1305M320CNFFS0078 PWS.pdf

SECTION D.1. STATEMENT OF WORK

D.1.1. TITLE: STELLER SEA LION RESEARCH AND PROTECTED SPECIES MANAGEMENT COORDINATION

IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

D.1.2. INTRODUCTION

The Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), conducts research on Steller sea lions, a species listed as threatened (eastern stock) and endangered (western stock) under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). These research projects include studies of ecology, physiology, genetics, behavior, and a host of other topics aimed at determining the cause of recent and on-going population declines and ways to enhance recovery.

Steller sea lions range across the North Pacific Ocean rim from Japan to central California, thus an important component of our studies includes collection, analyses, and interpretation of data on populations outside the United States.

Because of a continued decline in sea lion populations in the western-central Aleutian Islands, commercial fisheries actions have been modified through requirements under the ESA. These sea lion populations are a research priority for NMFS, and MML has multiple programs to monitor this population and investigate hypotheses for the continuing decline. Steller sea lions in the Commander Islands, Russia are genetically related to sea lions in the western stock of Alaska, and there is some movement of sea lions between Russia and Alaska. These movements indicate that even temporary immigration could influence abundance estimates in either area and suggest that population demographics should be examined throughout the range, not just in the United States.

The United States and Russia coordinate joint research through the United States Government Project 02.05-61, “Marine Mammals,” under Area V of the U.S./Russia Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources (CFEPNR). The CFEPNR working group’s main purpose is to promote cooperative studies and exchange scientific information to better manage and conserve marine mammal species shared by both countries.

D.1.3. BACKGROUND

Previously, combined with ecological similarities and contrasts between the two geographic areas, MML has contracted collaborative studies to understand sea lion abundance, trend, and vital rates in Russia during 2009-2020.

This requirement seeks to continue studies that improve our understanding of Steller sea lion populations in Russia including furthering the CFEPNR working group’s main purpose of promoting scientific collaboration and exchanging scientific information to better manage and conserve marine mammal species shared by both countries. In addition to scientific research, services also include logistical and organizational expertise in setting up meetings and translation when necessary and acting as a liaison between U.S. and Russian scientists trusted (by both governments) to facilitate Project meetings.

DRAFT

D.1.4. OBJECTIVES

Overall, the main objectives of this collaborative research are to:

a. Estimate abundance and current trends of Steller sea lion populations in Russia (Commander Islands, Kuril Islands, East Kamchatka, western Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okthosk).

b. Estimate Steller sea lion vital rates in Russia.

c. Serve as a liaison between United States and Russian scientists to assist with facilitating meetings of the United States Government Project 02.05-61, “Marine Mammals,” under Area V of the U.S./Russia Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

D.1.5. SCOPE OF WORK

The NMFS Alaska Regional Office currently supports field research at select sites in Russia involving the coordination and collection of field data by collaborating Russian scientists. This current requirement necessitates two elements of protected species management in Russia. The first is to interpret, translate, analyze, and present results originating from the field data collected at select Steller sea lion rookeries in Russia, this includes travel to present at professional meetings. The second element is for an established Russian-speaking marine mammal scientist to serve as a liaison to the MML and AFSC with Russian scientists. This element provides a unique and necessary duty to NMFS for the purpose of coordinating and facilitating international meetings such as the U.S. - Russia Marine Mammal Working Group.

The contractor shall provide at minimum one Chief Scientist to conduct research at the Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, in Seattle, and to serve as liaison with Russian Scientists.

D.1.6. DESCRIPTION OF TASKS

The contractor shall perform the following tasks and conducted all work in close collaboration with the MML Alaska Ecosystem Program Leader.

D.1.6.1. BASE PERIOD TASKS

a. Write and submit for publication, a manuscript summarizing age-specific birth rates of Steller sea lions in Russia.

b. Review and summarize remote camera images retrieved from up to 45 cameras during the summer of 2020.

c. Attend and present research results at the Marine Mammals of the Holarctic Conference in Russia, in October of 2020.

d. Attend the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska in January of 2021.

e. At the end of the base contract period submit an annual report of all work as described in

Section D.1.6.4. Annual Reports.

D.1.6.2. OPTION PERIOD TASKS

a. Prepare a draft manuscript summarizing the population trend of Steller sea lions in the Russian Far East.

b. Review and summarize remote camera images retrieved from up to 45 cameras during the summer of 2021

c. Attend and present results of research at the Society of Marine Mammal Conference in Palm Beach, Florida, in December of 2021.

d. Attend the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska in January of 2022.

e. At the end of the Option Period I submit an annual report of all work as described in Section

D.1.6.4. Annual Reports.

D.1.6.4 SIX-MONTH EXTENSION TASKS

a. The Contractor shall :

1. Estimate vital rates, movements, and counts of Steller sea lions in Russia and Alaska. This task utilizes data collected from over 40 remote camera installations on rookeries in the Russian portion of the western stock. Images from cameras in the Kuril Islands and northern sea of

Okhotsk were downloaded in 2021 and are currently in the United States, and any new images contained on data cards collected in the summer of 2022. Images will also be available from data cards collected from the over 20 cameras in the Aleutian Islands that have been recording images since 2019 and are expected to be retrieved in summer of 2022. Cumulatively there may be in excess of one million images requiring extraction and analysis. This task develops protocols and methods for extracting and collating the image data from camera data cards, an automated method to review, filter, and identify images for brand identification by developing and testing a software program to automate extraction and image analysis, and provide that information to AFSC scientists for the purpose of vital rates analyses.

a. Extract images from camera cards collected from the Aleutian Island cameras for the period 2019 – 2022.

b. Extract all images from camera cards collected from the Russian SSL rookery cameras in

2020 and 2021.

c. Run extracted images through the algorithm, and revise machine learning algorithms to improve the detectability of marked sea lions from remote images.

d. Manually review approximately half the extracted images to search for branded Steller sea lions in preparation of using those images to train a machine learning algorithm to complete an image processing methodology capable of selecting a minimum of 90% of the images with branded sea lions present.

2. Maintain and expand network of remote camera installations at Steller sea lion haulouts and rookeries with the Steller sea lion wDPS range.

a. In association with MML vessel-based trips, service, repair or replace remote camera installations to maintain year-round functionality.

b. Design, construct, and install five remote camera systems capable of running autonomously for up to 3 years and collecting images at a rate of 1 image per 15 minutes during all daylight hours in remote Alaska sea lion rookeries or haulouts.

Locations to be determined in consultation with MML. This field research could occur during May – November, but mostly falls within June – July.

3. Serve as a liaison between United States and Russian scientists to assist with facilitating meetings of the United States Government Project 02.05-61, “Marine Mammals,” under Area V of the U.S./Russia Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection and

Natural Resources. The contractor shall provide logistical and organizational expertise in setting up meetings and language translation, and document results of meetings and conference calls.

The working group’s main purpose is to promote scientific collaboration and to exchange scientific information to better manage and conserve marine mammal species shared by both countries. Because work under this task may be impacted or modified by pandemic status, travel advisories and governmental relations with Russia, it is presumed these activities will be virtual rather than physical presence.

4. Develop a computer algorithm to automate the counting of northern fur seals from images captured by uncrewed vehicles

a. Use a provided data set of images collected by an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) from northern fur seal rookeries in Russia and the United States (Pribilof Islands and Bogoslof

Island) to create and refine a model for automating counts of northern fur seals on rookeries in Alaska. Also include analysis that compares and contrasts results for different rookery substrates (eg. rock, grass, sand). This algorithm is different from that in Task 1c.

b. Work with MML scientists to assist in the analyses, image preparation, and counting of northern fur seals from images collected on the Pribilof Islands in 2021 and 2022

5. Communication and publications

a. Present research results at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, in Anchorage, Alaska in January, 2023.

b. Contractor shall draft and submit for publication manuscripts utilizing data analyzed as part of this award and proposed as part of the proposal.

Deliverables

● Task 1:

o Provide a draft manuscript detailing the techniques developed for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (by end of option year 1)

● Task 2:

o Construction and installation of five remote camera assemblies.

● Task 4:

o Provide an algorithm that can identify northern fur seal sex/age classes (pup, juvenile, adult female, adult male) and counts of each to within 95% accuracy of counts made by human observers.

o Provide a report that compares traditional northern fur seal survey methods (e.g. bull counts, visual pup counts, shearing mark-recapture estimates, etc.) to the automated count computer algorithm using aerial images, including ability of algorithm to detect seals among different rookery substrates.

o Provide a draft manuscript detailing the techniques developed for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

● Task 5:

o Presentations of research results at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium.

o Draft or submitted manuscripts.

● All Tasks:

o 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. Also include summaries of meetings and conference calls relating to the US-Russia Marine Mammal Working Group.

D.1.6.3. OPTIONAL TASKS

The additional activities listed below that further support each research objective outlined in Section D.1.4. Objectives may be exercised depending upon funding availability.

a. Assist Alaska Fisheries Science Center staff on Steller sea lion research in the western and central Aleutian Islands. This option would include round trip travel from Seattle to Adak, Alaska for up to two weeks of work.

b. Arrange for and oversee the processing and analysis of over 1,000,000 images from remote cameras previously installed at Steller sea lion rookeries and haul-outs to identify branded Steller sea lions.

D.1.6.4. ANNUAL REPORTS

An annual report is required at the end of each contract period to include, but not limited to:

a. A summary of contracted activities and costs for each activity.

b. Summary of methods used and appropriate protocol.

c. Results of analysis in text, tabular, and graphic form. Results shall include summaries for individual sites and by geographic area.

D.1.6.5. ANNUAL REPORTS CONTRACT PERFORMANCE WORKING GROUP (CPWG) MEETINGS

The contractor and government will convene meetings at least twice per year to review contract performance. The members of the CPWG will include, at a minimum, the COR, contractor Chief

Scientist, and the NMFS/MML Alaska Ecosystems Program Leader. Meeting minutes will be written by the government and circulated among the CPWG for review and approval.

D.1.7. DELIVERABLES

The following Performance Requirements Summary (Table 1) summarizes the deliverables and key performance factors for Steller sea lion research.

TABLE 1

DESIRED

OUTCOME

PERFORMANCE

INDICATOR

PERFORMANCE

STANDARD AQL DUE DATE

SURVEILLANCE

METHOD

SSL birth rate manuscript

(D.1.6.1.a.)

Creation of manuscript suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal

Submission of manuscript to a peer-reviewed scientific journal

Manuscript is completed in accordance with SOW section D.1.6.1.a.

At the end of the CLIN period of performance

COR review

Population trend of Steller sea lions in the Russian Far East manuscript

(D.1.6.2.a.)

Creation of manuscript suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal

Submission of manuscript to a peer-reviewed scientific journal

Manuscript is completed in accordance with SOW section D.1.6.2.a.

At the end of the CLIN period of performance

COR review

Annual reports

(D.1.6.4.)

Creation of annual reports per specifications

At minimum a narrative and quantitative description of elements listed under section D.1.6.4.

Report is completed in accordance with SOW section D.1.6.4.

1 month after the end of the CLIN period of performance

COR review

*CLIN means Contract Line Item

D.1.8. PLACE AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

LOCATION

Services are expected to be performed at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) facility located at 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98115. Some travel to additional locations including remote field sites is anticipated.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The contract period of performance is anticipated to run for two (2) years, from the September 17, 2020 through September 3, 2021 for a base period, and from September 4, 2021 through September 3, 2022 for the option period.

NORMAL HOURS OF OPERATION

The contractor shall provide the services described herein during the facility’s normal business hours.

RECOGNIZED HOLIDAYS AND FACILITY CLOSURES

The contractor is not required to perform services under this order on days when the facility/campus is closed, i.e., Government Furlough, inclement weather, power outages, legal and federal holidays, etc., unless otherwise noted.

In the event of Federal dismissal or facility closure during normal work hours, contractor employees will be notified directly by the NOAA Contracting Officer’s Representative in coordination with the contractor to depart from the facility/campus grounds. Should the facility be closed during off-hours, the contractor will be provided information regarding the site’s status so as to be able to make an informed decision on reporting for work on time or a delayed time period, or non-work status and notifying both the contractor’s point of contact as well as the NOAA Contracting Officer’s Representative.

D.1.9. GOVERNMENT AND CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY AND MATERIALS

Office space, phone, and network access will be provided for the Chief Scientist within the Marine Mammal Laboratory at the Alaska Fishery Science Center in Seattle, Washington.

A telephone and computer system will also be provided for the Chief Scientist for use within the Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fishery Science Center.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND MATERIALS

With the exception of the property and materials listed directly above, the contractor shall provide all other required materials and equipment needed to perform this contract including obtaining any additional computers or other IT equipment necessary to successfully fulfill the requirements of this Statement of Work.

The Government will not be responsible in any way for damage occasioned by fire, theft, and accidents or otherwise, to the contractor’s personal belongings brought into the Government buildings. The contractor shall comply with all building regulations and access requirements while on any Government facility. Other work will be conducted in the field in the U.S. and Russia.

D.1.10. PROGRAM COORDINATION

The contractor shall provide and designate a Project Manager/Coordinator/Contract Liaison as the primary contact point for the Government’s Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer’s Representative and the contractor’s employees designated as key personnel under the contract.

D.1.11. PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Services under this agreement shall contain, to the maximum extent practicable, meaningful performance measures to enable the assessment of success/failure in meeting the objectives of the requiring office.

The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will be responsible for monitoring performance measures to assess progress. The Contracting Officer shall be notified by the COR when it appears that contract performance will not successfully meet the established measures.

D.1.12. QUALITY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS

The government will evaluate contractor performance under this contract. For those tasks listed in the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS, Table 1), the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will follow the methods of surveillance specified in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). The COR will record all surveillance observations. Government surveillance of other tasks not listed in the PRS, or by methods other than those listed in the PRS (such as those provided by the Inspection of Services clause) may occur during the performance period of the contract. When defective performance is observed, the COR will notify the contractor. Any action taken by the contracting officer as a result of surveillance will be in accordance with the terms of this contract.

D.1.13. ASSOCIATED TRAVEL

Travel is anticipated and authorized for this order. Travel costs authorized under this order are included in the firm-fixed price service rates and shall not be invoiced or reimbursed as additional line items.

Travel for meetings includes the meetings as outlined under Section D.1.6. Description of Tasks and travel for U.S. field work includes field work as outlined under Section D.1.6. Description of Tasks.

The contractor is responsible for, and shall provide, all items and arrangements associated with travel (i.e. transportation, lodging, meals, incidentals, etc.) while in Russia and for the professional meetings described under Section D.1.6. Description of Tasks.

D.2. DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

The contractor shall provide personnel that meet the minimum education and experience requirements described below in order to be deemed qualified for the services detailed in the Statement of Work.

All individuals performing services on this requirement shall be fluent in both Russian and English.

D.2.1. CHIEF SCIENTIST

The Chief Scientist shall have a Ph.D. and be an individual capable of:

Interpreting and analyzing existing and newly-collected data on Russian Steller sea lion ecology.

Writing annual reports, publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts in professional scientific journals, and presenting this work at U.S. and international scientific meetings.

The Chief Scientist shall also:

Have experience with conducting marine mammal science in Russia and be familiar with relevant eastern Russian marine mammal permitting processes, scientific institutions and researchers.

Have experience working with U.S.-Russian scientific agreements and protocols.

D.2.2. ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL

Other personnel performing services on this contract shall be:

Experienced in surveying and collecting pinniped data in the Russian Far East, and interpreting data collected in Russia.

Familiar with the use of databases and software for analyses (e.g. SQL).

Available to assist U.S. researchers with Steller sea lion field research in the U.S. specifically in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. This field research may occur during the May through November period but typically falls within the June through July period.

Capable, both physically and psychologically, of undertaking field research in Alaska during the time frame specified.