SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

NFFP7100-13-02546 (CB28503)

Southern Resident Killer Whale Annual Survey

1.0 Organization

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC) is a government agency charged with the mission of stewardship for living marine resources.

1.1 Background

The NWFSC provides scientific and technical support to NOAA Fisheries for the management, conservation, and wise use of the Northwest region’s marine and anadromous resources. The Marine Mammal Program is responsible for research on the ecology, distribution, abundance, and threats to marine mammal species in the NW, primarily endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

1.2 Objective / Scope of Work

The purpose of this indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract is to have a source to issue task orders against for the various services described with this SOW.

As task orders are issued, the Contractor shall perform one of more of the following tasks described in Sections 2 – 3 of this SOW: Conduct the annual census of the southern resident killer whale population and / or provide for the periodic conduct of health assessments of this population and maintenance of the coastal sighting network. In addition, this IDIQ contract may be used to cover any ancillary tasks that are within scope that may be required.

The Contractor shall provide all services, personnel, material, supplies, supervision, labor, expertise, and equipment necessary to accomplish such tasks.

2.0 Census

Address the annual need to determine the population size of the Southern resident killer whale population and enumerate all individuals present in the population through photo-identification.

2.1 Description

Collect and provide individual identification and sighting location information on killer whales, particularly J, K, and L pods. The primary focus is on J, K and L pods of the southern resident population. Opportunistic information on other killer whale populations, including northern residents, transient and offshore ecotype killer whales, should be obtained, but is a second priority.

2.1.1a The contractor will conduct annual surveys of the southern resident killer whale population in the late spring and summer each year of the contract that documents the presence or absence of each whale that had been in the prior year’s census and any new whales in the population due to births or immigration. During encounters from these surveys the vendor will to the extent possible, collect photo-ID data of each southern resident killer whale.

2.1.1b Data collected for each encounter, to the extent possible, is to include a clear photograph, suitable for identification of each individual and include the date, time, location of the sighting (descriptive and latitude/longitude), and which other whales were present.

2.2 Deliverables for the Annual Census

2.2.1 Weekly Reports: Provide weekly electronic reports (website encounter reports meet this requirement) describing all CWR opportunistic whale encounters (resident, transient, or offshore ecotype) collected and where applicable which pods, subpods, or individual whales were observed, and their locations/routes (i.e., GPS locations). Data collected for each encounter is to include, to best of the contractors ability, a photograph suitable for identification of each individual and will include the date, time, location of the sighting (descriptive and latitude/longitude), and which other whales were present.

Opportunistically, any change in body condition associated with health status or anthropogenic interactions are also to be noted. The contractor will provide a copy of the sighting data in electronic form to NWFSC upon completion of the field work and data review. The file will be in Excel format.

2.2.2 Annual Reports: Each year the contractor shall provide a report of the annual SRKW census. The report will include the number of whales (total and by pod) known or reliably estimated to be in the population on the 1st of July, including a unique identifier for each whale consistent with the Center for Whale Research identification system. The report on the population size on the 1st of July will be provided by the 1st of October of each year and to the extent possible should also include a narrative description of the circumstances associated with the addition or loss of each whale, including the inferred mother each new calf since 1 July of the previous year. The report shall also include new numbers by pod with a comparison to the numbers reported to the previous census year. To the extent possible, the contractor shall provide a summary of the first and last date of observation of all individual SRKW (living and dead) in each year. Calves that were born and died within the year should also be reported. A file of these data will be provided in an Excel format.

2.2.3 Photo-ID Catalogues: Provide copies of the SRKW catalogue (1 electronic and 10 hard copies) with of all individuals in each matriline. Electronic copies will include the best available photos obtained to date and the best available photo for the current year, along with the unique identifier for each whale. The best available photo to date will include the date the photo was obtained.

Table 2.2.

Deliverable Method of delivery Due date

2.2.1 Weekly report Excel spreadsheet or

website update Within one week of each encounter

2.2.2 Annual Report 1)Narrative of births

and deaths since 1 July previous year 2)Excel spreadsheet of pod membership and changes since 1 July

1 October

2.2.3 Photo-ID catalog 1)Electronic file of

individual images 2)pdf of Catalog 3)10 printed catalogs

1 October

3.0 Other Tasks

Provide for the periodic conduct of health assessments of this population and maintenance of the coastal sighting network, which provides sighting reports of killer whales during the winter months.

3.1 Coastal Winter Sighting Network

The vendor will provide services to re-establish and expand the coastal sighting network. This will require the following services:

During the months of November through May the vendor will visit outer coastal ports and harbors from central California to northern Vancouver Island to re-establish the sighting network and through new contacts expand the sighting effort.

The vendor will revisit sites as necessary to develop contacts and conduct follow-up visits when needed to obtain more detailed information on the sightings, including photo-ids of the whales.

3.1.2 Deliverables under the Option for Coastal Winter Sighting Network

The coastal survey report will include a table including the date and location(s) of all contacts made in each year.

New contacts added from the previous year will be noted.

In addition, the report will contain a table of all killer whales reports from the coast including the source of the report and to the extent possible whether this report was from the sighting network or some other source.

Table 3.1.

Deliverable Method of delivery Due date

3.1.2 Sighting network

report

1) Excel spreadsheet of contacts and locations

2) Excel spreadsheet of coastal killer whale sightings and source

1 July

3.2 Killer Whale Health Assessment

3.2.1a1 Aerial photogrammetric measurements of SRKW size and growth; data collection:

The vendor will provide services to collect aerial photogrammetric images using methods as described by Fearnback et al. (2011) or similar suitable for obtaining estimates of the length, width, condition factor, or other measures of the size of imaged whales, particularly those previously measured.

3.2.1a2 Aerial photogrammetric measurements of SRKW size and growth; data analysis:

Analyze collected images using methods as described by Fearnback et al. (2011) or similar to obtain estimates of the length, width, condition factor, or other measures of the size of imaged whales, particularly those previously measured. The vendor will analyze existing images and any additional images that would be collected.

3.2.1b1 Laser photogrammetric measurements of SRKW growth, data collection:

The vendor will provide services to collect boat-based laser photogrammetric images using methods as described by Durban and Parsons (2006) or similar which are suitable for measuring the relative growth a substantial number of southern resident killer whale dorsal fins, particularly those previously measured.

3.2.1b2 Laser photogrammetric measurements of SRKW growth, data analysis:

The vendor will provide services to analyze boat-based laser photogrammetric images using methods as described by Durban and Parsons (2006) or similar which are suitable for measuring the relative growth a substantial number of southern resident killer whale dorsal fins, particularly those previously measured.

3.2.2 Deliverables for the Killer Whale Health Assessment

The vendor shall provide an electronic copy of the final report in a format suitable for the NWFSC to post on its web site including meeting all relevant Section 508 guidelines for electronic government documents. For example, this includes providing brief written descriptions for all figures, and formatting that allows screen reading software to correctly interpret heading, subheadings, etc. See www.section508.gov <http://www.section508.gov/> for complete requirements.

3.2.2.a1 Aerial photogrammetric measurements of SRKW size and growth; data collection:

Provide an annual report of new data collected describing the sample of individuals whales imaged, and to the extent practical, the approximate number of whales that are suitable for comparative measurements following the methods in Fearnback et al. (2011) with images collected in previous seasons or years.

3.2.2.a2 Aerial photogrammetric measurements of SRKW size and growth; data analysis:

Provide a report of the analysis of collected images (including those collected in prior years) to obtain estimates of the length, width, condition factor or other measures of the size of imaged whales using the methods and format of Fearnback et al.

(2011) or similar. Size estimates should include statistical descriptions of accuracy and precision.

3.2.2.b Laser photogrammetric measurements of SRKW growth:

Provide a report of the analysis of collected images using the methods and format of Durban and Parsons (2006) or similar and.

Analyze collected images (including those collected in prior years) to obtain estimates of dorsal fin height and width, or other measures of the size of dorsal fins of imaged whales and growth rates. Size estimates should include statistical descriptions of accuracy and precision.

Table 3.2

Deliverable Method of delivery Due date 3.2.2.a1 Data collection of Aerial photogrammetric measurements of SRKW

1) Narrative report

1 November

3.2.2.a2 Data analysis of Aerial photogrammetric

3.2.2.b Data analysis of Laser photogrammetric

4.0 Contract Type

This is an Indefinite Delivery – Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) firm fixed price (FFP) type contract. Task orders awarded against the contract will be firm fixed price based upon fixed unit prices from the Schedule.

4.1. Minimum and Maximum IDIQ Order Quantities

The minimum guarantee for this IDIQ contract is $2,500 with a ceiling of $650,000 across all base and option years; the total of all awarded task orders will be a minimum of $2,500 with a maximum of $650,000.

The Government makes no other guarantee as to the total amount of services to be required under this contract and reserves the right to obtain similar services from other sources.

5.0 Place and Period of Performance

Services are to be provided at a location agreed upon by both parties. The contractor is to have all required permits to carry out this research and adhere to the guidelines of those permits while conducting this work. Work will be conducted in the coastal inland waters of U.S. and British Columbia.

September 15, 2013 – September 14, 2018 (one year base with four annual options)

6.0 Extra Services

The contractor is advised not to perform any services under this contract, requested by any person orally or in writing, which is considered to be a change of work or services required by this contract necessitating an adjustment in contract price until he has made a proposal to the contracting officer covering such extra services and has received a notice to proceed.

7.0 Quality Control

The Contractor is responsible for producing complete, competent, and thoroughly checked documents within the schedules provided in this statement of work or the task orders. Following the contract award, the contractor shall submit a quality control plan for approval by the Contracting officer. The NWFSC reserves the right to conduct site visits and inspections to assure quality of work and data. The NWFSC reserves the right to accompany the vendor during collection of field data to assess compliance with QA/QC.

8.0 Other

Where there is a conflict between the contract and the task order, the contract shall take precedence.

9.0 Data Rights

The vendor shall have the right to analyze, interpret, and publish the data collected under this statement of work.

Publications in the primary scientific literature that use data collected under this project shall be done in collaboration with the NWFSC point of contact and/or his designee(s). The NWFSC shall have the right to analyze, interpret, summarize, and publish these data in conjunction with other data. The NWFSC may at is discretion make the data available to other researchers or to the general public.