table 2 – General Timeline

Attachment:

Platform types (current meter mounts)

Figure 1 - Map of Stations

Table 3 – All stations (red font stations are planned for NOAA vessel deployment)

Notes: for Table 1 apply to Table 3

Figure 2 Chart showing all stations