A14_REQUEST_FOR_INFORMATION_1.pdf

RFI#140M0124Q0038

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT- #140M0124Q0038

The Government is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) as part of market research to determine the availability and technical capability of industry to assist the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

(BOEM) with literature and data compilation, review, and synthesis from a variety of vetted sources with relevant, up-to-date, and state-of-the-science information on Climate Change on the Outer

Continental Shelf (OCS).

This is a Request for Information / Sources Sought Synopsis for which it does not constitute an

Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Quote (RFQ), or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and it should not be construed as a commitment of any kind by the Government to issue a formal solicitation or ultimately award a contract. The U.S. Government is in no way liable to pay for or reimburse any companies or entities that respond to this announcement/RFI. Any costs incurred by interested vendors in response to this announcement or incurred for participation in the

Market Survey will NOT be reimbursed. All information marked as proprietary information will be safeguarded to prevent disclosures to non-Government personnel and entities. There is no bid package or solicitation document associated with this announcement. Response to this RFI/

Sources Sought Synopsis is strictly voluntary. The results of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement.

BOEM is seeking information on vendors that have the capability of performing the work described below. Responses must be written in 12-point, Times New Roman font with margins of one inch or greater on all sides, consist of 5 pages or less, and include the following business information:

1. Company name

2. UEI number

3. Mailing address

4. E-mail address

5. Telephone number

6. Web site address (if available)

7. Business Size and Eligibility under U.S. Government socio-economic programs (i.e., type of business - large, small, small-disadvantaged, Woman-owned, veteran-owned, or 8(a)) under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code associated with the project.

All responses under this RFI Notice must be submitted via email1Jennifer.Moreci@bsee.gov no later than 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time (EDT), on June 3 2024. Please include the RFI #140M0124Q0038 in the subject of the email. At this point, telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3 - Request for Information or

Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997):

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal

Acquisition Regulation.

(b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This announcement is issued for the purpose of gathering market research information

Study Objective:

Climate change has far-reaching impacts that can have a variety of consequences for marine environments. Information on climate change is needed to inform BOEM’s assessments and evaluations of impacts in areas of BOEM-managed activities and for sensitive species and habitats of interest. The study will focus on the OCS and directly address areas and resources of concern for

BOEM. This study’s deliverables will contribute to more effective assessments and consultations, also helping to address current information gaps and inform recommended management practices and future research needs. As climate change effects are expected to magnify over time, the information will be of particular importance for accurately and more precisely estimating the cumulative effects of BOEM-managed activities on the OCS. Species-, population-, and habitat-level impacts of climate changes need to be better understood for BOEM analyses, including to better assess proposed actions, evaluate appropriate alternatives and mitigation measures, accurately assign impact levels, and inform future operational management decisions.

The information collected and synthesized will allow for more informed resource-management decisions for BOEM-regulated offshore wind, oil and gas, marine minerals, and carbon sequestration activities throughout the OCS. It will inform numerous national and/or programmatic efforts, a variety of National Environmental Policy Act sections, Tribal consultations, and Coastal Zone Management

Act consistency determinations. The study will also contribute to BOEM’s ability to meet its responsibilities under the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act (FOARAM 2009) and Executive Order 14008.

This study will enable a better understanding of the data and information that are available related to climate change effects in the OCS, as well as potential impacts to ecosystems. Emphasis will be placed on waters deeper than the photic zone and/or depths of ≥200 m, with exceptions made, where applicable, to accommodate region- and territory-specific sensitive habitat variations. Such exceptions will be made in consultation with BOEM subject matter experts based on agency needs.

The objectives of this study are to:

• Conduct a literature and data compilation, review, and synthesis from a variety of vetted sources with relevant, up-to-date, and state-of-the-science information.

• Identify habitats and/or species of concern in areas of the OCS where BOEM-managed activities occur that may potentially be affected by climate change. Identify types and extent of climate change potential impacts on those habitats or species and associated prey based on the current state of knowledge.

• Compile and synthesize information on climate change effects in areas of BOEM-managed activities and for sensitive habitats/species to create resources for BOEM

SMEs.

• Determine BOEM management-focused data and information gaps related to climate change that need addressing, also aiming towards building future interagency and non-federal partnerships to collectively coordinate and conduct field-based focused data collection studies.

• Provide recommendations on how climate change information can be incorporated into

BOEM environmental analyses and assessments.

• Provide recommendations for future study needs and recommended management practices related to climate change, within the specific context of BOEM-managed areas.

• Create resources for BOEM subject matter experts to use, including an annotated bibliography detailing results from the literature search, an inventory listing potentially relevant climate-changed related data (e.g., portals, data sets, etc.), and a summary report detailing the information synthesis for all objectives of the study.

The following are questions of BOEM management interest that BOEM expects will be directly informed as a result of this contract’s deliverables:

• What information and data are currently available about climate change effects in areas of the OCS where BOEM-managed activities occur?

• What are the potentially affected habitats, organisms, and associated resources of concern and potential short- and long-term effects on them?

• Are specific species/habitats likely to be disproportionally affected by specific climate change-driven factors (e.g., change in aragonite levels) and how?

• How can BOEM and others address identified information/data gaps regarding climate change in deeper waters of the OCS (e.g., specific recommended future field work and

BMPs)?