PWS_Attachments.pdf

ATTACHMENT A – STUDY FLEET PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Study Fleet Program Vessel Agreement

1.0 GENERAL

The goal of this work is to electronically collect detailed information about commercial fisheries catch, discards, fishing effort, and the environment from individual gear hauls to answer research questions related to fisheries dynamics in the Northeast region. Collection of detailed commercial fisheries data is necessary to fulfill the statutory requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). By collecting this high resolution spatial and temporal fishery dependent data, we are improving the data available to advance understanding of population, ecosystem, and fishery dynamics in the Northeast region. This improved understanding helps the Northeast Fisheries Science Center produce accurate stock and ecosystem assessments and inform fisheries and ocean use management, which is essential to achieve the standards laid out in the Magnuson Stevens Act.

1.1 BACKGROUND

The mission of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is to provide the scientific information necessary for productive, sustainable, and healthy marine ecosystems and coastal communities in the Northeast region. This requires robust data on the resource species, fisheries, and ecosystems in the Northeast region. The mission of the Cooperative Research Branch (CRB) is to conduct research in collaboration with the fishing community to improve understanding of ocean ecosystems, support sustainable fisheries management, and build trust and understanding among stakeholders.

The Study Fleet Program supports the mission of both the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the Cooperative Research Branch by engaging commercial fishing vessels in collecting high resolution catch, effort and environmental data to advance understanding of the region’s marine and coastal ecosystems and to inform sustainable fisheries management. The Study Fleet data are used to develop standardized catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) indices for species such as American plaice, haddock, black sea bass, shortfin squid, longfin squid, and golden tilefish, to explore environmental drivers of resources species, and to assess the impacts of offshore development on fishing operations.

Catch in CPUE indices is composed of both retained and discarded species. To advance and expand applications of Study Fleet data in support of the NEFSC mission, greater vessel participation in and higher data density from Study Fleet are required. Achieving expanded participation in the Study Fleet program to meet data needs of the NEFSC is the focus of this program.

1.2 OBJECTIVE

This agreement establishes the requirements for vessel participation in the Study Fleet program, with focus on the collection of high resolution catch, effort, and environmental data to address science and management needs for New England and Mid-Atlantic fisheries. American plaice, Atlantic cod, black sea bass, golden tilefish, haddock, longfin squid, monkfish, scup, shortfin squid, spiny dogfish and summer flounder are the priority for the collection of long-term, tow-by-tow data, due to data needs for stock and ecosystem assessments. Study Fleet data is used to monitor stock and ecosystem dynamics, produce precise fishing footprints, track the use of more selective fishing gears and practices, and link oceanographic and socioeconomic factors to fishery dynamics

1.3 SCOPE

The vessel partner shall collect and transmit tow-by-tow fishing effort and catch and discard data using the NEFSC Fisheries Logbook Data Recording Software(FLDRS) electronic logbook system. The vessel partner shall support the development and use of oceanographic data collection systems and real-time data transmission systems, as well as the testing of new hardware, software, and data collection protocols.

The Government may require the vessel partner to travel to participate in Cooperative Research meetings for a partial day or multiple days (described in Section 3.0), to discuss Study Fleet program results and future work. The Government may require the vessel partner to purchase materials to support routine performance requirements.

1.4 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance is aboard commercial fishing vessels operating in the continental shelf from Maine to North Carolina.

2.0. QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

2.1. GENERAL QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS - On a quarterly basis, the vessel partner shall:

a. Provide approved equipment and hardware for tow-by-tow fishery data collection (See Section 2.2 below). Oceanographic data collection, telemetry, and any other specialized equipment will be provided by the NEFSC.

b. Participate in onshore training and troubleshooting on fishery and oceanographic data collection software, consistent with the vessel’s normal fishing practices.

c. Report tow-by-tow retained and discarded catch data during all normal commercial fishing trips.

d. Provide feedback on the development and utility of associated software and hardware systems; and

e. Ensure that vessel staffing supports performance under this agreement and maintains data quality.

2.2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

The vessel partner shall provide a dedicated computer which shall be used to collect the Study Fleet tow-by tow data that can optionally be wired into the vessel’s depth sounder to automate filling required data fields. A secondary GPS unit will be required which will be integrated with the computer or data collection equipment. Reimbursement for these items will be included in quarterly payment.

See attachment D.

The vessel partner shall have fully functional data collection equipment within the first quarter of agreement award as described in section 14.1 and attachment C. The minimum requirements for Study Fleet data collection using FLDRS software are:

1. Dedicated Laptop Computer with the following minimum specifications:

a. Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit) operating system or higher.

b. Processor: Intel Core Series or AMD Ryzen Series (2020 or later)

c. Hard drive:. 256 GB SSD

d. Memory: 8 GB

e. USB 3.0 A ports: Min of 3 ports + (Powered hubs acceptable)

2. Dedicated GPS Receiver – must interpret NMEA 0183 data sentences - Note: Furuno and Northstar units have been used with great success: the Global Stat BU-353 USB GPS is a USB-port enabled GPS that has also worked well. Furuno GP-32 does not work with the Study Fleet data collection system.

3. Battery Backup/Surge Protection.

4. Single serial-to-USB converter for each required data feed. At least two for GPS and Depth.

5. Starlink, or hotspot cellular data connection or dockside wifi connection for transmitting data in near real-time.

6. Optional: one USB 2.0 Flashdrive: 2+ GB (allows backup and land transmission of files).

The Government may request the vessel partner to purchase material, computer/software to support routine performance requirements or special projects. Reimbursement for these items will be included in quarterly payments. See attachment D.

2.3. VESSEL PARTNER ATTENDANCE AT GOVERNMENT PROVIDED TRAINING

The vessel partner shall attend any necessary training for sampling protocols and use of the data collection software. Initial training will take place within the first full fiscal quarter of the agreement period. Most training can be done on the vessel. Follow-up training and troubleshooting will be scheduled by the NEFSC Study Fleet technical contact based on fishermen’s comments as well as preliminary analyses of the data collected. The vessel partner shall attend follow-up training on a mutually agreed-upon schedule at the direction of the COR.

2.4. VESSEL PARTNER PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT OF COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION

On a periodic basis, the vessel partner shall meet with Study Fleet staff members at the vessel in order to install and maintain systems, discuss any technical issues, provide feedback, offer suggestions and allow for the download and archiving of supplementary data. Trouble-shooting meetings between the vessel operator and the NEFSC field technician may be necessary after the initial trips, and with new software and hardware installations. These meetings may occur at the dock or while at sea during fishing operations on a mutually agreed upon schedule. Regular communications and meetings will occur throughout the agreement period. Vessel partners are expected to return phone calls and other communications from Study Fleet technical staff promptly to meet government agreement requirements.

2.5. ELECTRONIC LOGBOOK AND OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA REPORTING

The vessel partner shall collect estimates of retained and discarded catch and fishing effort data for all gear hauls on each fishing trip throughout the year. Data elements, such as gear parameters, may also be requested. These data shall be submitted to the NEFSC Cooperative Research Branch.

Vessel operators shall collect this data on all commercial fishing trips during the period of this agreement. All electronic trip data shall contain Captain’s best estimates of both the retained and discarded portion of the catch. The vessel partner shall sign a data waiver that allows NEFSC scientists to analyze these data for research purposes. The waiver is provided as Attachment A.

2.6. REPORTING AND PERFORMANCE PERIODS

Performance will be evaluated on a quarterly basis. Failure to collect catch data accurately, including but not limited to failure to collect discarded catch estimates, will result in deductions in payment for that quarter. Repeated failure to collect data on discarded catch during the agreement period may be considered grounds for termination of the agreement. Data quality and completeness is of utmost importance to scientific utility, and vessel partners are expected to follow scientific protocols completely.

2.7. DATA TRANSFER

The vessel partner shall transfer data from the vessel to NEFSC databases. This is accomplished through wireless data services using the trip transmit function in the NEFSC FLDRS software.

Alternatively, trip files can be transferred to a USB flash drive and emailed to Study Fleet Program technicians.

3.0. TRAVEL

3.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Government may request the vessel partner to participate in local meetings to discuss Study Fleet program results and future work. These meetings will be within a local range and for a duration of less than five (5) hours (Generally 2-3 hours), with no more than two (2) meetings annually.

The Government may require the vessel partner to travel to participate in Cooperative Research meetings to discuss Cooperative Research program results and future work. Meetings may consist of annual Cooperative Research meetings, Fishery Management Plan Working Group Meetings, or may be in conjunction with Fishery Management Council meetings.

4.0 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

Vessel partners shall acquire all required equipment and participate in required software training during the first quarter of this agreement. Vessel partners will be reimbursed quarterly at a daily rate of $85.00, provided that the day includes at least one successful effort with a documented catch, a program approved training session or meeting.

The majority of quarterly reimbursement is intended to compensate participating vessel captains for collecting catch data from fishing efforts and attendance of approved training sessions and meetings.

4.1 DATA QUALITY STANDARDS

Performance Factor 1 (Table 1) must be achieved by the end of the first agreement quarter.

Performance factors will be effective beginning in the second full quarter of agreement performance.

Required Services, Performance Standards, Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs), Monitoring Methods, Evaluation Bases, and Incentive/Disincentives are captured in Table 1 Required Quarterly Performance Metrics.

Table 1 - Required Quarterly Performance Metrics

Required Task Desired Outcome Performance Standard

Acceptable Quality Level

Monitoring Method

Payment Adjustments

Acquire necessary information technology and equipment, and participate in sampling protocol and software training

All required information technology and equipment purchased and installed and sampling protocol and software training complete.

Vessel partner will acquire all required information technology and equipment and participate in sampling protocol and software training

All required information technology and equipment purchased and installed and sampling protocol and software training complete

First quarter check-in with Study Fleet technician to determine if vessel partner has met the requirement

Quarterly payment will reflect payment for total number of commercial sea days with collection of tow-by tow commercial fishing data using

FLDRS

Collect tow-by-tow commercial fishing data using FLDRS during commercial fishing activities

Collect tow-by-tow effort and catch data on every commercial fishing trip using

FLDRS

Compensation (daily rate) for every commercial sea day with collection of tow-by tow commercial fishing data using

FLDRS

Completed tow by tow data including effort, catch (kept and discard)

Quarterly Automated data audit checking for total number of commercial sea days with collection of tow-by tow commercial fishing data using

FLDRS

Quarterly payment will reflect payment for total number of commercial sea days with collection of tow-by tow commercial fishing data using

FLDRS

Collect complete tow-by-tow commercial fishing catch data including all retained and all discarded catch on 90% of efforts each quarter.

Collection of tow-by-tow data on retained and discarded catch on every commercial fishing trip using FLDRS is complete.

Completeness of tow-by-tow commercial fishing catch data including all retained catch and all discarded catch on 90% of efforts each quarter

Completeness of tow-by-tow commercial fishing data including all retained and discarded species on 90% of efforts each quarter

Quarterly Automated data audit checking completeness of tow-by-tow retained and discard catch data.

Daily rate will be reduced by 25% for every quarter where tow-by-tow catch data collection is incomplete.

(missing catch on greater than 10% of total number of efforts)

4.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND MONITORING

The Government’s Quality Assurance monitoring, accomplished by the COR (and others as designated) as described in Table 1 in the above numbered section, will be reported by generating an automated Contract Quarter Performance Summary. This summary will document the COR’s understanding of the vessel partner’s performance under the agreement as determined by the automated, quarterly evaluation system to ensure that the requirements stated in the PWS are met. Consistent and questionable trends in discarded catch estimation will be verified with other sources of discard data (Study Fleet/Observer/Electronic Monitoring).

4.3 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES

Reduced Payment strategies will be employed based on vessel partner performance for a given quarter and the results of the automated, quarterly evaluation system. Payment Reductions will be as follows:

A. Quarterly payments will include daily rate for every commercial trip with completeness of tow-by-tow catch data (retained and discarded catch).

B. Reduced quarterly payment by 25% for every quarter the vessel partner tow-by-tow catch data is incomplete (i.e. no discarded catch reported)

Repeated performance at reduced payment levels may result in a finding of poor performance and lead to agreement termination.

By signing below, the participant certifies and acknowledges that they have carefully read this Participant Agreement in its entirety, fully understand all of its terms, conditions, and requirements, and voluntarily agree to be bound by them. The participant further acknowledges that their signature serves as a binding acceptance of all responsibilities and performance obligations outlined herein.

Vessel Owner Signature Date

Primary Operator Signature Date

Secondary Operator Signature Date

1) All trip, effort, catch (kept and discardinformation), landings, and apportionment data

2) GPS data including position, speed,and track angle collected during project activities

3) Environmental data including, but notlimited to:

- Temperature and depth data

- Net mensuration data

- Weather data

4) Operations data collected during projectactivities

5) Vessel-related significant events

6) Gear specifications

Data collected under this agreement is submitted directly to and is maintained by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.

This agreement supports current research topicsrelatingtoenhancedstockmonitoringthroughtheuseof electronic reporting technology and testing, tracking the use of more selectivefishinggearsandpractices, linking oceanographic and socioeconomic factors to fishery models, and real-time data transmission.

Vessel Owner Signature Date

Katie Burchard Line

Katie Burchard Line

Attachment C - Study Fleet Vessel Information

VESSEL DETAILS

Vessel Name:

Home Port/State:

Vessel: Permit #: Hull ID:

USCG Insp. Sticker: Mo: Yr: Life raft capacity:

EPIRB: Y N Location:

Construction: Year: Shipyard:

Measurements: Length: Beam: Draft:

Tonnage: Gross: Net:

Engine: mk/model: Year: HP:

Accommodations: Head: Y N # of Bunks:

Vessel Email:

Owner/Company:

Company Contact:

email:

Address:

Office Phone:

Cell Phone:

CAPTAIN DETAILS

Primary Captain: email:

Operator #:

Yrs. as Captain:

Cooperative Research Experience:

Secondary Captain: email:

Operator #:

Yrs. as Captain:

Cooperative Research Experience:

Propeller Nozzle: Y N

Starlink: Y N

VESSEL ELECTRONICS

Primary GPS: Make: Model: Software version:

Depth Sounder: Make: Model:

VMS: Y N Brand: MCT/Serial:

Net/Gear Sensors:

Other Electronics:

Electronic Tech: City, ST: Phone:

FISHING ACTIVITIES

Permit(s) Held:

(include length of time in each fishery)

Type of Gears Used:

Areas Fished:

Avg # Days Fished Per Year Crew Size:

Max. Trip Length: # Days: Trip limitation: fuel H2O provisions stability crew

Catch Storage: # Freezers: Ref. Seawater: Y N Ice: Y N Conveyor: Y N

VESSEL INSURANCE

Insurance Carrier:

Address: State: Zip:

Contact:

Phone:

Include Photocopies of:

• Vessel Fishing Permits

• Licenses held by Captain and Crew

• Stability Letter/Insurance Carrier Inspection

• Current Insurance Policy

List below, similar jobs, which you have successfully performed in the past, for the U.S. Government and other Companies.

PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Point of Contact/Phone/E-mail Address Year Contract

Amount Government Agency

Contract Number

Dollar Amount

Additional Applicant Comments:

ATTACHMENT D – APPROVED REIMBURSEMENT SCHEDULE AND PAYMENT

PROCEDURES

1. Purpose

This attachment establishes approved reimbursement categories, reimbursement procedures, documentation requirements, approval processes, and payment administration requirements for Study Fleet participant reimbursements. The Contractor shall administer participant reimbursements only in accordance with this attachment and written Government direction.

2. Approved Reimbursement Categories

Participant reimbursements may include Government-approved expenses associated with Study Fleet participation, including established daily data collection reimbursement rates, training costs, equipment purchases, travel expenses, and other Government-approved participant support costs.

3. Reimbursement Amounts and Approval Controls

The Government will reimburse the Contractor the actual cost of materials and services. Individual reimbursement amounts shall be based on Government-approved reimbursement schedules, program guidance, and written approvals. The Contractor shall not independently establish reimbursement amounts or approve exception payments.

4. Required Documentation

Required documentation to be onboarded into the Study Fleet reimbursement program includes Attachments A, B, and C. Required documentation for reimbursement requests includes EFT/payment authorization, W-9 or other relevant payment documentation, reimbursement requests and the applicable supporting documentation. Reimbursement requests for travel, training, and equipment purchases must include receipts/proof of purchase.

5. Reimbursement Processing Procedures

Upon receipt of reimbursement requests, the Contractor shall review submissions for completeness and accuracy, verify participant administrative documentation, confirm reimbursement aligns with approved Government guidance, coordinate discrepancies, and process approved reimbursements.

6. Payment Tracking and Record Keeping

The Contractor shall ensure invoices and corresponding reimbursement payments are accurately recorded and this information must be tracked on a Government accessible shared file. Monthly status reports must be sent to the Government detailing the total reimbursed amount to all participants and the amount of remaining funds to be paid out. Budget expenditures and remaining funds on the contract must be reported to the Government quarterly. The contractor shall maintain current participant reimbursement and administrative records.

7. Processing Timeframes

Approved reimbursements shall be processed within 30 calendar days after receipt of complete reimbursement documentation and all required Government approvals.

8. Exceptions / Discrepancies

The Contractor shall promptly notify the Government of incomplete reimbursement submissions, unsupported reimbursement requests, duplicate reimbursement requests, requests outside approved reimbursement categories, participant disputes, and unusual reimbursement activity.