ACQ-AONCA0110-25-0045 DRAFT PWS.pdf

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PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) FISHERIES

SOUTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER (SEFSC)

SEFSC OBSERVER PROGRAM BRANCH

FISHERY OBSERVER SUPPORT SERVICES

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The mission of the NOAA, is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The mission of the SEFSC, Fisheries Observation Program is to provide the highest quality fishery-dependent data used to manage South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and highly migratory species (HMS) fish stocks and protected resources.

The SEFSC Fishery Observer Program (SEFOP) accomplishes this mission by training fisheries observers in fish ID, program sampling techniques, and thoroughly reviewing data for errors and representativeness issues. This process allows for high quality fishery-dependent data to be used for management.

This acquisition is needed to conduct program operations critical to the needs of a monitoring program.

SEFOP operations include the training and debriefing of fishery observers; data quality control and sampling technique support to deployed observers; the maintenance, issuance, and retrieval of safety and sampling gear; and analyses and data products to meet the needs of fisheries managers and stock assessment scientists.

1.2 BACKGROUND OVERVIEW

The SEFOP serves many purposes to support the Gulf of America, South Atlantic and HMS management and research. Observers, logbooks, trip tickets and electronic monitoring (EM) programs collect fishery-dependent data year-round for fisheries that target reef and pelagic species, as well as various penaeid shrimp species found throughout the Gulf of America and Atlantic. This data is then utilized by various analysts and other end-users to inform fishery management councils, other fishery managers and regulatory agencies. Observer data in the SEFSC is typically utilized in the estimation of discards via the Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) processes, as well as assessments and regulatory measures associated with protected resources and endangered species. There are many other uses for the data collected by the observer program, including the testing of various electronic monitoring technologies, the testing of novel bycatch reduction devices (BRD) and bycatch avoidance measures.

Additionally, the observer program is utilized during offshore oil and gas platform removals (Platform Removal Observer Program; PROP) to ensure that protected resources and endangered species are protected from underwater explosions to remove these platforms.

SEFOP is authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The SEFSC currently conducts observer programs in the Atlantic, Gulf of America and Caribbean with over 35 observers deployed in the programs.

Specific observer programs operated by SEFOP include the following:

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● Southeast Shrimp Trawl Observer Program – Year-round program to collect observer data in the South Atlantic and Gulf of America on shrimp otter trawls (including rock shrimp), skimmer trawls, and other fixed gear.

● Atlantic Pelagic Observer Program– Year-round program to collect observer data in the Northwestern Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean pelagic fisheries, including pulsed and experimental effort. Gear types include, but are not limited to: longline, green stick, purse seine, and buoy gear.

● Southeast Shark and Coastal Gillnet Observer Program – Year-round program to collect observer data on Southeast shark and coastal teleost gillnet fisheries.

● Southeast Shark Bottom Longline Observer Program – Year-round program to collect observer data on US South Atlantic and Gulf of America directed large coastal shark bottom longline fisheries.

● Gulf of America Reef Fish Observer Program – Year-round program to collect observer data on all fishing gears targeting reef fish.

● US south Atlantic Reef Fish Observer Program – Year-round program to collect observer data on all fishing gears targeting reef fish in the US south Atlantic.

● Platform Removal Observer Program (PROP) – Year-round program to protect sea turtles and marine mammals from underwater explosives used to remove oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of America.

For monitored fisheries, the SEFSC and other end-users utilize observer data to establish fishing effort and location (date, time, depth, latitude/longitude, gear type, etc.); estimate catch and bycatch information by species to establish total mortality estimates; collect biological information for use in stock and ecosystem assessments; and interaction information on protected and/or endangered species. Continued observer coverage is necessary to maintain these mission-critical data streams for a wide suite of data users.

1.3 OBJECTIVE

To maintain continuous observer monitoring in the various fisheries operating in the Southeast region including the reef, shrimp, and pelagic fisheries occurring in the Atlantic, Gulf of America and Caribbean;

support services through the provision of training, briefing, debriefing, data quality control checks, and sampling and safety gear provision by experts in such data collections.

1.4 SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide and retain the necessary qualified personnel to perform training, briefing, debriefing, data quality control checks, and sampling and safety gear provision by experts in such data collections. Safety of fishery observers at sea is of utmost importance, and the maintenance and issuance of proper safety gear is critical. Quality data collection is of second highest importance. Proper observer training, briefing, debriefing, and in season advice will ensure proper data collection and recording which will increase the critical information gathered for stock assessments to manage the species.

1.5 POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

In addition to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clauses referred to and listed, the Contractor shall comply with the Federal Regulations, Acts, Executive Orders, Special Publications, Guidelines, NOAA

Directives and Policies and standards listed below. This listing is not all inclusive and is not intended to

3 | Page relieve the Contractor of its responsibilities for identification of applicable statutes, regulations and procedures and compliance therewith, when performing work under this PWS.

● Magnuson-Stevens Fishery, Management, and Conservation Act (MSA)

● Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)

● Endangered Species Act (ESA)

● Data Quality Control Act (P.L. 106-514)

● Information Technology Security Policy

● Fisheries Management Plans (FMP)

● Biological Opinions (BO)

● Take Reduction Teams (TRT)

● NOAA Safety Standards

● Observer Health and Safety regulations

● Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

● Service Contract Act (SCA)

● Department of Labor Wage Determinations

● Applicable Federal and State labor laws

● Observer Health and Safety regulations

● Federal, state, and local safety regulations

● Merchant Marine Act (Jones Act) and General Maritime Law

● U.S. Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act

● National Defense Authorization Act

● All safety regulations maintained by oil companies, aircraft companies, and salvage companies with jurisdiction over ports, vessels, aircraft and offshore platforms

● Federal Travel Regulations (FTR)

2.0 TASKS

The Contractor’s performance shall be evaluated against the performance measures cited in the contract.

2.1 MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS TASK

2.1.1 Project Management

The Contractor shall perform all Project Management functions including contract, technical, personnel, administrative, logistic, quality, business, and other management functions that are necessary to execute the total effort required by this PWS. The Contractor shall provide all personnel and other resources, except as otherwise specified in this PWS, necessary to accomplish these functions.

2.1.2 Project Manager

The Contractor shall assign a Project Manager to be the focal point for communications between the

Government and the Contractor. The assigned Project Manager shall be designated as Key Personnel for this contract.

The Project Manager shall be responsible for managing personnel resources such that emergencies and other short-term ad hoc requirements are responded to without disruption and/or degradation of other services. The Project Manager shall collaborate with the Government as necessary to resolve issues at the lowest possible level.

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The Project Manager shall have the authority to represent the Contractor on all issues related to the contract.

2.1.3 Management Reporting and Coordination

The Contractor shall prepare and submit to the Contracting Officer (CO) and the Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR) a quarterly Status Report, as listed in the contract that provides monthly information on project status to include monthly and year to date information, contract financial expenditures, and any problems or issues encountered as requested by the COR.

2.1.4 Performance Management

The Contractor shall measure the appropriate metrics and manage the contract to meet the performance measures. Performance measurements to be provided at solicitation.

2.2 PROGRAM STAFF SUPPORT TASKS

2.2.1 Debriefers/Trainers

Debriefer/Trainers (9) work directly with observers to perform quality analysis and quality control for observer data and sampling and conduct observer trainings, briefings, and debriefings. They shall debrief a portion of the observers involved within SEFOP. Each debriefer is assigned a complement of observers that they will be responsible for debriefing. Debriefing allows SEFOP to work with observers to correct sampling errors or theory, evaluate observer data quality, and finalize data in the database. Debriefings or interviews occur every trip for inexperienced observers but may occur less often for observers that have completed 3 or more deployments and have had few errors or sampling theory problems. This allows

SEFOP to focus its efforts on observers who are less experienced and could benefit the most from debriefings. Debriefers are an integral part of training and briefing curriculum development as well as conducting trainings and briefings for observers. All of the debriefers have a role in training observers.

Activities that support training include manual updates, home assignment creation and editing of homework assignments, developing practicals, etc. Debriefers also create manuals, field manuals, species

ID guides, etc. to support observers once they are deployed. Debriefers may also be assigned other duties to support data collection and data quality activities such as review of Electronic Monitoring information and perform Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning related support activities as directed by SEFOP.

Debriefers are expected to be former observers receiving high marks in their performance evaluations.

2.2.2 Gear Technician

The SEFOP Gear Technician (1) position shall be responsible for gear research, maintenance, development, and inventory. The Gear Technician shall assist with observer training in the use of the field equipment including the laptop or tablet computers used by the observers (Reference: Table 1. Office Locations/Staff

Duty Stations). In addition, the Gear Technician shall update and maintain all electronics issued to observers.

The Gear Technician shall be responsible for maintaining and updating Emergency Position Indicating

Radio Beacons (EPIRB) registrations and immersion suit testing and other tasks as needed to improve and maintain program procedures.

The Gear Technician shall also issue and track observer gear until returned to the program by the observers. The motion compensated scales used by the observers shall be stored, maintained, and repaired by this position. All gear storage shall be managed by this position.

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The Gear Technician shall also maintain and support all computers the program issues to the observers by keeping software up to date, repairing and maintaining systems, troubleshooting issues, etc. A list of estimated sampling and safety gear is included in Attachment 1. Observer Sampling and Safety Gear.

2.2.3 Data Entry Clerk

The Data Entry Clerk (1) shall perform computer data entry, analysis, and maintenance of databases. The

Contractor shall prepare data for scientific reports and presentations. The Contractor shall assist with annotating video and still imagery scans into a government owned and maintained training dataset/library. The Contractor shall enter observer data into government owned databases, proof data sheets and reports, proof/verify data entry and correct errors, and file data sheets. The contractor will be instructed by the government to process and distribute scientific collecting permits from state and federal agencies. The contractor shall assist with processing complex scientific reports that include tables, graphs, charts, or multiple columns using different word processing and spreadsheet packages. The Contractor shall work independently or with others to complete tasks and resolve problems.

Table 1: Office Locations/Staff Duty Stations

Office and Location Facility Type Program Support Staff

Galveston, Texas Federal Debriefer/Trainers

Galveston, Texas Federal Gear Staff

Panama City, Florida Federal Debriefer/Trainers

3.0 SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

Item Description Quantity Due Date Deliver to: Reference

Quarterly Status Report

1 Quarterly CO/COR

PWS Paragraph

2.1.3 Management

Reporting and Coordination

Debriefed data, reports required in the observer Sampling Manual, biological samples, and required forms

As required At the conclusion of each debriefing

COR/SEFSC

Databases

PWS Paragraph

2.2.1 Debriefer

Sampling and safety gear issuance recorded in SEFOP databases

As required

At the conclusion of each briefing/training

COR/SEFSC

Databases

PWS Paragraph

2.2.2 Gear

Maintenance and Issuance

Sampling and safety gear retrieval recorded in SEFOP databases

As required At the conclusion of each debriefing

COR/SEFSC

Databases

PWS Paragraph

2.2.2 Gear

Maintenance and Issuance