1305M324Q0243 OFFEROR Q and A.pdf

1. Is this a new requirement?

Yes, this is a Pilot Program.

2. What is the estimated value?

This information is internal to the Government and will not be provided.

3. Would the Government consider extending the due date for proposal submission?

The Government previously extended the due date for proposal submission to June 12, 2024 via the prior amendment (Amendment 0001).

4. Will the contractor be responsible for procuring EM systems in both option years?

Yes, the Contractor will be responsible for procuring EM systems in both option years, please see updated PWS section 2.3 Electronic Monitoring Equipment Procurement.

5. In the two option years, is the government locked into using AMR systems or is there scope to switch EM providers?

There is scope to switch EM providers in the two option years, please see updated PWS section

2.3 Electronic Monitoring Equipment Procurement.

6. Is the government looking for detailed technical and price proposals solely for the Pilot year or for all three years?

The offers shall be for the Base Period and both Option Periods. Please include detailed technical and price quote for all three years.

7. The scope of work states field work will begin June 16th and a 10-day Fishery Observer training is required beforehand. Can you verify when the training will begin and where it will take place?

There is no set date for when the training shall begin. Data collection training may be virtual (up to one week in length); safety and water-based training will be in person (up to one week in length). In person training will be located at a fishery agency or a Regional Fishery Management Organization (generally in Seattle or Anchorage). Please see updated PWS sections 2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers, 2.2 Program Staff Support – Boat Operators and Boats, and

8.0 Travel and Training for more details.

8. Is the contractor liable for any damage or loss of the EM systems that may occur while completing duties listed in the scope of work or duties required to meet contract needs?

The contractor will not be held liable for damage or loss of EM systems that are not due to negligence or fraud.

9. Insurance coverage in the RFQ states: Vessel liability. When contract performance involves use of vessels, the Contractor shall provide, vessel collision liability and protection and indemnity liability insurance as determined by the Government. What liability limits are required?

The Government is not setting the liability limits, but requests that Contractors include this information in their offer.

10. Can the government identify the sections in the PWS that correspond with item Numbers 1004 and 2004 in the RFQ?

1.3 Scope of Work, 2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers, 2.4 Electronic Monitoring Imagery Review & Annotation and 3.0 Performance Measurements (NOTE: This list may not be considered all-inclusive as additional sections in the PWS may contain relevant information).

11. Does the government envision the cost of procurement, e.g. purchase or lease of the systems to be part of these line items or are the line items intended only for labor associated with the activities listed?

Yes, the cost of procurement should be included in the offer.

12. Where are the descriptions for data storage and review in the PWS?

1.3 Scope of Work, 2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers, 2.4 Electronic Monitoring Imagery Review & Annotation, 5.0 Government Furnished Resources, and 6.0 Intellectual Property Rights (NOTE: This list may not be considered all-inclusive as additional sections in the PWS may contain relevant information).

13. Are shipping costs from the EM vendor to and from the project location to be included in these line items?

Yes, this is considered to be part of the installation cost.

14. How many systems are proposed to be deployed in year 2 and 3 of the project?

Accounting for a few spares, approximately 20 units. If any units are battery powered, each vessel will need two of these. An estimate of 10 plug-and-play EM units and 20 battery powered EM units should suffice, but there is no definitive answer until the Government determines which cameras to use in years 2 and 3.

15. The PWS states the Government will seek participation from 30-40 volunteer gillnetters to carry EM equipment. Does the government anticipate requiring contractor support for this task?

How many volunteers have been secured to date? Is the Government incentivizing volunteer participation and if so, how?

The Government will seek volunteer participation from 10-30 volunteer gillnetters and cannot incentivize participation. There are currently 12 volunteers secured.

16. The Government estimates each observer spending a maximum of 36 hours per week actively observing the EM outfitted vessels. How many hours per week does the government estimate will be spent liaising with fishers, coordinating meet-up times, performing installs, training fishers on the use of EM equipment, providing fisher log sheets, collecting fisher log sheets, reviewing fisher log sheets, conducting interviews, removing EM equipment, uploading EM image data, and scanning/uploading paper sheets?

Liaison and data handling duties will require at least 4 hours each week and no more than 10 additional hours (averaging 12-hour days). Please see updated PWS section 2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers and the answer to question 5 for more details.

17. Section 4.0 Performance Measures continues outputs that seem beyond the scope of the contract unless providing systems is intended to be part of the project. Unless the contractor is providing the systems how will they be able to guarantee the system performance as outlined in #1 and # 2?

EM system procurement is a requirement in this contract. The PWS has been updated to clarify this information. Please see updated PWS section 2.3 Electronic Monitoring Equipment Procurement for more details.

18. Do you make a distinction between fishery and marine mammal/protected species observers in terms of this requirement?

No, either meet the requirement.

19. Is there an option to attend the observer/vessel operator training remotely?

Data collection training for observers may be virtual, whereas safety and water-based training must be in person. Please see updated PWS sections 2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers, 2.2 Program Staff Support – Boat Operators and Boats, and 8.0 Travel and Training for more details.

20. May we train more than the two required people for each position, to allow for some flexibility with personnel usage around prior commitments? Is there a possibility for an additional training mid-contract if new personnel are required to be brought on-board?

There will be no additional training mid-season. 2-4 observers (potentially part-time) would be acceptable.

21. On pg. 4 Section 3, 2.1 of the RFQ: “Each observer should expect to liaise with three permit holders and deploy on one trip each week. Observer trips will be a maximum of three days and not to exceed 12 hours in a 24-hour period.” Does this mean that trips can last multiple days, but the observer cannot work more than 12-hours/day, or does this mean that a fisher must return to port after 12-hours, then return to the grounds over an expected 36-hour opener?

Please see updated PWS section 2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers for more details.

22. Pg. 4 Section 3, 2.1 Program Staff – Fishery Observers of the RFQ: “Each observer should expect to liaise with three permit holders and deploy on one trip each week. Observer trips will be a maximum of three days and not to exceed 12 hours in a 24-hour period.” Is steam time to/from the grounds considered part of the 12-hour work-day limit?

Yes, steam time is considered part of the 12-hour work day limit. Please see updated PWS section

2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers for more details.

23. On pg. 6 Section 3, Performance Measurements #2 of the PWS: “No more than 30% of intended coverage shall be lost due to user error.” Please will the government define who the user is i.e., the fisherman using the EM system or the contractor?

Please see updated PWS section 3.0 Performance Measurements – no more than 10% of intended coverage shall be lost due to system malfunction or lack of maintenance.

24. Will the contractor be responsible for installing the permanent EM systems or will they be legacy systems that remain in place from the 2023 testing year?

The contractor will be responsible for procuring and installing the EM systems in the option years, please see updated PWS sections 1.3 Scope of Work and 2.3 Electronic Monitoring Equipment Procurement for more details.

25. Does the government have an estimate of how many days/hours observers are expected to work on land?

Please see updated PWS section 2.1 Program Staff Support – Fishery Observers for more details.

26. In the Pilot Program, will spare EM systems be provided as backups in case of system malfunction?

In the two option years of the Pilot Program, the contractor shall keep sufficient spare/back-up equipment available and on hand to quickly replace system components as needed, please see updated PWS section 2.3 Electronic Monitoring Equipment Procurement for more details. The Government will provide backup equipment in the Base Year.

27. Is the technical training on EM systems provided during the 10-day observer training class? If not, what is the duration and location of the EM training?

Yes, EM training will be part of the overall observer training. In-person attendance is preferred but virtual attendance will be considered in some circumstances. Observers will be responsible for briefing/training fishers on EM equipment use.

28. Will the observers and vessel operators be trained at the same time for the safety and water-based training?

Yes, the plan is for observers and vessel operators to attend training during the same weeks in the same water safety course.

29. The RFQ lists EM service days for 2025 and 2026 (CLIN 1004 and CLIN 2004). Are these days intended for EM video review? The Performance Work Statement does not state observers will be responsible for video review. Are there stipulations if these EM review days take place during the season or can they occur up until the option year is complete in December of each year?

The contractor is required to review and annotate EM imagery. Please see updated PWS sections

1.3 Scope of Work and 2.4 Electronic Monitoring Imagery Review & Annotation for more details.

CLINs 1004 and 2004 include these support services. Ideally video is reviewed during the season as time permits. All video reviews must be completed by the end of the option year.

30. The RFQ lists more days for operators compared to observers in 2025 and 2026. What tasks will operators be completing without an observer onboard?

The RFQ has been revised to 380 days for both observers and operators in option yeas 1 and 2. It is more likely that observers will require more days than operators due to additional tasks with coordination and EM install. CLINs 1003 and 2003 will account for this.