A04_Option_Year_Charter_Trip_Contract_SOW.pdf

Vessel Support for Reef Fish Visual Census in Dry Tortugas National Park – Statement of Work

Charter Window: Base Year plus 4 Option Years Charter Numbers: Scalable to suite project needs; daily costs presented

Background The National Park Service (NPS) requires live-aboard vessel services to assist with a variety of large scale and/or complex biological assessments at Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO). The DRTO is located approximately 70 miles west of Key West, FL. The DRTO protects one of the healthiest coral reef systems along the Florida Reef Tract. All the coral reefs in Florida are of great concern from a scientific and management standpoint and are closely monitored my multiple state and federal agencies. Most areas across Florida are relatively easily accessed; however, at the DRTO, there is only minimal infrastructure present, mostly related to NPS operations. There is no berthing or supplies available to vessels in the Dry Tortugas area. Applicable biological projects and/or programs that require this service include but are not limited to fisheries monitoring, coral monitoring, coral disease treatment and intervention, and coral restoration.

Two examples of projects that will completed via a scalable contract include but are not limited to are the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) and annually occurring NPS led coral outplanting at DRTO. NPS assists NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) with conducting biennial NCRMP surveys as part of a multi-agency effort to assess the fishes and corals in and around the DRTO and along the Florida Reef Tract. This is an extremelyl abor-intensive effort, with scientific dive teams conducting many dives per day and per leg of the mission. Projects that involve coral outplanting and rescue are also extremely labor intensive, with scientific teams conducting multiple dives per day and requiring adequate deck space and supporting apparatus to transport equipment, supplies, and corals. Coral outplanting is an aspect of a broader initiative to conduct coral restoration at DRTO in response to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) and overall coral declines.

Objectives To provide chartered live-aboard research vessel dive services to support the biological assessments at DRTO including but not limited to the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program mission and NPS lead coral outplanting. The Dry Tortugas located approximately 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, for NPS and associated partners. Data from these missions will be incorporated into appropriate databases (i.e. NCRMP and/or DRTO Coral Restoration Monitoring) for use by state and federal resource monitoring programs.

Scope Research mission lengths may vary to meet project needs but are typically five- or ten-day missions. To accommodate the need to adjust mission length based on mission complexity, resources, and scheduling, and weather, operators are directed bid/provide daily live-aboard research vessel services costs. The operators must be able to commit to a minimum of one ten-day mission during the period of performance. Operators may bid on one or multiple trips.

Tasks

1. Berthing and boarding for at least 12 divers for up to 10 consecutive days. Trip lengths are expected to be 5 or 10 dive days, depending on project needs.

2. Provide 3 meals per day for a minimum of twelve (12) mission personnel. Provide additional snacks (fruit, chips, etc.) and beverages (water, Gatorade or similar etc.)

between meals throughout the day and evening.

3. Each diver must be provided with a bunk with linens in a designated berthing area with a covering that limits visibility within the bunk.

4. Vegetarian meals must be provided, if requested at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the mission.

5. All diving operations must conform to NPS dive policy management and safe diving practices for National Park Service divers and mixed agency/organizational dive operations as described in NPS Diving Management Reference and Field Manuals – 4 (RM-4 and FM-4). The vessel(s) must provide an experienced, NPS certified Dive Supervisor or allow NPS personnel on the vessel operational control of all diving operations.

6. Vessel personnel are required to work with the individuals from NPS to facilitate all dive operations and ensure that they are completed in a manner that conforms with NPS dive policy standards. Any concerns in safety by the vessel crew are required to be reported to the NPS Chief Scientist, NPS Dive Supervisor, or Deck Boss immediately.

7. The vessel shall provide a minimum of fourteen (14) aluminum, 80-cu.ft. cylinders serviced for NITROX usage with standard “K” valves.

8. Provide NITROX for SCUBA tank fills up to five times per day without having to cease dive operations. Dive fills or tank swaps will be completed when a diver removes their 1st stage from the tank and notifies the designated crew member.

9. A NITROX compressor operated and monitored by vessel crew personnel for filling scuba cylinders is required. The compressor must be able to produce 36% nitrox gas for a minimum of sixty (60) aluminum, 80-cu.ft. cylinders each day.

10. NITROX used to fill the SCUBA tanks must meet NPS standards as identified in the most recent NPS FM– 4. If requested, provide the DRTO Park Dive Officer with a copy of air quality testing for all the compressors or NITROX systems to be used during the mission. Current air quality must have been tested within the previous 6 months. Current standards are as follows:

Gas Purity (from NPS FM-4)

i. Breathing air for SCUBA shall be Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Grade E or better:

Carbon dioxide 1000 ppm/v Carbon monoxide 10 ppm/v Oder None

Oil (condensed) 5 mg/m3 Percent oxygen 20-22 %/v Total hydrocarbon content (as methane) 25 ppm/v Water vapor (See note below)

Note: For breathing air used in conjunction with a self-contained breathing apparatus in extreme cold where moisture can condense and freeze causing breathing apparatus to malfunction, a dew point not to exceed -65oF (24 ppm v/v) or 10oF lower than the coldest temperature expected in the area is required.”

ii. Air supplied to NPS divers from compressors not controlled by NPS will be verified as CGA grade E or better.

11. Vessel crew will have experience working with “live-boat” operations as no anchoring will be allowed during diving activities, emergencies excluded.

Anchoring may be permitted within designated areas inside or outside the DRTO when no dive operations are underway.

12. The vessel must have a dive ladder/platform that allows safe easy access for divers to get on and off the support vessel while “live boating”.

13. The vessel must be on location at the first dive location of the day and available for dive operations from 0730 to 1800.

14. The vessel will provide an experienced Divemaster on-site for the entirety of the trip familiar with the vessel operations and emergency plans.

15. Must provide all standard dive-safety equipment required for chartered dive operations as per US Coast Guard.

16. Must provide deck space to accommodate required NPS and partner’s provided safety equipment, approximately 50ft2.

17. Vessel(s) must have 120V AC power and provide a dry area to accommodate the set-up of a vessel-wide wireless network system including work space for multiple laptops for the duration of the mission.

All divers must be able access the wireless network at any time dive operations are not occurring.

Delivery

1. Trip scheduling can be adjusted to fit operator’s schedule, however, the mission must be completed between May 15th and September 30th.

2. The contractor will make the vessel available to loading at least 4 hours prior to departure.

3. Weather dependent, at least 90% of meals should be provide within one hour of the following times: Breakfast- 0630, Lunch- 1200, Dinner-1900.

4. Vessel must be ready each day for diving operations within 30 minutes of the daily agree upon start time. This will be approximately 0730; however, it will be dependent on the sampling schedule for the day.

Government-Furnished Property, Material, Equipment, or Information (GFP, GFM, GFE, or GFI) There is no GFI required for this project.

Security There are no security requirements for this contract.

Travel Place of embarkation and disembarkation for the mission will be the greater port of Key West, FL (including the immediate surrounding areas of Key West, FL). If necessary, the vessel will be required to travel from its berthing location to Key West, FL. The mission requires 10 full operational days, from midnight (00:00) day of departure to midnight (23:59) the day of return.

Special Material Requirements Vessel captain with demonstrated experience piloting vessels in the Dry Tortugas region.

Place of Performance All tasks will be performed along the route from Key West, FL to the DRTO, or in the waters near or around DRTO.

Period of Performance Dates of the chartered trip shall be agreed upon before departure and occur between April 1 - September 30 Base Year: 365 days plus an additional 4 option years will be exercised subject to availability of funds.

Contractor Requirements Offeror must show technical ability to complete all listed tasks efficiently and effectively. Past performance may be included in the proposal to show offeror's experience with these type of trips. Proposals that exceed the above specifications will be graded higher than just meeting the specifications.