25-1506-SOW_Salinity Tag_Aug 18 2025 (Final).pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources (OPR) Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division

Development of a Biologging Cetacean Dorsal Fin Tag that Measures Conductivity or Salinity

Background/Overview:

The NOAA Fisheries OPR’s implements the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and provides scientific information on the health, and health trends of marine mammal populations in the wild and provides an infrastructure for response-to and investigation of marine mammal unusual mortality events. Freshwater exposure [salinity below 5-10 practical salinity units (PSU] can have significant adverse impacts on the health and survival of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The National Marine Fisheries Service held dolphin monitoring and intervention workshops in 2023 and 2024 to determine the activities to monitor the health of bottlenose dolphins for future freshwater influxes.

The development of a biologging cetacean dorsal fin tag is needed because it would provide salinity information as the dolphin swims through the water column. This was highlighted as a high priority to inform monitoring, interventions, adaptive management, and mitigation/prevention recommendations for impacted dolphins. To address data gaps, the daily (or more frequent) salinity and location information might also allow field teams the ability to find and evaluate the body condition and behavior of tagged dolphins at different salinity exposures. A secondary benefit would be that the data gained from these tag studies will inform decision-making nationally for out-of-habitat dolphins as well as for other cetaceans in low salinity situations such as after extreme weather events or dolphins trapped by construction or restoration actions.

Scope of Work

The goal of this purchase order is to develop a biologging tag that measures or infers water salinity exposures for a dolphin; archives, processes, and transmits the data products to Argos satellites; and fits into a single-pin finmount dolphin dorsal fin tag. This requires a transmittable data product to monitor conductivity or salinity in both salt and freshwater environments. The project would include the development, validation, and testing of the hardware and software platforms for a tag and the data delivery product from a small biologging tag attached to the dorsal fin of wild free-ranging bottlenose dolphins. The salinity measurement ranges must include those ranges found in bay, sound, and estuarine waters (including freshwater) as well as offshore waters. The data collected, archived, processed into products, and transmitted should include fine-scale location, time, temperature, conductivity or salinity, and possibly dive depth. In addition, the tag should have a UHF transmitter, which will allow the animal, or tag to be tracked in real-time using hand-held receivers. This project should include modification or development of hardware and software platforms ranging from data collection to data transmission using Argos. The resulting tag should be comparable in size and design to the currently available Wildlife Computers (SPOT or SPLASH) single-pin finmount dolphin dorsal fin tags. The three-year project would result in providing up to 16 prototype tags based upon proof of concept (3 Version I tags; 3 Version II tags, 10 Version III tags) for testing under field conditions and on wild dolphins, and up to 10 final tags (Final Version) for deployment in the field on wild free-ranging dolphins. *Subject to change* If only two prototype versions are needed versus three to fully develop the tags, the government reserves right to alter the quantity of Final tags purchased to a higher quantity* The Government anticipates purchasing up to 26 total tags dependent upon the field testing results.

Tasks - The work should include the following steps/tasks:

1. Modify existing sensors or develop new sensors to provide conductivity or salinity measurements in water salinities ranging from 0-40 PSU.

a. Validate that salinity can be inferred from the conductivity readings and determine accuracy across the range of salinities and temperatures, with accuracy to +/- 1.0 to 2.0 PSU;

b. Validate that this capability would work in bay, sound, and estuarine (including freshwater) as well as oceanic waters.

c. Conduct laboratory testing of the sensor.

2. Establish data archiving and processing capabilities to provide the conductivity/salinity measurements, which may require alterations to hardware and software frameworks. Additional data that must be included in the data collection, archiving, processing, and data transmission are fine-scale temperature, location, time, salinity product as well as possibly dive depth.

https://wildlifecomputers.com/taxa/cetacean-finmount/ https://wildlifecomputers.com/taxa/cetacean-finmount/

3. Develop a user-programmable duty cycle for data collection including the conductivity product time series or histogram data product similar to a dive profile that can be transmitted via Fastloc GPS to Argos satellite system. The transmission should also have a user-programmable duty cycle. Data products would include time, temperature, salinity/conductivity, location, and possibly dive depth.

a. The programmable duty cycle should aim to conserve battery life and maintain required data collection, archiving, processing and transmission, striving for transmission periods through the entire minimum 60-day and up to 130-day battery life of the tag.

b. Measurements must be archived and processed into data (such as histograms) over the time period following the animal’s last surfacing, and then should be transmitted using a user-programmable duty cycle via Fastloc when the animal surfaces during the specific Argos window.

c. The location must be as precise as possible using technology such as the Fastloc GPS.

d. Transmitted data must include temperature, salinity product, location, time, and potential dive depth.

4. Incorporate conductivity/salinity, temperature, location, time and possibly dive depth hardware, software, and communication platforms into a tag that can be applied in a single pin finmount dorsal fin attachment for dolphins. In the field locations where the tag would be deployed, the expected lowest conductivity range will be between the 200-400 µS /cm. The depth range of the field locations will range from 1m to 100m depending upon the specific study site. Through collaboration, provide prototype tags to a field team that monitors wild dolphins in the Southeast U.S., and collaborate for field testing (not attached to dolphins) of these prototype tags with partners to determine conductivity measurement (and inferred product) in real field situations.

a. Three prototype tags (tag version I) will be needed for conductivity testing in the field (not attached to dolphins).

b. Working with partners the field-testing of the prototype tags should include exposure to a variety of salinities and water environments (turbid, etc.)

c. Tags must be equipped with a UHF transmitter, which can be enabled to send out low-power, unmodulated pings while the tag is at the surface so that the animal or the tag can be located in real-time and actively tracked using a directional antenna and receiver.

d. Fouling (including biofouling), interference, power use, and size should be minimized to ensure the battery life (minimum of 60-days and up to 130-days), minimize the impact on the animal, and ensure the accuracy of data collection.

e. The hardware and software for collection, archiving, processing, and transmitting the data product must fit into a single pin dorsal fin tag. The tag design should be similar to the Wildlife Computers SPOT or SPLASH Finmount tag in weight (~90 g), size, drag, and power used, or battery life (minimum of 60-days and up to 130-days). The tag weight must be ~90 g or less.

f. Modify as necessary post-conductivity testing and retest.

5. Through collaboration, provide prototype tags to perform wild dolphin field testing in the Southeast U.S. as part of an ongoing dolphin catch-and-release health assessment project to evaluate performance of tag.

a. Three prototype tags (tag version II) will be needed for initial testing on wild dolphins.

b. Collaborating wild dolphin field testing partners must have appropriate authorization and permits under the Marine

Mammal Protection Act.

c. Wild dolphin field testing should include follow-up monitoring of tagged dolphins.

d. Prototype tag(s) that have passed the lab evaluations will be provided for testing performance in bay, sound, and estuarine waters to ensure usability in priority habitats, therefore this contract will require development of prototype tags for field-testing and any modifications needed to proceed to further testing.

e. Make modifications if/when needed.

f. Up to ten prototype tags (tag version III) will be needed for subsequent testing on wild dolphins, following the successful completion of tasks 5b-d - unless otherwise determined by the COR.

g. Make modifications if/when needed.

6. Provide final tags for use in bottlenose dolphins in bay, sound, and estuary habitats in the Southeast U.S.

a. Provide 10 final tags (tag final version) for use in bottlenose dolphins for field deployment.

Place of Performance

The contractor will manufacture and develop the tags at their facility or an equivalent location. Field tag testing on wild dolphins shall be conducted in collaboration with authorized partners at designated Southeast U.S. locations as determined by the contractor (see Appendix 1 below for list of authorized partners).

Deliverable Schedule

The contractor must deliver all completed deliverables to the Project Lead or designated points of contact immediately upon completion as specified in the contract. Depending upon the type of deliverable (e.g. data update, physical tag, etc.)

deliverables will be delivered digitally via email or shared drive and/or physically mailed or hand-delivered to the researchers if they are the tag prototypes for testing. Acceptance of the deliverable will be communicated by NMFS within 15 days of receipt.

Deliverable Description Quantity Government’s Proposed Schedule

Contractor’s Proposed Schedule

1 Modify the existing sensor or develop a new sensor to provide conductivity or salinity from 0-40PSU +/-1.0 to

2.0 PSU.

NA 3/31/2026

Base phase

2 Establish data archiving & processing capabilities to provide the conductivity/salinity measurements.

NA 3/31/2026

3 Test sensor in laboratory – tank or other coastal body of water; Test in various water qualities (turbid, sediment disturbance, etc) and salinities.

NA 4/30/2026

4 Develop a user-programmable duty cycle for data collection and data transmission using histogram data products and transmission via, for example, Fastloc GPS to Argos satellite system.

NA 6/30/2026

5 Incorporate the above into a single-pin dorsal fin tag weighing ~90g or less. Provide 3 prototype tags to partners for field testing performance in coastal waters of varying salinities (not attached to a dolphin).

3 tags (Version I)

7/31/2026

6 Conduct non-dolphin field-testing by partners of prototype tags in various coastal salinities and water quality.

NA 9/29/2026

7 Modify tag design based on field testing, if needed. NA 1/31/2027 Option phase

8 Through collaborations, provide 3 prototype tags for testing on bottlenose dolphins in the bay, sound, and estuary habitats.

3 tags (Version

II)

3/31/2027

9 Conduct live-dolphin field testing of 3 tags by partners;

including follow-up monitoring of tagged dolphins.

NA 6/30/2027

10 Modify tag design based on field-testing, if needed. NA 7/30/2027

11 Based upon findings from field tests of prototype tags, make modifications and provide 10 tags for testing on bottlenose dolphins in bay, sound and estuary habitats.

10 tags (Version III)

9/29/2027

12 Conduct live-dolphin field testing of 10 tags by partners; including follow-up monitoring of tagged dolphins.

NA 5/30/2028

13 Modify tag design based on field-testing, if needed. NA 6/30/2028

14 Provide 10 final tags for deployment on bottlenose dolphins in the bay, sound, and estuary habitats.

10 tags (Final

Version) 8/31/2028

PHASES DESCRIPTION YEAR

Phase 1a:

Sensor hardware & Software development;

Laboratory Testing

● Establishing a sensor that allows measurements in various salinities from 0 to

40 PSU

● Developing a platform to archive, package, and transmit the data to a satellite from a dolphin tag with low energy costs so it doesn't use up all the battery

● Test both of the above in a tank and/or shore-based situation

● Test both in various water qualities (turbidity, sediment disturbance, etc.)

● Revise as needed or stop if the design does not work and reconfigure the sensor (Potential go/no-go benchmark decision as determined by Contracting Officer)

Base Year

Phase 1b:

Field Testing

● Package the biologging hardware/software into a small tag that fits on the dorsal fin of a dolphin

● Test tag version I (3 tags) in various field tests not attached to a dolphin (e.g., behind a boat, on a submerged pier, etc.) (Potential go/no-go benchmark decision as determined by Contracting Officer)

Base Year

Phase 2:

Initial Live Dolphin Field Testing

● Test tag version II (3 tags) on live dolphins associated with existing permitted work; including follow-up monitoring of tagged dolphins.

● Work with permitted study to test the tags on catch-and-release bottlenose dolphins to determine the functionality of data collection and transmission as well as tag retention and battery life

● Provide tag version III tags (10 tags) for testing in Option Year 2.

Option Phase

Phase 3:

Additional Live Dolphin Field Testing

● Test tag version III on live dolphins associated with existing permitted work;

including follow-up monitoring of tagged dolphins.

● Work with permitted study to test the tags on catch-and-release bottlenose dolphins to revise functionality of data collection and transmission as well as tag retention and battery life

● Provide final version of the tags (10 tags) for deployment on wild dolphins.

Option Phase

*If only two prototype versions are needed versus three to fully develop the tags, the government reserves right to alter the quantity of Final tags purchased to a higher quantity*

Government-Furnished Resources

Services contractor shall work primarily: ☐ On-Site x Off-Site Services Contractor requires access to NOAA facilities: ☐ Required x Not Required Services Contractor requires a PIV or CAC: ☐ Required x Not Required Services Contractor requires a NOAA email address: ☐ Required x Not Required Services Contractor requires the use of DOC-Owned IT equipment (laptop or desktop computer)

☐ Required x Not Required

Services Contractor requires non-Government IT equipment to connect to a DOC network:

☐ Required x Not Required

Services Contractor requires access to non-public DOC/NOAA data: ☐ Required x Not Required Services contractor shall be provided on-site office space with incidental Government Property (desk, chair, phone, and other similar equipment that remains onsite, per FAR 45.000 (5)

☐ Provided x Not Provided

For Services Contractors doing laboratory work, the government will provide typical lab supplies and equipment for use:

☐ Provided x Not Provided

Description of other access or equipment requirements not already addressed above: N/A

Security Requirements

None

Applicable Standards

Special Requirements

a. Confidentiality and Data Privacy

This contract may require that service contractors have access to Privacy Information. Service contractors are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all subjects and materials and may be required to sign and adhere to a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA).

b. Intellectual Property Rights

All deliverables are the property of the U.S. Government. All documents, analyses, files (digital or other), reports, notes, and photos are to be used only by Contractor personnel assigned to this purchase order. Documents, files, and other data are to be stored exclusively on Government-owned equipment and at no point should be saved or archived on personal drives or devices. Copies are not to be disseminated to anyone outside of the NMFS or to any other contractor personnel without explicit release from the Government.

c. Section 508 Compliance

Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) as amended by P.L. 105-220 under Title IV (Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998), all Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) developed, procured, maintained and/or used under this contract shall comply with the “Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards” set forth by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (also referred to as the “Access Board”) in 36 CFR Part 1194. The complete text of Section 508 Standards can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/ or at http://www.section508.gov.

Required Knowledge and Experience:

The contractor is required to have a proven track record in the development of single-pin biologging tags specifically designed for small cetaceans. The contractor shall possess the necessary technical expertise to design and integrate a salinity/conductivity sensor into a biologging tag. Additionally, the contractor must secure partnerships or subcontractors with the appropriate authorization and permits under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to conduct field testing of prototype tags on wild dolphins within the United States.

Appendix 1 – Authorized Partners Permitted under the MMPA to Conduct Bottlenose Dolphin Health Assessments in the U.S.

1. Dr. Randy Wells, (rwells@mote.org), Sarasota Dolphin Research Program; and

2. Dr. Cynthia Smith (cynthia.smith@nmmpfoundation.org), and Mr. Eric Zolman (eric.zolman@nmmpfoundation.org) at the National Marine Mammal Foundation.

Technical Project Lead: Deborah Fauquier

Contracting Officer’s Representative: Natasha Thieman http://www.access-board.gov/ http://www.section508.gov/ mailto:rwells@mote.org