AFSC_Bering_Sea_Synopsis_Attachment_2.docx

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, has a requirement for a Vessel Charter to support various research projects including Trawl and Oceanographic Surveys in the northern Bering Sea.

The estimated period of performance includes a base year plus four (4) option periods. The estimated period of performance for the base year is from August 01, 2024 through July 31, 2025. Option periods will be included to extend this charter through to Dec 31, 2028. Annual surveys are expected to occur through August and September of each year, with a total of up to 25 Days at Sea (DAS), with an option to add an additional 15 DAS (September through October) each year to expand the survey operations in to the Bering Strait and southern Chukchi Sea.

The minimum specifications for the vessel are:

1) Minimum overall length (LOA) of 36.5 m (120 ft.) and the vessel shall have been actively used for commercial trawling or research where trawl gear was used in the past 12 months. Additional preference may be given to vessels with a length greater than 36.5m (120 ft.).

2) Preference may be given to a vessel with twin main engine(s) and combined must have a minimum total of 1500HP. The 1500HP regardless of engine number is a minimum requirement; failure to meet the minimum will result in removal from further consideration.

3) Completely rigged for trawling including:

a. A stern ramp and gallows or gantry.

b. Vessel must be able to tow a Cantrawl model 400/601 hexagonal mesh trawl fished with NETS2000 series doors and a set of three 60-m long bridles for each door, and associated gear hardware and headrope floats at a continuous speed of 4 - 5 knots under weather conditions considered safe and typical for survey sampling.

c. Vessel must be able to tow a 3-m plumb staff beam trawl with 7-mm mesh and a 4-mm mesh codend liner at approximately 1.0 m.sec-1 and 5 to 10 minutes in duration.

d. Two net reels with capacity to tow both trawls described above.

e. Trawl winches with a minimum of 595 m (325 fm) of 2.53 cm (1 in) diameter wire or steel core trawl cable in good condition on each drum and the ability to retrieve the research trawl at the minimum rate of 61 m (200 ft.) per minute.

f. An auto-trawl system with the capability of adjustable winch brakes and a third wire net mensuration system to monitor the trawl height and width during each trawl deployment. This auto-trawl system must be annually certified by factory inspectors to be operating as designed and maintained in usable condition throughout the duration of each survey.

g. Trawl cable must lead directly from the winches to the gallows trawl blocks.

h. A deck crane(s) that is able to lift and empty the surface trawl cod end onto a sorting table and deploy oceanographic instruments along the side of the vessel.

4) Vessel must be able to maintain a minimum cruising speed of 16.67 km/hr. (9 nm/hr.) in a typical range of sea states. Preferred: the vessel be able to maintain a minimum cruising speed of 18.5 km/hour (10 nm/hr).

5) Vessel must have an operating endurance of 30 days of continuous fishing operations (fuel, water, provisions).

6) Preference may be given to a vessel able to provide an area on deck that is clear of obstructions of at least 37 m2 (400 sq. ft.) for sampling equipment including a 1.5 x 3.0-m (5 x 10 ft.) sampling table and one 0.6 m x 1.2 m (2 x 4 ft.) platform scale table for working on catches and obtaining biological data. Preference may be given for a work area which will allow the sampling table to be positioned so that all four sides of the table can be used to conduct work and with easy access to the rail or scuppers to discard catch. Sea water will also be needed on deck to wash down plankton nets. A protected area on deck, such as a covered shelter deck or covered area aft of the house, where a table of at least 1.2 x 2.4 m (4 x 8 ft.) can be set up for collecting biological data. (In particular, specimen scales need to be protected from wind and spray which can affect the accuracy of weight measurements). On deck work area(s) shall be clear of running gear, equipment, vertical obstructions (e.g., hatch combings) and stowage.

7) Open space, 4.5 ft. wide x 8.83 ft. long, on the stern deck where an oceanographic winch (government supplied) will be mounted. The winch is required for oceanographic sampling equipment throughout the research cruise and the ship’s crane will be required to deploy and retrieve oceanographic equipment over the side of the ship. Vessel’s crew will be required to secure the winch on deck, supply electrical power (220v 3-phase) to the winch. Vessel must be configured to ensure the ship’s helm permits clear view of all oceanographic side operations for safety and to maintain vessel position relative to oceanographic sampling parameters.

8) Electric power (110/115 V.A.C.) outlet near on-deck work area. This may be a temporary installation, if necessary, but must be safe to use in the sheltered on-deck work area (see item 6).

9) Must have a seawater deck hose for cleaning sorting table and sampling gear. On/off switch shall be readily available from the working deck.

10) Crane capable of lifting 5 mt (5.5 t) for handling catches and fishing and sampling gear and deployment of oceanographic instruments. Crane system must be capable of vertically raising and lowering a filled codend anywhere along centerline of working deck and lifting oceanographic instruments over the side of the ship.

11) A minimum of 2.8 m3 (100 cu ft.) of freezer storage exclusive of space for ship's stores for stowing scientific samples and supplies. Freezer space must be reasonably and safely accessible from the deck and must be available at all times to the scientific party.

12) Dry working area of at least 5.4m3 (190 cu ft) in the main house for oceanographic sample processing and equipment that includes detailed sorting and counting of small invertebrate samples under a microscope and filtering water and phytoplankton onto an assortment of different filters.

13) Dry storage area of at least 5.4m3 (190 cu ft) in the main house for holding scientific supplies and additional dry space for housing a -80 freezer and a scientific fridge supplied by government.

14) Preference may be given to a vessel with an office desk area with 110/115 volt power outlets for data management (galley or wheel house may substitute for this area).

15) Clean mattresses with clean fitted covers shall be supplied to the scientific field party.

16) A minimum of one head and one shower shall be available to the scientific field party. Soap, toilet paper, paper towels, shall be provided by the vessel.

17) Workspaces, berthing, and galley spaces shall be adequately ventilated and free from tobacco smoke, excessive engine noise, and hydrocarbon fumes.

18) Washer and dryer for personal laundry.

19) Must have a stove, oven, sink, galley table, and all materials and equipment necessary for daily meal preparation, cooking, and clean up.

20) Vessel must be ballasted to maintain sea-kindliness during the charter.

21) Must provide a safe and stable portable gangway for use in boarding and debarking vessel while in port.

22) Preference may be given to a vessel with a skiff or rigid hulled inflatable boat easily deployed in case of emergencies.

23) In an effort to reduce marine debris pollution, the Captain shall comply with waste management regulations as described in Section V of MARPOL. The vessel shall be required to have a storage facility, with or without a trash compactor to retain all refuse (except food and paper materials) or a means to incinerate this refuse so that it is not disposed of at sea. Reference clause entitled, Control of Plastic Discharges.

24) Two (2) each of single side-band and VHF radio transmitter(s) and receiver(s) fully functional and in good operating condition. Backup communications system is highly desirable.

25) Must have two (2) fully functional radar systems, with a minimum range of 60 miles, in good operating condition.

26) A Simrad ES-60 or equivalent echo sounder system with a 38 kHz transducer. The echo sounder system(s) shall be connected to a GPS unit. Preferred: ES-60 software, splitbeam transducer, 120 kHz transducer in addition to the required 38 kHz transducer.

27) Must have an emergency source of electrical power, independent of the main source of power.

28) An electronic plotting and navigational charting system with the ability to upload station location (point data).

29) Vessel must have a stability letter or evidence that vessel stability has been evaluated by a qualified, certified individual, such as a licensed naval architect/marine engineer.

30) Vessels must be equipped with STRATOS/INMARSAT Standard C satellite communication or an equivalent. Vessel must have a functioning electronic mail system (email) available for NOAA use for the duration of the charter. Vessels also equipped with satellite internet are highly preferred.

31) Must have ability to receive daily weather forecasts for area of operation. Ability to view weather maps is desirable.

32) Must provide proof of USCG requirements as applicable:

a. USCG Letter of Designation (LOD)

b. USCG Certificate of Inspection (COI)

c. Copies of all Merchant Mariner Credentials for the Master as well as credentials for an additional operator for voyages longer than 12 hours (personal data such as address can be blanked out)

d. USCG Uninspected Passenger Vessel Examinations (UPV)

e. If it is a Fishing Vessel we need confirmation that the Certificate of Documentation and Fishing Vessel Safety Decal are not expired. This information may be obtained by plugging into a search engine the words “USCG PSIX Vessel Search”. Once inside the USCG website, enter the vessel’s data, pull up the record, and print.

33) The vessel must have a minimum of two staterooms for berthing of male and female scientific personnel.

34) Counter work space of at least 8 sq. ft. in the wheelhouse with adjacent 110/115 volt power outlets for the installation of Government supplied personal computers and oceanographic deck units for the duration of the survey. Two computer stations and instrument units will be required for oceanographic operations, two computer stations will be required for electronic trawl event loggers (surface and bottom trawl operations, and an electronic logging station for seabirds and marine mammals. Each computer station will be used intermittently but required when on station or during transit (seabird observations).

35) Through-bulkhead access hole to the outside from the wheelhouse for the passage of Government supplied GPS cables, oceanographic winch communication cables, and electronic catch and specimen communication cables.

36) Ability to communicate directly between the deck and wheelhouse (e.g. intercom or radios).

This proposed contract action is full and open competition. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 483114. The product service code (PSC) is 1910 - Transport Vessels, Passenger and Troop. No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in SAM.

The intent of this synopsis is for informational purposes only. This notice of intent is not a formal solicitation nor a request for competitive proposals. This notice does not guarantee a solicitation will be issued, does not guarantee a contract award will be made, and does not obligate the Government in any manner. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be accepted. No award will be made on the basis of quotations or offers received in response to this notice.

Solicitation documents are anticipated to be made publicly available on SAM.GOV on/about May 27, 2024, and will include the time and date offers are due. All inquiries in response to this synopsis shall be sent via e-mail to the Contract Specialist Nathan.Rowsell@noaa.gov and the Contracting Officer Sarah.Waugh@noaa.gov.