AFSC Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program RFI.docx

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE

Western Acquisition Division

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

ALASKA FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

FISHERIES MOINTORING AND ANALYSIS DIVISION

ALASKA MARINE MAMMAL OBSERVER PROGRAM

This is a Request for Information (RFI), for market research purposes, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10 Procedures. This is not a solicitation, nor does it guarantee a solicitation will be issued. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This is not a request for proposals and it does not obligate the government in any manner.

Background The FMA Division desires to obtain sampling services and electronic monitoring technology support for the collection of fisheries data including fishing effort, gear characteristics and marine mammal and seabird interactions during the commercial salmon drift gillnet fisheries operating in inland waters of Southeast Alaska in 2025 and 2026.

The FMA Division plans to shift monitoring methods from a traditionally observer centric program to one that employs electronic monitoring (EM) methods. Direct observation of the fishery has historically been obtained from separate platforms requiring the program to procure vessels and boat operators in addition to fishery observers which is extremely costly. EM has been shown to be minimally intrusive to fishing operations and has the potential to document fishing effort and marine mammal interaction at a fraction of the cost of fishery observers, allowing the program to obtain higher coverage levels and more precise bycatch estimates.

While EM has been an effective method for monitoring marine mammal interaction in other gillnet fisheries, the application of EM for the AMMOP has not yet been attempted. In 2023 and 2024, FMA partnered with Archipelago Marine Resources to conduct field trials deploying several types of EM systems on SEAK drift gillnet vessels during salmon season. Results of those trials have been promising: Vessels have adequate power to support small EM systems, there is space to install small EM units on several vessel configurations in locations that are accessible but that also do not impede fishing operations, camera views and image quality can capture seabird and marine mammal interaction with the nets.

AFSC seeks industry input into the draft performance work statement (PWS), attached. AFSC welcomes any comments, concerns, or suggestions to clarify or improve the PWS, especially from vendors interested in participating in any future contract.

Primary Scope:

· Maintain qualified pool of fishery observers, with previous relevant experience and ability to move, install, or uninstall electronic monitoring (EM) equipment.

· Provide vessels and qualified boat operators to allow observers to view gillnet fishery

· Perform EM data review

The NAICS code is likely to be 541690 for Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a size standard of $19M.

Requested Information:

Responses to this notice shall be limited to five pages.

1. Vendor information

a. The organization’s UEI number, CAGE code, and organization/company structure (corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.).

b. The size classification of the organization under the appropriate NAICS code, and if the organization is classified as a small business, HUBZone small business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned small business, Woman-owned small business and/or 8(a) certified small business.

c. General statement providing the organization’s relevant experience and/or capability to perform the principal PWS services

d. Any additional information you would need to consider this opportunity.

2. PWS feedback

a. Identify any areas that need clarification or raise additional questions.

b. Suggestions for any improvement or way to increase vendor participation

3. Please add any comments, concerns, or feedback not reflected in previous questions.

Capability statements and other responses shall be submitted to Sarah Waugh at sarah.waugh@noaa.gov no later than 5:00 PM Pacific Time on January 27, 2026. Please do not call regarding this notice. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via e-mail to the above e-mail address no later than 5:00 PM Pacific Time on January 10, 2026. An amendment may be posted if necessary, so firms are encouraged to “follow” this announcement for future actions.

This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

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