1305M322QNFFS0077 FormSF18.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

(THIS IS NOT AN ORDER)

THIS RFQ IS IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE

15. DATE OF QUOTATION

16. SIGNER

a. NAME (Type or print)

c. TITLE (Type or print)

b. TELEPHONE

AREA CODE

NUMBER

STANDARD FORM 18 (REV. 6-95) Prescribed by GSA-FAR (48 CFR) 53.215-1(a)

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition not usable

8. TO:

b. COMPANYa. NAME

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9. DESTINATION

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7. DELIVERY

FOB DESTINATION

OTHER

(See Schedule)

10. PLEASE FURNISH QUOTATIONS TO THE

ISSUING OFFICE IN BLOCK 5a ON OR BEFORE CLOSE OF BUSINESS (Date)

IMPORTANT: This is a request for information and quotations furnished are not offers. If you are unable to quote, please so indicate on this form and return it to the address in Block 5a. This request does not commit the Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the submission of this quotation or to contract for supplies or service. Supplies are of domestic origin unless otherwise indicated by quoter. Any representations and/or certifications attached to this Request for Quotation must be completed by the quoter.

11. SCHEDULE (Include applicable Federal, State and local taxes)

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SUPPLIES/ SERVICES

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AMOUNT

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12. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

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PAGE OF PAGES

1. REQUEST NUMBER 2. DATE ISSUED 3. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NUMBER 4. CERT. FOR NAT. DEF.

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NF-FS7100-22-01119 NF-FS7100-22-011191305M322QNFFS0077

WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION

CONTRACTS BRANCH

7600 SAND POINT WAY NE, SOU6

SEATTLE WA 98115-6349

AMANDA LEAL

AMANDA.LEAL@NOAA.GOV

Please See Continuation Page for Line Item Details

206 526-6043

See Schedule

AUG 23, 2022

AUG 23, 2022

Attachment Page

PAGE 2 OF 125 1305M322QNFFS0077

VESSEL CHARTER TO CONDUCT BIENNIAL BOTTOM TRAWL SURVEY OF GROUNDFISH

AND CRAB OF THE EASTERN BERING SEA CONTINENTAL SHELF

i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with FAR Subpart 13.5, with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to award one Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract for a chartered vessel and crew to conduct a biennial bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, as described in the Statement of Work. All responsible Business sources may submit a quotation which shall be considered by NOAA. The Government intends to select two contractors for two separate awards; however, the Government reserves the right to award no contract at all, depending on the quality of the quotations, the prices submitted, and the availability of funds.

ii) This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).Written quotes for RFQ number 1305M322QNFFS0077 shall be submitted on Standard Form 18.

iii) The solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition 2022- 06, dated May 26, 2022.

iv) This solicitation is 100% set-aside for small business concerns. The associated NAICS code is 483114. The small business size standard is 500 employees.

v) This combined synopsis/solicitation is for purchase of the following commercial supply items:

BASE PERIOD

CLIN 0001: Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024; Quantity: 55 Days (DA);

Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for a 55-day vessel charter in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 0002: Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-To-Exceed (NTE) $3,000.00; Moorage, communications charges, and dockside services in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. A NTE amount of $3,000.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

CLIN 0003: Option Item – Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024; Quantity:

45 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for up to 45 additional charter days in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Option days shall be exercisable in one-day increments.

CLIN 0004: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS); One-way Shipment and Transportation of Government Furnished Equipment in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 0005: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $93,750.00; Fuel charges in support of the bottom trawl survey of

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marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Fuel is anticipated to be covered by Government SEA Card. In ports where the SEA Card is not accepted, the contractor may be required to purchase fuel and be reimbursed by the Government. A NTE amount of $93,750.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

OPTION PERIOD I:

CLIN 1001: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025; Quantity:

55 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for a 55-day vessel charter in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 1002: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $3,000.00; Moorage, communications charges, and dockside services in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. A NTE amount of $3,000.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

CLIN 1003: Option Item – Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025; Quantity:

45 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for up to 45 additional charter days in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Option days shall be exercisable in one-day increments.

CLIN 1004: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS); One-way Shipment and Transportation of Government Furnished Equipment in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 1005: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $96,563.00; Fuel charges in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Fuel is anticipated to be covered by Government SEA Card. In ports where the SEA Card is not accepted, the contractor may be required to purchase fuel and be reimbursed by the Government. A NTE amount of $96,563.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

OPTION PERIOD II:

CLIN 2001: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026; Quantity:

55 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for a 55-day vessel charter in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 2002: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $3,000.00; Moorage, communications charges, and dockside services in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. A NTE amount of $3,000.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

CLIN 2003: Option Item – Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026; Quantity:

45 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for up to 45 additional charter days in

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support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Option days shall be exercisable in one-day increments.

CLIN 2004: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS); One-way Shipment and Transportation of Government Furnished Equipment in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 2005: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $99,459.00; Fuel charges in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Fuel is anticipated to be covered by Government SEA Card. In ports where the SEA Card is not accepted, the contractor may be required to purchase fuel and be reimbursed by the Government. A NTE amount of $99,459.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

OPTION PERIOD III:

CLIN 3001: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027; Quantity:

55 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for a 55-day vessel charter in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 3002: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $3,000.00; Moorage, communications charges, and dockside services in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. A NTE amount of $3,000.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

CLIN 3003: Option Item – Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027; Quantity:

45 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for up to 45 additional charter days in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Option days shall be exercisable in one-day increments.

CLIN 3004: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS); One-way Shipment and Transportation of Government Furnished Equipment in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 3005: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $102,443.00; Fuel charges in support of the bottom trawl survey of Alaskan groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Fuel is anticipated to be covered by Government SEA Card. In ports where the SEA Card is not accepted, the contractor may be required to purchase fuel and be reimbursed by the Government. A NTE amount of $102,443.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

OPTION PERIOD IV:

CLIN 4001: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2028; Quantity:

55 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for a 55-day vessel charter in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and

PAGE 5 OF 125 1305M322QNFFS0077

Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 4002: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2028; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $3,000.00; Moorage, communications charges, and dockside services in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. A NTE amount of $3,000.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

CLIN 4003: Option Item – Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2028; Quantity:

45 Days (DA); Provide all labor, equipment and materials necessary for up to 45 additional charter days in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Option days shall be exercisable in one-day increments.

CLIN 4004: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2028; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS); One-way Shipment and Transportation of Government Furnished Equipment in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein.

CLIN 4005: Option Item - Period of Performance shall be May 1, 2027 through April 30, 2028; Quantity: 1 Lump Sum (LS) Not-to-Exceed (NTE) $105,516.00; Fuel charges in support of the bottom trawl survey of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea, in accordance with the Statement of Work contained herein. Fuel is anticipated to be covered by Government SEA Card. In ports where the SEA Card is not accepted, the contractor may be required to purchase fuel and be reimbursed by the Government. A NTE amount of $105,516.00 is established for this line item and is reimbursable based on actual expense incurred and when accompanied with appropriate supporting documentation.

vi) Description of requirements is as follows:

1. STATEMENT OF WORK/SPECIFICATIONS

The contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified) to perform the following Statement of Work/Specifications:

Bottom Trawl Survey of Groundfish and Crab of the Eastern Bering Sea Continental Shelf

Background: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) has been conducting scientific trawl surveys of marine fish and crab populations on the Eastern Bering Sea Shelf (EBS) and Northern Bering Sea using chartered commercial fishing vessels for over 30 years. The AFSC Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division carries out these comprehensive and standardized trawl surveys and related research in the 200-mile territorial Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters of the EBS off Alaska as required to quantitatively monitor and describe trends in abundance and distribution of commercially and ecologically valuable groundfish and crab populations. These survey results are the single source of fishery-independent data for many fish and crab population statistics for federally-managed groundfish and crab resources of the EBS that comprise one of the world’s most valuable fisheries. In recent years, the survey has been extended into the northern Bering Sea, where additional stations are sampled as part of the AFSC Loss of Sea Ice initiative (http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Publications/ProcRpt/PR2015-01.pdf).

Objective: To continue to deliver annual estimates of groundfish and crab biomass and population size and biological, habitat, oceanographic, and acoustic data for the eastern Bering Sea and Northern Bering Sea to the

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North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Groundfish and Crab Plan Teams as needed for setting annual Allowable Biological Catch (ABC) and Total Allowable Catch (TAC) levels for groundfish and crab stocks in the Bering Sea. This work is conducted under the auspices of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), 16 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq. Additional biological, habitat, and related data collected on the surveys are used to improve the understanding of life history of the fish and invertebrate species and the ecological and physical factors affecting their distribution and abundance. Project performance is determined by the successful completion of each charter necessary for generation of up-to-date estimates of biomass, abundance, distribution, and population structure of groundfish and crab populations to stock assessment scientists for inclusion in the annual stock assessment analyses and ecosystem forecast modeling efforts. The objective of the northern Bering Sea bottom trawl survey is to determine how changing environmental conditions and loss of sea ice may be altering groundfish and crab populations, the associated biological communities, and the dynamic food web relationships that currently exist within the entire shelf ecosystem from the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Strait.

The Government intends to award two (2) contracts from this solicitation. Each requirement shall be to supply one trawler with crew, which will be required to conduct the portion of the annual eastern Bering Sea bottom trawl survey that covers the established survey design along the continental shelf. Additional optional charter days are added to allow for completion of the survey, including the northern Bering Sea and other related research. Related research includes, but is not limited to: expanded trawl survey stations, resampling crab populations if necessary, collection of auxiliary oceanographic, acoustic, or biological samples, experimental gear comparison trials, and deployment of drop camera systems or camera equipped AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) or ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) as needed to improve or enhance the delivery of estimates of groundfish and crab biomass and population size in support of stock assessments and other MSA-enabled fisheries research.

Requirements: The baseline work consists of a series of bottom trawl operations conducted in the eastern Bering Sea over a base 55-day period that begins on or about May 26, but no later than June 7 of a given year for each charter. Alternate starting dates earlier or later than the preferred May 26 date may be considered. The fishing operations are conducted from two charter vessels and consist of 30-minute tows at fixed stations positioned along a 20 X 20 nm grid beginning in inner Bristol Bay with the vessels working on alternate columns of north-south stations, westward to the shelf edge (Attachment 8) to cover an area of 144,493 square nautical miles and fishing depths from 20-200 meters (11-109 fathoms). All fishing operations shall conform to established AFSC standard operating protocols as described in NOAA Protocols for Groundfish Bottom Trawl Surveys of the Nation’s Fishery Resources (http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/RACE/gearsupport/tmspo65.pdf) as necessary to ensure (1) scientific consistency and (2) statistical continuity of the time series used to reliably monitor the status, and forecast the trends of the EBS fish and crab populations. Each vessel will complete approximately 200 tows as part of the standard survey design. Additional option days (45 days) may be used to complete the northern Bering Sea where each vessel will complete approximately 72 tows.

Survey catches generally range from 20 kg up to 15,000 kg (44 lbs.- 16.5 tons), but typically average around 1,200 kg (1.3 tons). At the conclusion of each tow, the catch shall be lifted by crane to a table on the back deck to be sorted, counted, weighed, and sampled for individual length frequency measurements and biological samples of key groundfish and other organisms. Larger catches (over 1,200 kg) shall be weighed in aggregate by means of lifting the net attached to a load cell off deck or may be sub-sampled and the catch weight of the remainder estimated by volume in a deck bin. Most catch shall be discarded overboard by means of chutes positioned to service both sorting area and deck bin. The daily routine shall consist of completing approximately 4-6 tows depending on weather and general work progress. This routine normally requires 12 to 14 hours of work each day by the vessel’s crew and scientific staff. Position, temperature, salinity, and trawl performance data shall be collected for each tow. All data will be entered in Government-provided onboard computer systems. Fishery acoustic data will be continuously collected, both on and off station. The charters shall start and end in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Periodic port calls (up to 2 scheduled in addition to charter start and end) shall be made for provisioning, exchange of scientific and vessel personnel.

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If the standard survey is completed before completion of the base charter days or additional option days are exercised, this time may be used to conduct additional fisheries research in support of the MSA. Additional research includes, but is not limited to: expanded trawl survey stations, collection of auxiliary oceanographic, acoustic, or biological samples, experimental gear comparison trials, and deployment of drop camera systems or camera equipped AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) or ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) as needed to improve or enhance the delivery of estimates of groundfish and crab biomass, population size, and distribution.

NOTE: Minimum Qualification for each vessel and crew are indicated by red font, bolded, and denoted with an (*); proposals not meeting the minimum qualifications will not be considered for award.

Additional highly desired qualifications are indicated as “Preferred”, listed in black font, not bolded, and immediately follow the relevant required item(s) when appropriate. Additional consideration may be given for proposals which offer highly desirable items. Additional information is also provided in black, non-bolded font.

A. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS

1. *Minimum overall length (LOA) of 36.5 m (120 feet) and the vessel shall have been actively used for commercial trawling or research in which trawl gear was used in the past 12 months.

2. *Minimum continuous horsepower output from the main engine of 850 HP.

3. *Vessel must be able to consistently deploy, tow along the seabed at a continuous speed of no more or less than 5.6 km/hour (3 knots), and retrieve the standard 25.3/34.1 m (83/112 feet) survey trawl (see Attachment 5) under normally expected fishing conditions for the duration of the survey. Preferred: Variable pitch propeller or kort nozzle for speed control.

4. *Vessel must be able to maintain a minimum cruising speed of 16.67 km/hour (9 knots) in low sea states. Preferred: the vessel be able to maintain a minimum cruising speed of 18.5 km/hour (10 knots).

5. *Vessel must have fuel holding capacity for at least 30 days of continuous fishing operations, and the fuel must be usable and not required for ballast.

6. Vessel must be rigged for bottom trawling including:

a. *A gallows or gantry. Preferred: A stern ramp and a stern gate that can be opened and closed for additional safety.

b. *Minimum of two (2) net reels with capacity for the 25.3/34.1 m (83/112 feet) bottom trawl. Preferred: Two aft net reels (attached to gallows or gantry).

c. *Split trawl winches with a minimum of 595 m (325 fathoms) of 2.53 cm (1 in.) diameter steel core trawl cable in good condition and free of signs of excessive wear (frayed, burrs, broken strands, corrosion) and available for fishing on each drum as referenced in Attachment 5.

d. *An auto-trawl system with the capability of adjustable winch brakes and measurement of trawl wire deployed.

e. *Trawl cable must lead directly from the winches to the gallows trawl blocks.

7. *Vessel must be able to retrieve wire at a speed of at least 55 meters/minute (30 fathoms/minute) for all wire lengths between 25 and 300 fathoms.

8. Deck requirements:

a. *A deck area clear of obstructions of at least 55.7 m2 (600 square feet) for sampling equipment including a 1.5 X 3.0-m (5 X 10 feet) sorting table, one 0.6 m X 1.2 m (2 X 4 feet) platform scale table for working on catches and obtaining biological data, and one 2.4 X 1.2

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m (8 X 4 feet) area for anchoring two tanks with raw seawater supply for keeping fish alive.

Preferred: additional deck space clear of obstructions. It is also preferred if the available deck space is a cohesive area of the deck and not broken into parcels by trawl fences, bulkheads, or other structures.

b. *The sorting table must be positioned such that all four sides of the table can be used to sample fish catches, there is easy access for discarding catch, and there is access to bins described below used to hold catches.

c. *Two adjacent deck bins, measuring 1.8 X 1.8 X 0.9 m (6 x 6 x 3 feet) minimum each, for holding and splitting catches. Bin boards must be in good condition, free of signs of wear that indicates mechanical damage. Easy placement and removal of the bin boards is essential. Replacement bin boards must be provided in the event of breakage or damage of bin boards. Preferred: The bins should be incorporated, or in close proximity to one or more overboard discard chutes.

d. *The deck work area(s) should be clear of running gear, equipment, vertical obstructions (e.g., hatch coamings) and stowage.

e. *A protected (sheltered from wind – e.g. shelter deck or wave wall) and lighted area on the deck where two work tables, one that measures 1.2 X 2.4 m (4 X 8 feet) and the second 1.2 X 1.2 m (4 X 4 feet), can be set up for collection of weights and other biological data from specimens retained from the catch.

f. *Dry storage area(s) of at least 4.7 m3 (168 cu. ft.) on the back deck or adequate space to mount a 1.8 X 1.2 X 2.1 m (6 ft. wide x 4 ft. deep x 7 ft.) high, Government provided, fiberglass shed used to hold on deck sampling equipment. Dry storage location must allow easy access from the deck and be protected from the seas.

g. *Ability to communicate directly between the deck and wheelhouse (e.g. intercom or handheld radios).

h. *At least two electric power (110/115 V.A.C) outlets near on-deck work areas. This may be a grounded temporary installation, if necessary and safe to use.

i. *Seawater deck hose with sufficient volume and pressure to allow for cleaning of sorting table and sampling gear and for supplying saltwater to fish holding tanks. Pumps must be adequate for prolonged and continuous operation of fish holding tanks. An On/Off switch should be readily available from the working deck. Preferred: High volume seawater hose. Easy access to fresh water on deck.

9. Ability to lift and manipulate catches:

a. *A hydraulic crane with the capability to lift catches of up to 5.4 mt (6 t) completely clear of the deck under normal weather conditions for the purposes of weighing larger catches. The crane must be made available for weighing catches under these circumstances. The crane must also have the ability to extend out 3 m (10 feet) past the side of the vessel. The crane must be able to manipulate the codend anywhere along the centerline of the working deck.

Preferred: More than 1 crane and increased crane lifting capacity.

b. *A minimum of two lifting winches for handling fishing gear and catches (i.e. gilson winches). Preferred: additional lifting winches.

10. Storage Areas:

a. *Dry storage area of at least 5.4 m3 (190 cu feet) in the deckhouse for holding and storing scientific supplies. This space must be easily accessible by the scientific survey crew and available at all times. Preferred: Larger interior storage area.

b. *Storage area of at least 56.6 cu m (2,000 cu feet) for fishing gear and accessories.

Preferred: Dry storage space for fishing gear and accessories, such as a hold or other vessel space.

11. Interior Spaces:

a. *A suitable desk or dry counter work space of at least 8 sq. ft. in the wheelhouse with

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adjacent 110/115 volts power outlets for installation of Government supplied personal computers, printer, GPS, trawl mensuration cabinet and other trawl mensuration equipment. Preferred: An area of 15 sq. ft. for this purpose.

b. *Access to and use of a suitable chart table in the wheelhouse.

c. *Two (2) 1” diameter through-bulkhead access holes to the outside from the wheelhouse for the passage of GPS and hydrophone cables to Government computers and trawl mensuration units in the wheelhouse.

d. *Two (2) suitable desk or shelf areas at least 0.6 X 1.2 m (2 x 4 feet) each with adjacent 110/115 volts power outlets for installation of Government supplied personal computers and printers. The desks or counter spaces should be located in space exclusive of the galley or wheelhouse and which can be used almost exclusively by the scientific staff for data entry and analysis.

e. *A dry area of at least 10 sq. ft. with sufficient amperage for charging data collection devices (typically 10 tablets, multiple headsets, and Bluetooth peripherals). Preferred: The charging space is easily accessible from (or within) the office space outlined above in (d.).

12. *A minimum of 0.5 cu m (17.5 cu ft.) of freezer storage. Freezer space must be reasonably and safely available from the deck and must be continuously available to the scientific party.

Preferred: 3 cu m (106 cu ft.) of freezer storage.

13. *One clothes washer and one clothes dryer in proper working order for personal laundry.

Preferred: Additional washers and dryers in good working order. A dedicated dryer for foul weather gear.

14. *Potable fresh water supply adequate for vessel and personal use (including showers and laundry) by vessel and scientific crew for approximately 30 days. If a water maker is not available, then a minimum holding capacity of 22.7 kl (6,000 gal) of freshwater is required.

Preferred: A functioning watermaker or larger water holding capacity.

15. Staterooms:

a. *Clean, sanitary, and appropriate accommodations for each member of the scientific field party, captain, and crew. Berthing must be able to accommodate a scientific field party of at least six with any mix of male and female scientists and single-sex staterooms. Preferred:

Bunk areas shall contain at least one drawer or closet for storage of clothing and personal gear per occupant or bunk.

b. *Clean mattresses for all bunks for all scientific personnel.

16. *Workspaces, berthing, and galley spaces shall be adequately ventilated and free from tobacco smoke, hydrocarbon fumes and excessive engine noise.

17. *Vessel must be ballasted to maintain sea kindliness during the charter. If crab tanks are used to ballast or trim the vessel, overboard (not on deck) discharge shall be provided. Adequate ballasting must be independent of fuel and fresh water supplies required for 30 days.

18. *One head and one shower in good working condition available for use by the scientific staff.

Preferred: Additional heads and showers available for use by the scientific party.

19. *A method allowing scientists to safely board and debark the vessel while in port.

20. Electronic and Communication Equipment Requirements

a. *A Simrad ES-60 or newer echo sounder system with a 38 kHz transducer. The echo sounder system(s) shall be connected to a GPS unit. Preferred: ES-60 software, split-

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beam transducer, 120 kHz transducer in addition to the required 38 kHz transducer.

b. Radios:

i *VHF - a minimum of two working units.

ii *Single side-band – a minimum of two working units with at least one being synthesized in the 2-18 MHZ range.

iii *A system for switching to backup power (e.g., battery) for radio operation in the event of interruption of the normal power supply.

c. *Minimum of two (2) GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers with differential or Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capability.

d. *Radar - 2 units with a minimum range of 77.2 km (48 miles).

e. Depth sounders - *Two Color scope units with minimum range of 1,100 m (600 fm) and operating in the 38-50 kHz range.

f. *An electronic plotting and navigational charting system with the ability to upload station location (point data). Preferred: Globe navigational system (Electronic Charts, Inc.)

g. *A communication system allowing reliable sending and receiving messages, and uploading and downloading of files. Preferred: Full internet access.

h. * A satellite or broadband telephone for use at sea.

i. *A cellular telephone for use when service is available in the survey area or in port.

B. CREW REQUIREMENTS

1. *The minimum crew shall consist of a Captain, lead-fisher, engineer-fisher, general-fisher, and cook or cook-fisher.

2. *The Captain shall have a minimum of three (3) years of bottom trawl fishing experience as master of a comparable-sized trawler in Bering Sea and/or Alaskan waters and at least five (5) years total fishing experience as a master. Preferred: 3 or more years of bottom trawling experience

3. *The Captain shall be competent in the use of modern navigational and fish- detecting equipment and be skilled in rigging and repairing bottom trawls.

4. *The lead-fisher shall have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in otter trawl fishing and demonstrated experience in building, rigging, repairing, and operating bottom trawls. He/she must possess demonstrated competence for repairing damaged trawls to their original specifications.

5. *The engineer-fisher shall have a minimum of two years of experience as engineer aboard comparably-sized trawlers. Preferred: The engineer shall have spent at least 6 months at sea on the vessel prior to the survey.

6. Preferred: The engineer-fisher, general-fisher, and cook-fisher shall have a minimum of three years’ experience in trawl fishing and have the necessary net mending skills to assist the lead-fisher in bottom trawl repair.

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7. Preferred: The cook-fisher shall have a minimum of two (2) years’ experience in the planning and preparation of three daily meals for a group of at least 10 people. Must be able to accommodate special dietary needs of scientists (vegetarian, vegan, lactose-intolerant, gluten free, low-sodium, etc.). The Government will inform contractor at least 10 days before the start of each leg if special dietary needs will be requested.

8. Preferred: Experience conducting research surveys for the Captain and lead-fisher.

9. Offerors shall complete the attached forms indicating pertinent employment experience for each crew member to include at least the past ten (10) years. Similar documentation shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for approval of all replacement personnel proposed for hire during the charter.

C. VESSEL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

1. *The contractor is required to provide a Stability Letter from the vessel's Stability Report, certified by a licensed naval architect/marine engineer, which describes the vessel's stability characteristics for the intended charter operations. Letter must be submitted with the contractor's proposal. Recent stability or marine survey reports, pictures, drawings or blueprints should be included along with other required information (Trawl Vessel Characteristics and Master/Crew Work Experience forms, Attachments 1 and 4) to assist in proposal evaluation.

2. *A Category I 406 MHz EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) must be affixed to the exterior of the vessel in a manner approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Preferred: Additional Category 1 406 MHz EPIRBs

3. *At least one crew member must be formally trained in survival and firefighting at a level equivalent to that offered by the North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owner's Association. Preferred:

additional crew members with comparable training.

4. *On vessels where the crew is required to perform wheel/anchor watches (i.e., no mate), a watch alarm system is required.

5. *There shall be two identified escape routes from all general areas of the vessel.

6. Hazardous materials:

a. *The vessel shall provide suitable storage space for a tote (4 ft. x 4ft x 3ft) used to store hazardous materials routinely used by the survey (ethanol, formaldehyde).

b. Quantities of all hazardous materials (e.g., ethyl alcohol, formaldehyde) are kept to a minimum and their storage, handling, and use shall be in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Hazardous materials needed for the scientific mission shall be handled in accordance with chemical hygiene plans and prudent laboratory practices. Storage containers and storage locations, including labeling of containers and locations, shall meet transportation regulations and USCG or IMO standards for the type and quantity of material being carried. NOAA-authorized personnel will provide the vessel’s captain with an inventory of the hazardous materials that will be brought aboard, along with copies of MSDS’s and any special neutralizing agents and personal protective equipment that may be required that cannot reasonably be expected to be provided by the vessel. The Captain, or the Captain’s designee, shall evaluate the risks posed by the materials and shall make all accommodations and take any precautions as may be necessary to protect the vessel and those aboard. Information related to OSHA’s Hazard Communication, “Right to Know” Standards shall be maintained and made available to all on board. All hazardous materials brought aboard and hazardous waste generated by NOAA-authorized personnel that remain after completion of the mission shall be removed from the vessel prior to, or upon, completion of the charter unless specific arrangements have been made with the vessel owner and Captain to deliver the hazardous material to

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a port other that the port of contract termination.

D. SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL

1. The Government scientists generally consist of six (6) personnel and may include any mix of genders.

2. One Government employee will be designated Chief Scientist. That person will be responsible for implementation of the Cruise Plan, compliance of vessel and crew with the charter terms, disposition of catches, and the conduct and performance of Government personnel aboard the vessel.

E. OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Operational Safety Requirements

a. The vessel Captain is responsible for all matters relating to safety of personnel, the vessel, and equipment operation. The Captain will adhere at all times to Navigational Rules and Rules of the Road whether it be while towing, running, drifting, or when at anchor. He/she shall review safety procedures and equipment with the scientific party at the beginning of each cruise leg.

b. *The contractor shall adhere to the safety requirements set forth herein which includes 46 CFR Part 28 (Attachment 6).

c. *The contractor shall provide U.S. Coast Guard-approved Arctic-type survival suits for all vessel crew. Adequate dry, top-side storage for all survival suits shall be provided, including up to 10 Government-provided survival suits.

d. *Periodic and unannounced safety drills shall be conducted during each leg of the survey. At least one unannounced drill shall be held each leg.

2. Crew Operational Requirements

a. *The contractor shall provide three (3) nutritionally balanced meals and a light evening snack each charter day. Meal times will be coordinated with the Chief Scientist to accommodate both the need to complete sampling work and the time required to prepare meals by the cook. Meals shall be provided by the vessel for the government scientists during all charter days including in-port days unless notified by the Chief Scientist that the scientific staff will not be eating one or more meals aboard the vessel that day.

b. *When not required by the Captain for vessel operations, the crew shall assist the scientific staff in sorting the catch and obtaining biological data, including measuring fish and crab, determining sex of selected species, or recording data. The Captain shall assist scientific personnel with navigational and fishing record keeping as requested.

c. *The crew is responsible for removing all fish and invertebrates including "gilled" fish from the trawl net following each haul. This is critical in eliminating contamination of catches from previous hauls and maintaining survey standardization.

d. *At the end of the charter the contractor is responsible for thoroughly cleaning, washing, and baling all nets. This includes removal of all fish, crabs, seaweed, etc. and towing the net behind the vessel until it is free of any biological material. All nets shall be neatly stacked and baled securely with rope. Dandylines shall be coiled separately and tied at two points on the coil. The Government will provide rope for baling the nets and dandylines.

e. *The captain shall abide by all current MARPOL regulations concerning waste management and will provide NOAA with the waste management and disposal plan prior to the charter.

f. The workday length will be determined by the Chief Scientist in consultation with the Captain. The daily work plan will be based on the type of activity expected (in-port preparations, running, fishing, jogging, etc.) as well as on prevailing weather conditions and the Cruise Plan. The length of working days will range from 12-18 hours. A typical workday will last about 12 hours, although some days

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will run longer, beginning as early as 06:30 with setting the first haul for the day. An average of five

(5) stations or trawl hauls will be made each day. The workday for the vessel crew will likely exceed that of the scientific field party, if they are normally be required to conduct a wheel/anchor watch at night while the vessel runs to the next station or anchorage after completion of the sampling day, drifts, lies at anchor, or runs to the first station early in the morning. The Chief Scientist has the final authority with respect to the cruise plan except in matters relating to safety of the vessel and all personnel on board.

g. The Chief Scientist and Captain shall meet a minimum of twice daily to discuss survey operations and resolve any problems that occur. A meeting should occur at the start of the day before fishing operations begin to discuss the planned activities for the day and at the end of the day to review the work completed that day, any problems which occurred, and plans for the next day’s operations.

h. The Chief Scientist and Captain shall work together to resolve all problems which occur regarding the charter and survey while at sea. In the event the Chief Scientist and Captain are unable to resolve any problem which has the potential for invalidating the survey results or threatens the safety of the scientists, the Chief Scientist will direct the vessel to return to port where an acceptable solution will be arranged between the Government and the Contractor, or the charter will be terminated. The vessel will be off charter if required to return to port and will remain off charter until the problem has been resolved and the vessel has returned to the survey area.

3. Acoustic Data Requirements

a. *At the beginning of the charter, the trawl cable shall be measured with Government-provided wire counters and the crew shall mark the trawl wire at 45.7 m (25 fathoms) intervals. The trawl wire may be measured during the survey if there are indications that the wire has stretched or if significant differences appear between the wire measurements from both trawl winches as per NOAA protocol.

b. *All sources of noise and interference shall be eliminated. Other sounders with the same or potentially interfering frequencies to the required system must either be synchronized with the required system or turned off for the duration of the survey. The transducer(s) will be calibrated before and after the survey under the supervision of Government scientists.

4. Vessel Costs Requirements During Charter Period

a. *The contractor shall provide soap, toilet paper, and paper towels for the vessel for duration of the charter.

b. The contractor shall provide for all operating expenses of the vessel exclusive of: fishing nets, trawl doors, trawl bridles, net mending supplies, and fuel. Mooring fees incurred during charter days will be the responsibility of the contractor and will be reimbursable when accompanied by appropriate documentation and receipts. Communications costs such as use of Inmarsat, cellular phones, FAX/Telex, or internet access costs to conduct official survey business will also be reimbursable when accompanied by appropriate documentation and/or receipts. It is anticipated that the Government will purchase fuel under a separate contract. However, at the Government’s convenience, the Contractor may be required to purchase fuel for use during the charter. In the event that the Contractor is required to purchase fuel, it will be reimbursable based upon actual costs incurred when accompanied by appropriate documentation and/or receipts. A fuel usage report is required to document the amount of fuel aboard the vessel at the beginning of the survey, the amount(s) of fuel taken during the survey, and the amount of fuel we owe the vendor at the end of each year's survey.

c. The Captain and crew shall exercise due caution and follow safety procedures as directed by the Chief Scientist to help prevent damage or loss of Government gear and equipment, including trawl mensuration equipment. Specific safety procedures may be presented in writing to the Captain by the Chief Scientist. Repair or replacement costs may be deducted from charter payments if loss or damage to Government equipment is the result of negligent disregard of such instructions and procedures.

d. The Government will reimburse the Contractor for transmission costs of Government messages, PAGE 14 OF 125 1305M322QNFFS0077 files, calls and internet access in accordance with clause Part I, Paragraph 27 titled VESSEL

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS.

e. The in-port days at the end of each leg (typically approximately 24 hours), are used to exchange personnel, obtain fuel, water, and other necessary supplies and for repair or maintenance of shipboard equipment. A one or two day off-charter break between legs at some point during the charter may be taken and must be scheduled in advance with the COR at the contractor's option and expense. The vessel will be off charter with no payment during the off-charter breaks. The off-charter breaks would be in addition to the one on-charter day that is usually spent in port during the exchange of scientific staff between legs.

5. Other Operational Requirements

a. All fish and shellfish taken in the trawl remain the property of the Government. The Chief

Scientist is responsible for their disposition. NOAA policy specifically prohibits retaining any portion of the catch for commercial purposes unless specifically authorized by the contract.

Specimens may be retained for scientific inquiry as stipulated in the relevant permits. Fish and other invertebrates may be retained from survey catches for at-sea consumption except for prohibited species with the consent of the Chief Scientist.

b. All equipment and gear specified in the Government's Statement of Work (including the preferred items listed by the Contractor in the offer) and that which is not specified but is necessary to the safe and continued operation of the vessel shall be operational at the beginning of the charter and maintained in working order throughout the duration of the charter.

c. Passengers are not permitted to be transported aboard NOAA chartered vessels for any reason without review and approval from the NOAA Contracting Officer in consultation with the COR, program official, or designee…