DRAFT Longline Survey Vessel Charter SOW_9-2024 Final for RFI.docx

SECTION D - CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND ATTACHMENTS

STATEMENT OF WORK/SPECIFICATIONS

This commercial item, cost-recovery acquisition for the supply of a chartered vessel to conduct longline surveys of the upper continental slope and selected gullies of the Eastern Bering Sea, the Aleutian Islands Region, and the Gulf of Alaska, and any resulting contract(s) are subject to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items in conjunction with FAR Part [TBD]

The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services, and facilities (except as otherwise specified) to perform the following Statement of Work/Specifications (SOW):

CHARTERED VESSEL TO CONDUCT LONGLINE SURVEY IN THE EASTERN BERING SEA, THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS REGION, AND THE GULF OF ALASKA

BACKGROUND

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) longline surveys have been conducted annually in Alaska since 1978. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (Fisheries) Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) has conducted a longline survey annually since 1987 to measure abundance and collect size and age data for adult sablefish and other groundfish. The survey samples the upper continental slope and selected gullies of the Eastern Bering Sea, the Aleutian Islands Region, and the Gulf of Alaska. In recent years, the Aleutian Islands Region has been sampled in even-numbered years, the Eastern Bering Sea has been sampled in odd-numbered years, and the Gulf of Alaska has been sampled in all years (Tables 1 and 2). The 2025 and 2027 surveys will cover the Gulf of Alaska and the Eastern Bering Sea, and the 2026 and 2028 surveys will cover the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands Region. In addition to sablefish, rougheye (Sebastes aleutianus) and shortraker (Sebastes borealis) rockfish, shortspine thornyhead rockfish (Sebastolobus alascanus) and Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) are other valuable fish taken in significant numbers during the survey. A portion of the sablefish, Greenland turbot, and shortspine thornyheads will be tagged and released as part of ongoing studies of their migration and growth.

OBJECTIVES

1. Determine the relative abundance and size composition of the most commercially important species: sablefish, shortspine thornyhead, Greenland turbot, Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), and rougheye and shortraker rockfish.

2. Determine the relative abundance and size composition of other groundfish species caught during the survey: arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), grenadiers (Macrouridae), skates (Rajadie), and spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi).

3. Tag and release a portion of the sablefish, shortspine thornyhead, and Greenland turbot taken throughout the cruise to determine migration patterns.

4. Implant a small sample sablefish, Greenland turbot, spiny dogfish, and lingcod (Ophiodon elongates) with electronic tags that record water temperature, depth, and time.

5. Collect sablefish otoliths to study the age composition of the population.

SCOPE OF WORK

For each contract period, the survey shall begin on or about May 30 and end on or about August 8 in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Fishing will occur daily unless it is a transit day, a scheduled port day or is canceled due to weather conditions. Each day the Contractor shall set Government-provided longline gear in the amounts described in Section F.11 below. The vessel crew must conscientiously maintain the longline gear to Government standards daily by repairing or replacing damaged skates before baiting. Fish not used for scientific sampling or tagging are to be retained by the vessel and sold as compensation for the survey. The vessel crew shall assist NOAA-provided scientists and Contract Biologists to ensure survey operations go smoothly as detailed in this SOW.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. Performance of Work

a. The Government’s representative [Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Project Leader], under whose technical guidance the work will be performed, shall be consulted as to the manner of starting and performing the work to ensure the use of approved techniques and materials.

b. The work shall be carried out in a manner that maximizes coordination between the Contractor and the Government COR or Project Leader.

2. Workmanship

a. The work involved in this contract must be performed accurately, on a timely basis, and with established guidelines followed closely.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY

The COR or Project Leader will be available during normal working hours to provide guidance to the Contractor in the performance of the contract tasks. Written manuals of standard operating procedures are available for many, but not all tasks, and are available for inspection by the Contractor. The COR or Project Leader will regularly inspect the Contractor's work during performance and after completion to ensure that acceptable procedures and standards of workmanship are being met.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall designate a Project Manager responsible for coordinating and executing the contract. The Project Manager shall also serve as a liaison between the Contractor and the Government’s representative for all work required under this contract.

DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide a vessel as a platform to conduct longline fishing operations. The deliverable is a completed scientific cruise.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF WORK

The AFSC is responsible for assessing groundfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Alaska. In 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028, the Government requires research surveys of groundfish using a chartered freezer longline fishing vessel to assess sablefish and other groundfish resources in the Gulf of Alaska annually and alternating years between the Eastern Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands Region.

The charter for assessing groundfish in 2025 and 2027 will consist of 64 sampling days in the Gulf of Alaska and the Eastern Bering Sea and approximately 6 to 8 days in port or transit. The charter will begin about May 30 in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and end about August 8 in Dutch Harbor.

The charter for assessing groundfish in 2026 and 2028 will consist of 62 sampling days in the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands Region and approximately 6 to 8 days in port or transit. The charter will begin about June 1 in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and end about August 8 in Dutch Harbor.

SABLEFISH LONGLINE SURVEY SPECIFIC TASKS

I. LONGLINE SURVEY FOR GROUNDFISH

A. PURPOSE OF WORK

Annual longline surveys for adult sablefish and other groundfish on the continental shelf and upper slope of Alaska are planned for 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028. Survey procedures will be similar to those used in recent years, which included the use of contract biologist (see Section E.2) to perform survey data recording, age composition sampling, juvenile sablefish sampling, and tagging and release of sablefish, Greenland turbot, lingcod, spiny dogfish, and shortspine thornyhead. The survey effort shall cover the upper continental slope of the Gulf of Alaska and the Eastern Bering Sea in 2025 and 2027 and the Gulf of Alaska and a portion of the Aleutian Islands Region in 2026 and 2028.

Because the catch from these surveys is compared from year to year to help determine sablefish and other groundfish abundance trends, the sampling locations and gear must be standardized. The sampling gear is a standard length, contains a standard number of hooks placed at a standard interval, and is baited with squid cut to a standard size. The vessel crew must conscientiously maintain the longline gear to these standards. For example, the vessel crew must repair and/or replace damaged skates to the survey standard each day before baiting.

The longline survey will be coordinated by the AFSC's Auke Bay Laboratory (ABL) in Juneau, Alaska. Additional support will come from the Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division in Seattle, Washington. ABL will be responsible for data acquisition, data analysis, and ensuring observers are meeting the survey’s scientific objectives. The RACE division will assist with fishing gear construction and storage as well as general logistics.

B. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS

i. Minimum registered length of 35.0 m (115 ft.), although the preferred vessel registered length is 41.1 m (135 ft.) or greater.

ii. Minimum main engine continuous horsepower 1,000.

iii. Capable of a cruising speed of 18.5 km/hr. (10 knots) to enable the completion of one sampling station daily, transit to the next station, and be ready to fish the following day. Distances between stations are as much as 185 km (100 nm).

iv. Completely rigged and ready to fish longline gear. Gear to be provided by the vessel shall include:

1. 8,730 m (4,500 fm) of 1-cm (3/8-in) Goldline (or equivalent). About half of this amount will be used daily for buoy lines and running lines [2,652 m (1,450 fm) for buoy lines; 1,463 m (800 fm) for running lines]. The remainder will be replacement material.

2. 731.5 m (400 fm) of buoyant polypropylene line for use as anchor-buoy line connectors; 91.4 m (50 fm) per anchor-buoy line combination; 365.8 m (200 fm) to be used daily; the remainder is replacement material.

3. A quantity of anchors, buoys, flagpoles, radar reflectors, and/or radio beacon buoys to mark the end of the longline sets. The quantity of these items shall be sufficient for a 64-day survey.

4. A groundline hauling system capable of retrieving 1-cm (3/8-in) Goldline or equivalent. (PLEASE NOTE: the Government will supply the skates of fishing gear.)

5. A hauling system capable of deploying and retrieving 100 lb. oceanographic sampling devices (CTD) to depths of 1000 m. A groundline hauling system is sufficient for this purpose.

v. A hopper or storage bin, placed intermediately between the catch landing area and the length sampling and processing areas, is required for temporary storage of fish when catch volumes exceed sampling capacity. The hopper must have at least two sections divided by a wall which will allow fish from distinct sampling depth strata to be stored and accessed separately and allow subsampling of the survey catch. The hopper must have an efficient shunting arrangement that can be adjusted manually to cause fish to be directed into one section or the other. In addition, each storage section must have an efficient means (gravitational or mechanical) to allow fish to move from the storage bin onto the length sampling table. In past years, the storage hopper has had a volume of approximately 3.6 cu m (126 cu ft.) divided into two equal sections, each with a vertical, sliding door opening onto the back of the sample table. There should also be a means for passing fish from the landing area directly to the processing area without passing over the length sampling area. This is necessary since, for some species, not all fish need to be sampled for lengths. A contract biologist will communicate with the processing crew which species and when to bypass fish into the processing area.

vi. Clear, flush area of at least 37.2 sq. m (400 sq. ft.) for sampling.

1. General Sampling: The landing area is the area where the longline is brought aboard; the fish are removed from the hooks, etc. The processing area is the area where the fish are headed and gutted, etc. The length sampling area is the area where fish species are identified, sablefish, Pacific cod, giant grenadier, and spiny dogfish are sexed, and fish lengths are measured. The processing area should begin with a sufficiently large storage area such that the processors' pace will not markedly affect the Contract Biologists' pace and vice versa.

2. Length Sampling: If no suitable installation exists for length sampling, the Contractor shall construct a work table meeting the length sampling requirements. The table must integrate smoothly with the flow of fish from the landing area to the fish processing or disposal area, and must be attached to a storage bin where fish can be temporarily stored before sampling (see description of the storage bin above). The table and contiguous sampling area must be located so as not to obstruct fishing or processing operations or endanger vessel crew or Contract Biologists. In past surveys, the sampling table area has occupied approximately 2.3 sq. m (25 sq. ft.). The Contractor shall also construct a frame along part of the sample table to hold a measuring board. All fish must move by mechanical means (e.g., chutes and conveyors) or by gravity from the landing and storage areas to the length sampling area and onto the processing area. Efforts should be made to minimize the necessity for manually lifting fish. Baskets or totes are not acceptable for moving fish because of manpower limitations.

Fish arriving from the landing area pass into a storage bin before being gravity or mechanically fed into the length sampling or processing areas (Figure 1). The bin must have at least two sections divided by a wall which will allow fish to be stored and accessed separately. The bin should have separate openings that pass fish into the length sampling area. Here fish are sorted by species, and a small incision is made in the body wall of sablefish, Pacific cod, and giant grenadier by a processor. The fish are then passed onto the length table by a processor, where sex is determined, and fish are measured by a contract biologist. Fish then are passed to the processing area.

At the Contract Biologists’ request, some fish should be passed onto a table in the processing area visible to the contract biologist from the length sampling area. These fish pass directly to the processing area without being measured. The table is visible to the contract biologist to allow inspection of the catch. The catch may be subsampled by shunting fish directly into the processing area. However, all rockfish, arrowtooth flounder, and Kamchatka flounder are lengthed and keyed to species to infer the number of rougheye and shortraker rockfish caught, which cannot be separately identified as the longline is hauled aboard.

3. Sablefish Otolith Sampling and Tagging: A work area for tagging and otolith collection is necessary. The work area must be located near the hauling station to minimize fish handling. The Contractor shall provide a table and a holding tank for fish to be tagged located near the line retrieval (Figure 2). The table shall be 1 m wide by about 0.5 m deep. A v-shaped trough for holding the sampled fish will lie at the front of the table. The holding tank shall be 4' x 4' x 3' with a seawater intake rate of 3-5 gallons/minute. A chute with running seawater must be available for outgoing live, tagged fish. The chute and its outboard opening must be at least 12" high and 18" wide. The sides of the chute must be at least 8" high. The tank shall be accessible on 2 sides to facilitate the removal of fish. An area of approximately 8' x 8' is adequate for all operations. The work area shall also have a small washdown hose for periodically cleaning the table and trough.

vii. A catch data recording post will be occupied by a contract biologist during gear retrieval operations. This area is intended to protect him/her from adverse weather conditions while he/she records catch data. If room is not available in the pilot house or visibility of the hauling operation from that position is not adequate, then a secure, sheltered area (e.g., a "doghouse") placed so that the hauling station is clearly visible must be constructed by the Contractor. An intercom from the bridge is required for easy communication between the bridge and the data recorder. A fathometer must be installed at the catch recording post.

viii. Freezer storage of at least 34.0 cu m (1,200 cu ft.), exclusive of that for ship stores, is required for bait and scientific samples and supplies. Adequate shelf storage must be set aside exclusively for frozen samples.

ix. Freezer storage, exclusive of that for ship stores, must be sufficient to store at least 90 mt (200,000 lb.) of dressed and frozen fish since unloading is planned during two of the scheduled port calls.

x. Dry storage area containing approximately 42.4 cu m (1,500 cu ft.), preferably in the deckhouse, for storage of scientific supplies. This shall be surplus space that is not required for the efficient functioning of the vessel. Thus, spaces normally dedicated to the cook's pantry or spare parts storage, etc., shall not be designated as scientific storage facilities.

xi. A desk or table of about 1.5 sq. m (16 sq. ft.) with two chairs in the deckhouse (may not be the galley table) suitable to work on data forms and to secure a laptop computer, printer, and various hand-held data recording devices. Adequate lighting and AC power outlets to operate or recharge these devices are required. In addition, a floor area of about 4.6 sq. m (50 sq. ft.) as a working space for 2-3 people. This space shall be dedicated for Contract Biologists and NOAA-provided scientists' use only. Access to a suitable chart table is required.

xii. Potable fresh water supply adequate for vessel and personal use for the crew and scientific party (18-19 people total) for up to 25 days is required. If a water-maker is not available, then a minimum capacity of 95 l (25 gal)/person/day is required [e.g., 2.34 kl (625 gal)/person for a 25-day leg].

xiii. Clothes washers and dryers for personal use by the crew and scientific party are required.

xiv. Accommodations shall be clean and sanitary. One or two staterooms shall be provided for all Contract Biologists and NOAA-provided scientists (3 to 4 people total) to be berthed together. There shall be adequate storage for personal clothing and supplies in the staterooms. Rooms shall have adequate ventilation and shall not accommodate more crew than originally designed for (e.g., a stateroom originally designed to accommodate two persons that have had an extra bunk added is not acceptable). Clean and sanitary mattresses, mattress covers, sheets, blankets, and pillows shall also be supplied for all members of the scientific party. Smoking shall not be allowed in common areas inside the vessel during the charter period. Specifically, these areas include sleeping quarters, galley, head, and wheelhouse.

xv. A head and shower shall be separate from living quarters. An additional head is also required for use when the shower is occupied.

xvi. To reduce marine debris pollution, the Captain is expected to follow waste management regulations as described in Section V of MARPOL. The vessel must have a storage facility 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.

xvii. The vessel must have an endurance capability for operating and fishing for a minimum of 25 consecutive days, including running to and from stations.

xviii. The Contractor must furnish bait for the survey at a rate of 5.4 kg (12.0 lb.) of chopped squid per 100 hooks. This translates into at least 30 metric tons (65,000 lb.) of squid for the cruise. East Coast or North Atlantic squid (Illex illecebrosus) squid (2-3 count per lb. or larger) has been used in past surveys. For the sake of survey standardization, this species of squid shall be used. (Loligo or market squid is not acceptable.) The general commercial designation for north Atlantic squid has been brown color, fit for human consumption (used as an index of freshness), 100 - 200 grams per squid.

xix. The Contractor is responsible for transporting survey sampling gear and supplies from the AFSC facility in Seattle, Washington, to the vessel before the survey. The Contractor is also responsible for transporting survey sampling gear and supplies from the vessel to the AFSC facility in Seattle, Washington, after completion of the survey. Transport of gear and supplies before and after the survey shall occur in contractor-supplied shipping vans. The gear shall be transferred from the vessel to a shipping van within 24 hours of arriving in port after the survey is completed so that the Field Party Chief of the last cruise leg may check-off equipment loaded.

xx. A 16 cu. ft. cabinet on-deck for dry storage of on-deck sampling supplies is required.

xxi. The Contractor shall maintain fishing gear skates to the following government standards. Each skate should have: (1) Splice eyes on both ends of the groundline of each skate as per the figure below (each skate is to measure a total of 98 meters in length after completion of eye splicing), (2) Beckets should be attached to the groundline at the measured marks every two (2) m (there are 45 beckets); (3) Gangions should be attached to each becket. For each skate, the Government will provide a measured and marked groundline, beckets, and gangions. The groundline of each skate is marked with bright-colored flagging and red ink at the first and forty-fifth becket locations, and with red ink at the remaining forty-three becket locations. Five (5) meters of groundline are left bare on each end. Skate eyes should be 46 cm long. The splice to form the eye is tapered, but the ends should not be burned because the burned ends abrade the surrounding line when it is stretched. If skates are damaged during the survey, the Contractor shall repair the skates to these specifications before the skates are subsequently deployed or condemned by mutual agreement of the Contractor and Field Party Chief.

C. OTHER EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

1. LONGLINE SAMPLING GEAR - The Contractor shall supply the following amounts of longline sampling gear each year. The Contractor shall deliver these supplies to Building 32, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE. Seattle, WA 98115, Attn: Longline Survey (206) 526-6334, by August 1. This gear will be incorporated into that identified in Section H.2 to be used in the following year’s survey.

a. Mustad #39965-13/0 Circle Hooks - qty: 45,000 hooks

b. American Line SSR 100 soft/medium lay - qty: 60 boxes (1800 ft./box)

c. #60 thread round braided nylon gangion twine cut (by burning) into 28” lengths – qty: 240 lbs.

d. Tie #60 thread round braid nylon gangions, tied length 15”, 4” loops both ends, 100/bundle – qty: 240 lbs. (about 142/lb., 34,080 gangions)

e. #72 Becket material cut (by burning) into 18” lengths – qty: 150 lbs.

f. Tie 18” Becket material into length 7” with 6” loop and 0.5” tag end – qty: 150 lbs. (about 138/lb., 20,700 Beckets)

g. Stainless groundline snaps for 3/8” groundline - qty: 200 snaps

h. Seven (7) pound lead balls with eyelets – qty: 75 balls

2. TWO (2) ELECTRONIC MOTION-COMPENSATED MARINE SCALES FOR WEIGHING FISH. For example, Marel PL2260 portable marine scale. The scales must have a 15 kg maximum capacity, accuracy to within 5 g, a 40 ft. power cord, an electronic interface for connecting with printers and networks, and a carrying case. One scale mustneeds to be located within six feet of the NOAA-provided scientist working area where otoliths are sampled. (A potential source for the scales is Marel Seattle, Inc. 2001 W Garfield, Terminal 91, Bldg. A1, Seattle, WA 98119 206-781-1827). Scales shall be serviced annually before the start of the survey in May.

3. ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS.

a. Radios:

1. Two (2) VHF radios.

2. Two (2) synthesized single side-band units--2 to18 KHZ.

3. System for switching radios to battery power in the event of interruption of normal power supply.

b. Two (2) automatic GPS (Global Positioning System) units. At least one (1) must read out in latitude and longitude.

c. GPS plotter to plot trackline while setting gear.

d. Radar -- two (2) sets [minimum of 32.2 km (20 mi) range].

e. Depth sounders--two (2) sets, minimum range to 1,097.3 m (600 fm). Both sets must operate in the 25-50 MHZ range. The Contractor shall provide paper for recorder(s).

f. Intercom from the fishing deck to the bridge.

g. Intercom or radio from the bridge to the data recording post.

h. Electronic charting system that integrates GPS and depth sounder information and can record this information to a data file at one-minute intervals throughout the survey.

i. Electronic mail (email) capability provided for daily communication via satellite or equivalent. Capability must be established and demonstrated one month before the beginning of the survey.

j. Satellite phone capability for emergency use and occasional logistic coordination.

D. CREW REQUIREMENTS

1. The normal daily workload for a fishing/processing vessel and the strict gear maintenance requirements that the AFSC requires have shown that the necessary crew must consist of at least:

a. Captain

b. Cook

c. Engineer

d. Four to six fishermen

e. Four to seven catch processors

All key personnel (including the captain, engineer, and lead fisherman) must speak and understand English fluently.

2. The Captain shall have at least three (3) years of longline fishing experience as a master of a comparably sized vessel and at least five (5) years of total fishing experience as a master in the North Pacific Ocean.

3. The Captain shall be experienced in using modern navigational and fish-detecting equipment.

4. Two (2) fishermen shall have a minimum of five (5) years of longline fishing experience and be competent in longline construction and repair and hand-baiting techniques.

5. At least three (3) fishermen shall each have a minimum of three (3) years of longline fishing experience and be competent in longline construction and repair and hand-baiting techniques.

6. A member of the processing crew shall be responsible for cutting fish to allow Contract Biologists to determine the sex of the fish while ensuring that the cutting is performed in a manner that will diminish the fish's value as little as possible. One of the catch processors specified in Section D.1.e. shall be reserved for this purpose. The sablefish, Pacific cod, and giant grenadier sexes shall be determined using the following methods: For sablefish, a cut will be made in the throat region to determine the fish's sex. For Pacific cod and giant grenadier, a belly cut is necessary to determine the fish's sex.

7. One vessel crew member is required for assistance with otolith collection and tagging. One of the catch processors specified in D.1.e. shall be reserved for this purpose full-time during gear retrieval.

The number of people required to maintain and bait the longline gear depends on the skill level and professionalism of the crew as a whole. Experience has shown that the skill level and professionalism of fishers vary widely and that the labor-intensive nature of using hand-baited longline gear wears heavily on all but the most durable and experienced people. The fishers in this research survey must adhere strictly to the survey’s gear maintenance and baiting standards.

E. SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL

1. THE GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC FIELD PARTY:

a. Will usually consist of one (1) or two (2) NOAA-provided scientists.

b. One (1) Government employee will be designated Field Party Chief. That person will be responsible for the implementation of the survey’s Scientific Operation Plan, the supervision of the other Government employees, and monitoring quality control of work performed by the Contractor and Contract Biologists provided by the Contractor.

2. THE CONTRACT SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL (CONTRACT BIOLOGISTS)

a. The Contractor shall provide at least two (2) trained Biologists to conduct standard survey data collection operations: 1) catch tallying of individual hooks; 2) length and sex sampling of catch; 3) recording and editing data in appropriate forms and computer files.

b. Must receive training in the above operations by NOAA-provided scientists before participating in the survey.

c. Must be employed by a qualified scientific firm or institute engaged in marine fisheries research, or in providing scientific personnel.

The Government is concerned with maintaining high data accuracy and consistency from the survey. Attention should be paid to the scientific background and interest of persons obtained as contract scientific personnel. Experience in at-sea fishery sampling and a bachelor’s degree in fisheries or wildlife biology or a related field of biology or natural resource management is required for these positions. Contract Biologists must have computer experience.

F. OPERATING PROCEDURES

1. The Contractor shall provide three (3) nutritious meals and a light snack each charter day, including port days, unless alternative arrangements are coordinated with the Field Party Chief. Meal times shall be coordinated with the Field Party Chief to accommodate both the need to complete sampling work and the time required by the cook to prepare meals. Meals shall be provided by the vessel for the field party during in-port charter days.

2. Workday length and hours shall be determined by the Field Party Chief in consultation with the Captain. Except for unusual circumstances, workdays for a member of the scientific party will not exceed 12 hours. The decisions on workday length and hours will be based on the type of activity expected for that day (in-port preparations, running, fishing, jogging, etc.), as well as on prevailing weather conditions.

3. The Field Party Chief has the final authority in all matters except those relating to the safety of the vessel and personnel; however, if there is any safety concern, the Captain and Field Party Chief shall resolve the concern before continuing operations. In the event the Field Party Chief and Captain are unable to resolve any problem which could threaten the safety of the field party, the Field Party Chief will direct the vessel to return to port, where an acceptable solution will be arranged between the Government and the Contractor or the charter will be terminated. If required to return to port, the vessel will be off charter and will remain off charter until the problem has been resolved and the vessel has returned to the sampling area.

4. All viable salmon, crab, and halibut taken during survey operations must be immediately returned to the sea after collecting biological data unless the Field Party Chief directs any be retained for the galley aboard ship. In no case shall the sale of these fish and shellfish be permitted or be taken in a homepack by any member of the scientific party or vessel crew. Sport fishing may occur but not concurrently with survey fishing. Anyone taking part in sport fishing must possess a valid sport fishing license from the State of Alaska and must abide by all State of Alaska sport fishing regulations. Any sport-caught species retained for preservation must be labeled as “sport caught” with the licensee’s name before being placed in storage.

5. For each day of the survey, the Field Party Chief is responsible for the initial disposition of the catch. The catch will remain the Government's property until the Field Party Chief relinquishes his/her responsibility and turns over the catch to the Contractor. Components of the catch shall be turned over as soon as they have been examined by the scientific party and scientific samples have been obtained. At that time, the catch becomes the property of the Contractor.

6. Fishing gear shall be maintained strictly in accordance with the specifications outlined above. If it is found not being maintained to standards, the Field Party Chief may halt sampling operations and a charter day may be used to bring gear up to standard. At the end of the charter, the Contractor is responsible for removing all hooks from skates and thoroughly cleaning all fishing gear used during the survey. All groundlines shall be coiled and secured, as directed by the Field Party Chief.

7. Foul weather days, when work will not be possible, are anticipated. No stations shall be skipped; sampling shall resume following the foul weather. As a guideline, sampling shall not occur in seas above 10-15 ft. and winds above 25-35 knots. Above these sea and wind conditions, fish may fall off the longline, sometimes unobserved, resulting in an underestimate of catch rates. The Field Party Chief, in consultation with the Captain, shall decide whether or not to call a foul weather day, with final authority in this matter resting with the Field Party Chief. If a foul weather day occurs, it is preferred that the vessel wait out the storm in the nearest navigable bay rather than jogging into rough seas. Jogging into the seas is acceptable if no protected area is within reasonable running distance. If foul weather days preclude sampling, the survey end date shall be delayed until all stations are completed.

8. The Captain shall maintain a day-to-day record of the dressed weight of the retained catch by species and size category. A copy of this record shall be provided for the Field Party Chief at the end of each cruise leg.

9. The Contract Biologists shall be required to attend at least one meeting daily with the Field Party Chief to discuss the status of tasks and work conducted during the day. The Field Party Chief has the authority to redirect any work to be conducted aboard the vessel necessary to achieve appropriate quality control.

10. The cruise period shall be divided into four legs where any given leg will be approximately 15 to 21 days in duration.

11. In 2025 and 2027, forty-eight (48) sampling days shall occur in the Gulf of Alaska, and sixteen (16) sampling days shall occur in the Bering Sea for a total of sixty-four (64) sampling days. In 2026 and 2028, forty-eight (48) sampling days shall occur in the Gulf of Alaska, and fourteen (14) sampling days shall occur in the Aleutian Islands for a total of sixty-two (62) sampling days.

Eighteen (18) km (9.7 nm) of groundline comprised of 180 skates and 8,100 hooks shall be fished during each workday, except in the Aleutian Islands (Stations 35-61), where 16 km (8.6 nm) and 7,200 hooks shall be fished each workday.

12. Otoliths shall be collected from sablefish. About 5% of sablefish, Greenland turbot, and shortspine thornyhead shall be tagged and released.

13. Other specific workday procedures may arise, at which point details will be provided.

G. HEALTH AND SAFETY

1. The Captain is responsible for all matters relating to personnel safety, the vessel, and equipment operation. The Captain will adhere at all times to Navigational Rules and Rules of the Road, whether it be during fishing operations, running, drifting, or when at anchor. The Captain shall review safety procedures and equipment with the scientific party at the beginning of each cruise leg.

2. The Contractor shall provide U.S. Coast Guard-approved Arctic-type survival suits for all persons on board, including crew members and scientific personnel (the Government may supply the scientific personnel with their own suits). Adequate dry, top-side storage for all survival suits shall be provided.

3. The Stability Letter from the vessel's Stability Report (certified by a licensed Naval architect/marine engineer) describing the vessel's stability characteristics for the intended charter operations must be submitted along with the Contractor's proposal.

4. All personnel working or being transported in a skiff shall WEAR a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or survival suit. Float coats or other substitutes are not acceptable unless Coast Guard-approved.

5. The Contractor shall provide sufficient Coast Guard-approved life jackets for all persons aboard the vessel during this charter.

6. A Category I 406 MMHZ EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) must be affixed to the vessel's exterior in a manner approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

7. At least one (1) crew member must possess survival and firefighting training certifications equivalent to that provided by the Alaska Fishing Vessel Owner's Association.

8. The Captain and at least two (2) crew members must have first aid training equivalent to Alaska Marine Safety Education Association certification.

9. A stable gangway of a minimum width of 23" with railings shall be provided for access to the vessel while the vessel is in port.

10. Noise (machinery, music) within the scientific sampling areas shall not exceed OSHA noise exposure standards (permissible exposure for 8 hours is 90 dBA). Otherwise hearing protection shall be provided for scientific personnel by the Contractor to reduce sound levels to meet this standard.

11. The vessel must have radar reflectors and/or radio beacon buoys.

H. GOVERNMENT PROVIDED EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

1. All scientific sampling equipment and supplies.

2. The following fishing gear: all groundlines, tubs, chains, lead balls, gangions, hooks, and related repair materials.

I. POST-AWARD AND POST-SURVEY MEETINGS

1. Upon award of a contract and before the start of the charter, a post-award meeting will be held to discuss issues relating to the charter and survey. The vessel manager, all vessel Captains participating in the charter, and the crew member who has primary responsibility for mending and maintaining the research longline are encouraged to attend the meeting. The COR will schedule the date and time of the meeting upon the award of the contract. A teleconference may be substituted for an in-person meeting at the discretion of the COR.

2. After completion of the survey, a post-survey debriefing will be held. The purpose of the debriefing is to provide the charter operator with an evaluation of the performance of the vessel and crew during the charter. At a minimum, the vessel manager is required to attend the debriefing. The COR will schedule the date and time of the meeting upon completion of the survey. A teleconference may be substituted for an in-person meeting at the discretion of the COR.

J. CATCH OF COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT SPECIES

The catches presented below are for illustrative purposes only. The sampling plan in this draft SOW would sample approximately 16% fewer days than the number fished in 2023 and 2022. Therefore future catch numbers would likely be less than those presented below.

Table 1. Total estimated catch (numbers) of major species (> 1000 individuals) caught in the 2023 NOAA Fisheries longline survey. These estimates are for all fish landed, including fish tagged and released, equivalent to approximately 5% of total catch.

Catch - Trip Summary

Table 2. Total estimated catch in numbers of major species (>1000 individuals) caught in the 2022 NOAA Fisheries longline survey by management area. These estimates are for all fish landed, including fish tagged and released, equivalent to approximately 5% of total catch. The current draft SOW would sample approximately 16% fewer days than in 2022.

Catch - Trip Summary

Figure 1. Schematic (plan view) design of length sampling area.

Figure 2. Schematic scientific sampling layout and design specifications for otolith processing and tagging.

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