RFQ_EA133F-18-RQ-0104.pdf

U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Eastern Region Acquisition Division 200 Granby Street, Suite 815

Norfolk, VA 23510

REQUEST FOR QUOTE

EA133F-18-RQ-0104

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Herring and Mackerel Fishery, Electronic

Monitoring (EM)

SECTION A – SF 1449

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 1 of 70 Herring and Mackerel Fishery Electronic Monitoring (EM) Services

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV 2/2012)

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE Prescribed by GSA – FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

1. REQUISITION NUMBER

NFFM72310-18-00002

2. CONTRACT NO.

3. AWARD/EFFECTIVE

DATE

4. ORDER NUMBER

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

EA133F-18-RQ-0104

6. SOLICITATION

ISSUE DATE

February 21, 2018

7. FOR

SOLICITATION

INFORMATION

CALL:

a. NAME

Amy McLiverty

b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (no collect calls)

(757) 441-3426

8. OFFER DUE DATE/

LOCAL TIME

March 6, 2018

12:00 PM EST

9. ISSUED BY CODE AJ930073

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Eastern Acquisition Division 200 Granby Street, Suite 815 Norfolk, VA 23510

E-mail: Amy.L.McLiverty@noaa.gov

10. THIS ACQUISITION IS UNRESTRICTED OR SET ASIDE: ___ %FOR:

SMALL BUSINESS WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN- OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

HUBZONE SMALL NAICS:

BUSINESS EDWOSB 541715

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED SIZE STANDARD:

SMALL BUSINESS 8(A) 1,000 Employees

11. DELIVERY FOR FOB

DESTINATION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT

TERMS

13a. THIS CONTRACT IS A RATED

ORDER UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13b. RATING DO-A3

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

RFQ IFB RFP

15. DELIVER TO CODE

16. ADMINISTERED BY CODE

See Block 9

17a. CONTRACTOR/ CAGE CODE FACILITY

OFFEROR CODE

DUNS No.

TELEPHONE NO:

FAX NO:

18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY CODE

Department of Commerce NOAA Finance Office, Room 1204 20020 Century Blvd Germantown, MD 20874

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH

ADDRESS IN OFFER

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK

BELOW IS CHECKED SEE ADDENDUM (SECTION G)

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

Reference Section B, Pricing Schedule.

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (FOR GOVT USE ONLY)

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 & 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED.

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4, FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA ARE ARE NOT ATTACHED.

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND

RETURN 1 COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO

FURNISH AND DELIVER ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE

IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL SHEETS SUBJECT TO

THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED HEREIN.

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT: REFERENCE

OFFER DATED . YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5), INCLUDING ANY

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO

ITEMS:

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SINGATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

30c. DATE SIGNED

31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

31c. DATE SIGNED mailto:Amy.L.McLiverty@noaa.gov

SECTION A – SF 1449

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 2 of 70 Herring and Mackerel Fishery Electronic Monitoring (EM) Services

19.

ITEM NO.

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

21.

QUANTITY

22.

UNIT

23.

UNIT PRICE

24.

AMOUNT

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

33. SHIP NUMBER

34. VOUCHER NUMBER

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

36. PAYMENT

COMPLETE PARTIAL FINAL

37. CHECK

NUMBER

PARTIAL FINAL

38. S/R ACCOUNT

NUMBER

39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER

40. PAID BY

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

42 a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER 41c. DATE

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42c. DATE REC’D (YY/MM/DD)

42d. TOTAL

CONTAINERS

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 3 of 70 Herring and Mackerel Fishery Electronic Monitoring (EM) Services

SECTION A – CONTINUATION OF SF 1449

(1) Block 17a: Contractor shall include its DUNS number.

(2) Block 17b: REMITTANCE ADDRESS. Payment will be made to the Financial Institution listed in the System for Award Management (SAM). To receive award Contractor must be registered in the SAM, which is available at: https://www.sam.gov

(3) Block 19 through 24: See Section B, Pricing Schedule.

(4) Block 25: ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA, This information will be included on the resulting contract award document and individual delivery orders.

END SECTION A

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 4 of 70

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

Base Period: Award Date through Fifteen Months thereafter Contract Line Item Number

Product Description Quantity Unit of Issue

Unit Price Extended Price

0001 The Contractor shall provide Herring and Mackerel Fishery Electronic Monitoring (EM) as provided in Section C, SOW)

15 MO $ $

Total $ $

END OF SECTION B

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 5 of 70

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

Department Of Commerce (DOC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

Herring and Mackerel Fishery Electronic Monitoring Statement of Work

C.1.0 GENERAL

The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is seeking a Contractor to provide and install Electronic Monitoring (EM) units (still image monitoring cameras and sensors) on between two (2) and to five (5) commercial fishing vessels. The Contractor shall be responsible for the installation of equipment, uninstalling of equipment, equipment maintenance, field support, meeting with industry members, stakeholders, and the NMFS personnel, conducting outreach, video review, and summarizing data. The Contractor personnel will be working under the guidance of NMFS staff. The Contractor shall provide initial advice and training on processing the video and sensor data. The processing and data annotation of the electronic data will primarily be the responsibility of the Contractor; however, NMFS may assist or review the data as needed. All data collected will be the property of the Government. The Contractor shall work with NMFS staff to evaluate the strengths and potential applications of still image EM systems.

As part of the Greater Atlantic Region’s Electronic Technology (ET) Implementation Plan, NMFS is evaluating the utility of EM as a suitable monitoring tool in the in the Northeast multispecies fishery and the Atlantic herring and mackerel mid-water trawl fisheries. The development of EM programs for these fisheries must consider technological efficiencies and cost-effectiveness in order to provide accurate data for catch monitoring while minimizing costs to NMFS and the fishing industry as much as possible. EM is intrinsically driven by ongoing technological innovation. Core camera, data storage, and preprocessing analyses are continuously being developed and there is a need for ongoing comparison with existing technologies to determine how these developments might improve active EM programs, including data accuracy and cost efficiency.

The base period will be 15 months and will include project start-up, data collection, and data analysis and summarizing periods. The project is expected to begin in late winter or early spring of 2018 with the goals of installing EM systems on Atlantic herring and northeast multispecies groundfish vessels, refining technical specifications (Section J, Attachment 1, Electronic Monitoring Equipment Specifications) specific to still image cameras, refining data elements to be contained in the EM summary report (Section J, Attachment 2, Electronic Monitoring Data File Technical Specifications) and determining roles and responsibilities of the various program entities. The NMFS will use this information to evaluate the utility of this distinct EM technology in these two fisheries. The project would continue to build on best practices learned throughout the data collection period by refining fishery-wide implementation requirements.

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 6 of 70

EM is not implemented in Northeast fisheries as a monitoring tool. The goal of this study is not to approve EM in the northeast, but rather determine the applicability of this specific form of EM (still image) for use in the Atlantic herring and northeast groundfish fisheries. The information gained through this study will help inform the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (the Councils) and NMFS in the approval and implementation processes.

C.2.0 BACKGROUND

C.2.1 Overview

DOC/NOAA/NMFS is the Government agency responsible for monitoring and managing Federal fisheries. Within the NEFSC, the Fisheries and Ecosystems Monitoring and Analysis Division (FEMAD), Fisheries Sampling Branch (FSB) is responsible for monitoring and observing fishing in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic U.S. The FSB collects, processes, manages, and provides fishery dependent data and biological samples obtained from fishing vessels. Collection of these data is mandated or otherwise needed for management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Atlantic Tuna Convention Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The branch staff and observers under contract perform at-sea operations aboard commercial vessels to collect information on fishing operations, fishing effort, catch, including bycatch and discard information, economic data and vessel efficiency, and biological samples of landed catch and discard.

NMFS will receive and review EM summary data to conduct data analysis and comparisons with other data sources where applicable. Data analysis will support the development of improved fishery monitoring through the use of EM.

EM is being considered as a tool for catch monitoring and reporting compliance in fisheries around the world. Nationally there are several EM initiatives and programs, but implementation in the Northeast has been limited. As part of the Greater Atlantic Region’s ET Implementation Plan, the Councils and NMFS are considering implementation of EM in the Atlantic herring and northeast multispecies groundfish fisheries to improve catch monitoring and accountability. This project builds off of the recommendations and action items from the following completed projects and current initiatives:

● National EM Workshop, January 2014, GARFO and the NEFSC, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), hosted a two (2) day workshop in May 2014 for the purpose of developing a shared strategy of implementing EM.

● The NEFSC completed the final phase of its New England Electronic Monitoring Project in 2013 and published the final report in August 2014. This project yielded initial technical specifications and onboard configurations for EM systems, catch handling protocols, methods for weight estimation, and other best practices for a groundfish EM program.

● TNC, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the Maine Coast Community Sector, and Ecotrust Canada, have collaborated with GARFO and NEFSC, to operationalize an EM program in the groundfish fishery. The final project goal is to develop standards, process, and analysis to support the use of EM in lieu of At-Sea Monitors (ASMs) in the New England multispecies fishery and implement an operational program in 2018.

● NEFSC and GARFO have partnered in 2016 and 2017 to test the applicability of EM to provide specific monitoring services in the Atlantic herring and mackerel fisheries.

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 7 of 70

We plan to leverage existing EM programs in the Northeast multispecies and mid-water trawl fisheries to test and compare the effectiveness of a new EM still image technology. This study would deploy EM on vessels actively participating in the EM in the Atlantic herring and northeast multispecies groundfish fisheries with the ultimate goal of improving catch accounting. The proximate goal of the project will be to test two types of EM equipment side-by-side such that the strengths and weaknesses of each technology can be evaluated. This project is consistent with the objectives of the Councils’ to improve monitoring and to address bycatch in these fisheries. Still image camera systems may be well suited to deliver the services needed of EM in these fisheries because of their reduced needs for image storage and potentially expedited review services. Further, still-image based EM may also be able to provide these benefits or others such as increased image resolution.

This SOW describes an EM project to be designed for and deployed on two (2) distinct types of vessels operating off the coasts of Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. Specifically, vessels engaged in the midwater trawl herring and mackerel fishery as well in the northeast multispecies groundfish fishery. The midwater trawl herring and mackerel fishery is made up of 10-12 vessels. The vessels engaged in the fishery range in length from 81.1 feet to 141 feet and trip duration ranges from 3.2 days to 4.5 days. Between 2.4 and 4 hauls are made per trip, with an average estimated catch (kept and discarded) ranging from 73,000 lbs. to 119,000 lbs. per haul. The northeast multispecies groundfish fishery is made up of diverse set of vessels which utilize a number of gears. The average vessel length is 50 feet and average trip length is 1.27 days. In both fisheries we will be targeting vessels which are currently utilizing video based EM so that still image data can be effectively paired with video-based EM data. For the northeast groundfish fishery this will be vessels currently participating on ongoing EM exempted fishing permits (EFPs).

C.2.2 Northeast high volume fisheries and Electronic Monitoring

GARFO and the NEFSC are working with the Councils to develop industry-funded monitoring in all New England and Mid-Atlantic fisheries. A particular interest in this amendment is increasing monitoring for the Atlantic herring and mackerel midwater trawl fisheries due to concerns about bycatch of groundfish (mainly haddock) and river herring and shad, as well as accurate accounting of Atlantic herring catch.

While the Councils are considering options for at-sea observer and monitor programs, these types of programs are expensive and may not be the most cost-effective way to increase monitoring in fisheries that retain and land the majority of their catch, like the Atlantic herring and mackerel midwater trawl fisheries. For these reasons, there is strong stakeholder support, including the commercial fishing industry and environmental advocates, to establish an efficient and cost effective EM and portside sampling program for the midwater trawl fisheries. A recent project explored the applicability of video based EM systems. This EM project would extend that research and further facilitate development and implementation of the Industry-Funded Monitoring (IFM) Omnibus Amendment by further testing and refining an EM program for the Atlantic herring and mackerel midwater trawl fisheries.

C.2.3 Multispecies groundfish fishery

There is a similar longstanding interest in implementing EM as a form of monitoring in the northeast multispecies groundfish fishery. In this fishery EM is seen as a means to increase the accuracy of reporting. Much of the work left before implementation can occur relates to NMFS determine appropriate

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 8 of 70 rates of review and other data standards. This work would help to push the region towards implementation by providing additional information about the potential quality and cost of EM in the multispecies groundfish fishery.

C.2.4 Current video-based EM systems A number of pilot and pre-implementation projects have sought to test video equipment for EM in both the northeast groundfish and herring/mackerel fisheries. There have been limited independent comparisons of this technology to others that are available. There has also been limited exploration of the use of still image technology. Examples of frameworks for conducting comparisons are also quite limited. This project would help to provide a comparison and an example of how to make comparisons among EM systems.

C.3.0 OBJECTIVES

GARFO and the NEFSC are proposing to conduct a comparative study of two EM technologies in the Atlantic herring and northeast multispecies groundfish fisheries to support the Council’s objectives to improve monitoring and catch accountability in these fisheries. Through this project (as well as other ongoing regional projects), NMFS intends to meet the following strategic goals:

● Refine specific EM program requirements;

● Develop data program and EM service provider performance standards;

● Establish roles and responsibilities for the industry, service providers, and NMFS;

● Explore and detail how EM data collected in this project could be integrated into other reporting requirements; and

● Provide information to finalize fishery-wide implementation requirements.

Participating volunteer vessels will be subject to EM monitoring (in this project two forms of EM -- video and still image) and may occasionally and simultaneously carry NMFS-approved observers (under existing observer deployment regulatory requirements and procedures). This will allow vessel captains, the service provider, and NMFS to develop and test EM program operations while maintaining the integrity of existing data streams critical for science and management. This information will assist in the development of EM program requirements and EM performance standards to be determined by NMFS and the Councils. To achieve these objectives, NMFS has identified the following Contractor specific project deliverables:

● Installation and deployment of still image EM systems on up to five (5) Atlantic herring and northeast multispecies groundfish fisheries vessels which are currently utilizing video-baes EM as part of an existing EFP;

● Coordinate with the video-based EM contracted provider to ensure compatibility of systems;

● Develop local infrastructure for vessel and program support;

● Develop Vessel Monitoring Plans (VMPs) and establish standards and procedures for approving

VMPs and equipment installations (due two (2) months after award of contract);

● Develop a EM data template for NMFS approval;

● Provide information and feedback to revise standards for approving vessel monitoring plans;

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 9 of 70

● Review sensor and still-image data;

● Use still image EM to monitor fishing activity to determine the quantity (count and weight) and type (species) of regulated discards northeast multispecies groundfish trips;

● Use still image EM to monitor fishing activity to determine if discarding is occurring on Atlantic herring and mackerel trips;

● Provide information and feedback to assist in revising EM technical requirements for still image systems;

● Work with NMFS to perform system to system comparisons; and

● Work with NMFS to review program performance for refinement.

The goal of this project is to generate a data set for still image that can be assessed relative to video EM.

With this information we will build the necessary program requirements to allow NMFS to use EM data for management and science and management in the Atlantic herring and northeast multispecies groundfish fisheries. This project will also clarify the industry investments and costs for EM.

Additionally, the project will allow NMFS, service providers, and the industry to identify improvements and innovations, such as data transfer, video review, and storage. Finally, this project will provide an example of how to explicitly compare distinct EM technologies.

C.4. SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

C.4.1 Project Phases

C.4.1.1 Project Set-up-a two (2) month period (initiated at contract award) involving the service requirements described in Sections 4.2 (Project Outreach), 4.3 (EM Units to be Supplied), 4.4 (Installation, Servicing of EM Units Aboard Vessels, and Field and Project Support) and 4.5 (Data Analysis). The activities provided in Section 4.4 relevant to this Phase are specifically related to establishing local capacity and infrastructure to provide and support field services. The activities in Section 4.5 relevant to this Phase include development of a project plan. Other activities include clarifying project roles and responsibilities and formulating the project team.

C.4.1.2 EM Operation and Data Collection-an eleven (11) month period (initiated two (2) months post contract award) involving the Service Requirements described in Sections 4.4 (Installation, Servicing of EM Units Aboard Vessels, and Field and Project Support), 4.5 (Data Analysis), and 4.6 (Removal of EM units from all fishing vessels).

C.4.1.3 Analysis and Reporting; two (2) month period (initiated thirteen (13) months post contract award) involving the Service Requirements described in Section 4.7 (Data Summary).

C.4.2 Project Outreach

C.4.2.1 The Contractor shall participate in regular outreach at the dock with study participants during equipment installations, data retrievals, equipment service events, or as required. Frequent and consistent communication with study participants will help build a good working relationship, reinforcement commitment (study participant and Contractor), and will serve to address any outstanding questions or

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 10 of 70 concerns the vessels may have. The Contractor and NMFS will also use these opportunities to describe project goals, provide feedback on crew performance, and convey study results. Outreach will be conducted in this manner to limit interference with vessel fishing operations and to promote study participation and data quality. The Contractor will track all vessel visits and document the purpose of each event in a vessel service tracking sheet, which will be accessible to NMFS.

C.4.2.2 The Contractor shall also participate in occasional industry outreach meetings with NMFS staff, study participants, industry members and other stakeholders throughout the course of the contract (maximum of three (3)). Meetings will be lead, organized, and scheduled by NMFS. Outreach may include an equipment demonstration component.

C.4.2.3 The Contractor shall engage in regular communication (weekly meetings) with NOAA Fisheries staff (in person or by conference call) to review monitoring objectives, data requirements, project plans, project progress, project deliverables, project spending and budget plans (quarterly), and staffing and resources.

C.4.2.4 The Contractor shall assist NMFS in outreach events to solicit project participation. In an effort to help solicit participation, the Contractor shall develop and provide to NMFS a reference sheet outlining vessel power requirements and basic operations of an EM system. The reference document will specifically identify any issues related to operating two EM systems onboard. Outreach may include an equipment demonstration component. The Contractor shall provide a detailed schematic design of their EM system and its components in their quote and as part of their reference sheet.

C.4.2.5 Any communication the Contractor engages in with the industry must be within the scope of this contract and must be pre-approved by NMFS.

C.4.2.6 Any information or formal agreements the Contractor provides to study participants shall also be provided to NMFS.

C.4.2.7 The Contractor shall provide quarterly reports (to NMFS and participating vessels) documenting vessel and EM system performance, including but not limited to; number of trips, trips with EM operation, total EM data collected, concurrence with catch handling, system issues (source) and mitigating measures to correct issues, and other metrics for evaluating vessel and EM system performance.

C.4.3 EM Units to be supplied

The Contractor shall provide between two (2) and five (5) leased EM units necessary to provide at-sea coverage on the herring and mackerel midwater trawl fleet and the northeast multispecies groundfish fishery. The Contractor shall also have adequate spare or backup equipment available locally in case of a system failure or equipment malfunction. The study participants shall be determined by NMFS. The EM units supplied by the Contractor shall meet or exceed the technical requirements defined in the Electronic Monitoring Equipment Specifications (Section J, Attachment 1, Electronic Monitoring Equipment Specifications) developed by NEFSC.

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 11 of 70

C.4.4 Installation, servicing of EM units aboard vessels, and field and project support

Prior to commencement of the active data collection component of the project, the Contractor shall set up local capacity to install equipment and provide field support to study participants. The field support shall include; equipment installation, equipment or system troubleshooting, data retrievals (by means of in-person retrieval, postal mailing, or electronic transfer), and equipment removal. The Contractor shall provide local service technicians who are capable of providing all servicing events and needs for up to five (5) participating vessels. The data retrievals shall occur after each trip and will take place no more than twenty-four (24) hours after trip landing. The Contractor shall also reserve or set up local storage or office space to store spare or backup EM system units and parts as needed. In addition, the Contractor shall set up a twenty-four (24) hour service hotline to address any vessel servicing needs seven (7) days a week. The Contractor shall present a formal plan on servicing, local capacity, and response time to address any equipment issues in their quote.

The Contractor shall create and maintain a field service tracking log to include all installations, service events, data retrievals, equipment or system troubleshooting and equipment removals. If equipment servicing or troubleshooting occurs the contractor shall note the issue, length of time to fix the issue, and how the issue was rectified in the service tracking log. The tracking sheet shall be updated daily and the Contractor shall provide full access to NMFS. The Contractor shall also track all system failures (any instance where the equipment is not functional) and report all system failures to NMFS in forty-eight (48) hours of occurrence.

The Contractor shall install, test, and initialize all the EM equipment on the participating fishing vessels.

Some operations in the herring and mackerel midwater trawl fishery include pair trawling, where two (2) vessels tow a single net and the fish is loaded onto one (1) or both vessels. In pair trawl operations, both vessels will be equipped with EM equipment if possible. The field service technician may be required to go out to sea on a trip with participating vessels to understand fishing operations and evaluate the EM system vessel configuration to meet project goals. Each vessel will be fully outfitted with EM equipment and the Contractor shall provide instruction on the use and care of the EM equipment to the vessels’ crews. The Contractor shall provide a detailed description of what is involved in the setting up and removal of EM to NMFS and study participants (potential and actual). The Contractor shall develop a vessel reference sheet which provides the description of the EM system, outlines captain and crew responsibilities, and includes instruction on the use and care of the EM equipment which will be included in the vessel’s VMP. The vessel reference sheet is required two (2) months after contract award.

The Contractor shall develop a VMP for each participating vessel. The VMP shall outline vessel specific catch handling protocols and EM system configurations being used throughout the project. The VMP is a communication tool used to ensure that captains, EM field technicians, EM data reviewers, and project coordination staff know what their roles are for a successful implementation. The VMP will include at a minimum; general EM procedures, EM system configuration, operator responsibilities, protocols for data retrieval, catch handling, observer protocols (if applicable), general vessel information, monitoring

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 12 of 70 objectives, the vessel layout, reporting requirements, vessel hail in or out procedures, basic system troubleshooting, program contacts, and any other pertinent information.

All alterations, with the exception of the vessel’s power supply, required for a vessel to accommodate the EM system will be incurred by the Contractor. This includes, but is not limited to; swing arm mounts for cameras, discard chutes, additional lighting for night fishing, and wire shielding to prevent Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). The Contractor shall devise a plan for those vessels who want to participate but have insufficient power resources. The Contractor’s quote shall include suggested solutions or arrangements to address power issues to increase study participation and shall include information on how this may impact Contractor costs for this project.

The Contractor shall coordinate and determine a schedule for EM installation on each vessel and will take into account vessels’ fishing schedules and concerns. The installation and maintenance of the EM technology shall not unduly delay any vessel from participating in the fishery.

The Contractor shall develop and implement strategies for vessel compliance and shall work with vessels that are non-compliant to help them meet project and vessel requirements. Vessel accountability shall be described in detail in the Contractor’s quote. Incentives to have industry collect high quality data in future electronic monitoring programs should also be described in the quote.

C.4.5 Data analysis

The participating vessels will be required to use the EM system for 100% of their trips. The Contractor shall develop a data template that identifies the data elements to be collected through video/camera annotation in support of data comparison and analysis. The data template shall be developed in coordination with NMFS staff and provided for approval. The data template shall be developed in coordination with the initiation of data collection and shall be revised as necessary throughout the project period. The Contractor shall review 100% of sensor and video data collected under this study for discard compliance. The participating vessels will be subject the same reporting requirements currently implemented and all trips will be subject to Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) observer coverage.

The Contractor shall provide NMFS with EM data summaries from reviewed data and provide complete access to all data (sensor and image) for NMFS review. It is preferred EM reviewers have experience with northeast fisheries. Reviewers may be required to take a trip with participating vessels to increase their knowledge in this fishery and to improve data review. The summary data provided to NMFS and images submitted for NMFS review purposes under this contract will be the property of NMFS. All data collected or summarized as a result of this study is subject to the same data confidentiality guidelines as observer data.

The Contractor shall work with NMFS to determine which events are to be recorded and how the events shall be documented. The experimental plans for data collection shall be flexible and dynamic to allow for changes as the projects progresses. NMFS may require the Contractor to participate in NMFS training

EA133F-18-RQ-0104 Page 13 of 70 to correctly identify events and document information according to NMFS standards. The training shall be provided within two (2) months prior to Project Phase C.4.1.2.

The specific data analysis and reporting tasks to be carried out by the Contractor include:

● The Contractor shall draft a project plan for the project. The project plan will incorporate NMFS input and is subject to NMFS approval;

● The Contractor shall provide a trainer to train the three data reviewers (to be supplied by NEFSC) in sensor and imagery viewing to complete this work jointly at a site in Massachusetts arranged by NOAA Fisheries. The training shall be provided during the project set-up phase two (2) months post contract award, Section C.4.1.1;

● The set up of three (3) user accounts or licenses to facilitate NEFSC EM data review;

● The Contractor shall keep an inventory of all data retrieved and shall create a tracking spreadsheet to track all data and the review of such data. The Contractor shall provide NMFS direct access to the tracking sheet;

● Establish a schedule for data processing and delivery of a final data summary (at the trip level) to be agreed upon by the Contractor and NMFS, with an initial target goal of within 2 weeks (14 calendar days) of trip landing and an eventual goal of 1 week (7 calendar days) from trip landing;

● The Contractor shall assess the quality of image data on a per trip basis and shall develop categories of image quality that determine if the data is suitable for imagery review and data analysis;

● The Contractor shall analyze vessel sensor data for quality and completeness (e.g., no data gaps).

The Contractor shall summarize all data gaps or periods of missing data (sensor or video) and include that information in the final report;

● The Contractor shall review of 100% of the fishing activity at the trip level, beginning with the first deployment of the net (as detected by the sensors) until the vessel returns to port;

○ Identify interactions (presence/absence) with protected species;

○ Identify anomalous events in the data set that may warrant further investigation;

○ Identify fishing hauls;

○ Identify specific catch data information specific to the Atlantic Herring Mid-Water Trawl and Northeast Multispecies Groundfish fisheries;

● Submit data reports according to EM summary file standards (Section J, Attachment 2, Electronic

Monitoring Data File Technical Specifications).

● In the Atlantic Herring Mid-Water Trawl Fishery:

○ Identify all fishing episodes, including the activity of both vessels involved in pair trawling operations;

○ Identify discarding by net slippage (release of catch from the net in the water), operational discards (release of catch during operations to move fish from the net to the vessel’s fish hold (for example during pumping operations), discard of fish from the grate or deck of the vessel, or any other discarding event. The identification of discarded fish is not necessary for the purpose of this project;

○ Document the net/cod end or purse seine and its contents after pumping has ceased to identify fish (presence/absence) remaining in the net.

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○ Identify all instances where the catch does not come onboard after a fishing event (gear issue, fish pumped to another vessel, etc.);

● In the Northeast Multispecies Groundfish Fishery:

○ Identify all fishing episodes,

○ Identify catch composition including the length, number, and identification of all individuals from regulated groundfish species.

C.4.6 Removal of EM units from all fishing vessels

The Contractor shall be responsible for removing all EM units from the vessels at the end of the project.

The Contractor shall remove all evidence of the EM installation on every vessel. The care must be taken to return each vessel to the state it was in prior to the installation of the EM unit. The removal shall not unduly delay vessels from departing for other fisheries.

C.4.7 Contractor Data Summary

The Contractor shall provide NOAA Fisheries with a draft and final summary report on this project in a format to be approved by NMFS. The draft is due one (1) month prior to the end of the contract. The final summary report is due at the end of the contract. The final data summary shall incorporate revisions and input by NOAA Fisheries. The data summary shall include the following data elements;

● Document and detail all operational components (e.g., data management and storage, data retrievals and management, equipment maintenance and supporting field services, data processing, notification system, onboard methodologies, compliance measures, feedback mechanisms, etc.), necessary to support an EM monitoring program. Information included shall be practical and based on applied knowledge;

● Identify any significant issues or concerns with EM operational programs, including: fishing in multiple management areas (if applicable), data gaps (sensor or image), equipment interference issues, safety concerns, chain of custody concerns and data confidentiality, data ownership, data storage, haul vs. trip level reporting, data turnaround times, etc.

● Provide system costs to help refine and compare EM cost estimates for northeast fisheries.

Information shall include how specific monitoring objectives relate to or influence program costs relative to still-image systems (e.g., storage, species identification, etc.). Cost information shall be presented in a manner that allows the fishing industry to optimize costs based on specific monitoring objectives;

● Summarize all data collected. Summarized information shall include: detail of collected data (number of trips, estimated total hours captured, and number of participating vessels, etc.), EM data quality assessment for reviewing, interpretation methods, image and sensor data quality, quality control measures for data alignment between reviewers, and inventory (catch composition) of all species or events recorded in EM data by gear type;

● Assess vessels in the context of compatibility with the EM equipment and detailing any deficiencies identified in the fleet that would not be conducive to collecting EM information or EM monitoring;

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● The summarized report shall include a template of a Vessel Monitoring Plan (VMP) with generic information related to vessel monitoring and crew responsibilities. The report shall reference the VMP and include information as to the purpose and need for vessel-specific VMPs to properly support a program.

C.4.8 Final Report

NMFS shall assume primary EM system (still versus video) comparison analysis and report writing responsibilities incorporating information (Sections C.4.5 and C.4.7) provided by the Contractor. The final report will incorporate an overview of the EM project, analysis of the EM data, lessons learned, cost comparisons, and applicability in other Northeast fisheries. It shall also include an objective review of the positives and negatives of still image EM applicability to the various gear and vessel configurations, and a comparison to NEFOP observer collected data.

C.4.9 Ownership of materials

All, reports, summaries, information collected or developed during this project and submitted to NMFS as required, and collected image and sensor data will be the property of NOAA Fisheries and will be maintained onsite by the NMFS. All data will delivered in a manner accessible to NMFS. Copies will be supplied to vessel owners at their request and upon completion of a signed waiver by the owner. The EM data will be used solely for this project and will be protected as confidential data under observer information [Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act amended Section 402(b)]. The Contractor may not use the data collected from this project without Government permission.

The data collected throughout this project may be used for outreach purposes, trainings (video auditors, NMFS staff, observers, etc.), and presentations as needed.

The Contractor will be required to store all (sensor and image) data for three (3) years from the project start date.

5.0 Schedule of Deliverables

Following is a schedule of all deliverables, including administrative deliverables, required during the period of performance of this contract:

Item Description Quantity Due Date Deliver To:

Reference

1 Installation of EM units

Up to 5 units

2 months after award COR Section C, C.4.1

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2 Local infrastructure to support vessel installation, servicing, and program support

1 1 month after award COR Section C, C.4.4

3 Vessel outreach at the dock

As needed As required COR Section C, C.4.2.1

4 Program outreach meetings

Up to 3 As required COR Section C, C.4.2.2

5 Training for image and sensor annotation

1 Within 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.5

6 Processing and data annotation of 100% sensor and image data

1 Within 2 weeks after trip landing

COR Section C, C.4.5

7 Develop vessel monitoring plans

1 per vessel

1 month after award COR Section C, C.3.0, C.4.4

8 Spending and project budget reports

1 Quarterly over the course of the contract

COR Section C, C.4.2.3

9 Vessel service event log and reports

1 Daily access COR Section C, C.4.2.1, C.4.4

10 Report all system failures

1 Within 48 hours of occurrence

COR Section C, C.4.4

11 Project meetings with

NMFS

1 Weekly or more frequently if required

COR Section C, C.4.2.3

12 Vessel reference sheet 1 1 month after award COR Section C, C.2.4, C.4.4

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13 Any information or formal agreements between Contractor and study participants

1 Within 1 week of dissemination

COR Section C, C.4.2.6

14 Quarterly evaluation document vessel and EM system performance

1 per vessel per quarter

Once per quarter COR Section C, C.4.2.7

15 Data retrieval (per trip basis)

1 Within 24 hours of trip landing

COR Section C, C.4.4

16 24 hour service hotline 1 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.4

17 Instructions and schedule for collection of data and retrieval of hard drives

1 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.4

18 Detailed description of EM installation and removal vessel requirements (potential and actual)

1 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.4

19 Data collection template

1 In coordination with data collection initiation and revised as necessary

COR Section C, C.4.5

20 Summarized trip report (EM summary file standards) and access to all data

1 2 weeks after trip landing

COR Section C, C.4.5

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21 Experimental plans for data collection

1 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.1, C.4.5

22 Setup of accounts or licenses for EM editing software

3 Within 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.5

23 Tracking sheet for data inventory and reviewing schedule

1 Daily access COR Section C, C.4.5

24 Schedule for data processing and delivery of final data summary

1 Within 2 months after award

COR Section C, C.4.5

25 Assess quality of image and develop categories of quality

1 Within 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.5

26 Assess sensor data for completeness

1 Within 2 months after award (or updated as needed)

COR Section C, C.4.5

27 Removal of all EM equipment

1 Study completion COR Section C, C.4.6

28 Draft Data Summary 1 1 month prior to due date for final report

COR Section C, C.4.7

29 Final Data Summary 1 At project completion COR Section C, C.4.7

30 Delivery of all raw data

1 2 months following completion of project

COR Section C, C.4.8

31 Storage of data (sensor and image)

1 For three (3) years from project start date

COR Section C, C.4.8

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SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING

D.1 MARKING DELIVERABLES

The contract number shall be placed on or adjacent to all exterior mailing or shipping labels of deliverable items called for by the contract, including reports.

Mark deliverables for:

Nichole Rossi US Dept. of Commerce/NOAA/NMFS 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543

END OF SECTION D

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SECTION E – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

E.1 FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) 52.246-4 INSPECTION OF

SERVICES -- FIXED-PRICE (AUG 1996)

E.2 COMMERCE ACQUISITION REGULATION (CAR) 1352.246-70 PLACE OF

ACCEPTANCE (APR 2010)

(a) The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will perform inspection and acceptance of supplies and services to be provided under this contract.

(b) The place of acceptance will be:

Inspection and acceptance will be performed at:

NOAA/Protected Species Branch 28 Tarzwell Drive Narragansett, RI 02882

(End of clause)

END OF SECTION E

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SECTION F – DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

F.1 CAR 1352.270-70 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (APR 2010)

(a) The period of performance of this contract consists of a Base Period of Date of Award through Fifteen Months thereafter.

(b) The notice requirements for unilateral exercise of option periods are set out in FAR 52.217- 8.

END OF SECTION F

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SECTION G – CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

G.1 CAR 1352.201-70 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S AUTHORITY (APR 2010)

G.2 CAR 1352.201-72 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) (APR

2010)

(a) Nicole Rossi is hereby designated as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The COR may be changed at any time by the Government without prior notice to the contractor by a unilateral modification to the contract. The COR is located at:

NOAA/Protected Species Branch 166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Phone Number: 508.495.2000 Email: Nichole.Rossi@noaa.gov

(b) The responsibilities and limitations of the COR are as follows:

(1) The COR is responsible for the technical aspects of the contract and serves as technical liaison with the contractor. The COR is also responsible for the final inspection and acceptance of all deliverables and such other responsibilities as may be specified in the contract.

(2) The COR is not authorized to make any commitments or otherwise obligate the Government or authorize any changes which affect the contract price, terms or conditions. Any contractor request for changes shall be referred to the Contracting Officer directly or through the COR. No such changes shall be made without the express written prior authorization of the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer may designate assistant or alternate COR(s) to act for the COR by naming such assistant/alternate(s) in writing and transmitting a copy of such designation to the contractor.

G.3 NAM 1330-52.242-70 INVOICES

(a) The Contractor shall prepare and submit an invoice to the COR for approval with a copy to the contracting officer for information. All invoices shall be submitted (via electronic copy) by the 10th day of the subsequent month.

(b) Payment will be based on receipt of a proper invoice and satisfactory contract performance and guidelines in FAR 32.9, Prompt Payment. To constitute a proper invoice, the contractor’s invoice shall be prepared in accordance with, and contain all elements specified in FAR 52.212-4(g), “Invoices”.

(c) Original invoices shall be mailed (via electronic copy) to the designated billing office as follows:

NOAA/NMFS

166 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 Phone Number: (508) 495-2000 Email: Nichole.Rossi@noaa.gov

A copy of all invoices shall be emailed to the contract administration office as follows:

NOAA/Eastern Region Acquisition Division Attn: Amy McLiverty, 200 Granby St.

Norfolk, VA 23510-1811 Email: Amy.L.McLiverty@noaa.gov

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The designated payment office for this contract is:

NOAA

Eastern Finance Branch NOAA Finance Office, AOD 20020 Century Blvd.

Germantown, MD 20874-1178

(d) The Contractor will submit invoices to the Contract Officer’s Technical Representative stating the hours worked, the task and/or equipment purchases made. A final invoice should be submitted with the final report, and will be paid when the final report and all tasks are reviewed and deemed to be complete by the Agency.

(e) The Government will return invoices that do not comply with these requirements. If the invoice does not comply with FAR 52.212-4(g), “Invoices”, the COR will return it to the contractor within seven days after the date the designated office received the invoice along with a statement as to the reasons why it is not a proper invoice.

(End of provision)

G.4 NAM 1330-52.203-71 NOTICE OF POST-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT

RESTRICTIONS (OCT 2015)

By submission of an offer in response to a NOAA solicitation or acceptance of a contract, the contractor acknowledges the restriction on current NOAA employees regarding contact with offerors regarding prospective employment and the corresponding obligations for contractors who engage them. The contractor further acknowledges that it has provided notice to former NOAA employees who will provide service to NOAA under the contract of post-Government employment restrictions that apply to them. Such restrictions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in:

(a) 41 U.S.C. § 2103 regarding contacts between a federal employee working on a procurement and an offeror about prospective employment;

(b) 18 U.S.C. § 207 regarding the restrictions on former federal employees having contact with a federal agency on behalf of another person or entity concerning a specific party matter with which the former employee was involved as a federal employee or for which the former federal employee had official responsibility;

(c) 18 U.S.C. § 207 regarding the restrictions on former senior employees and senior political employees from having contact with his former federal agency on behalf of another person or entity concerning any official matter; and

(d) 41 U.S.C. § 2104 regarding the restrictions on a former federal employee involved in an acquisition over $10,000,000 from accepting compensation from a contractor. (End of solicitation and contract language).

G.5 NOAA ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE OMBUDSMAN (OCT 2016)

(a) The NOAA Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO) Ombudsman is available to organizations to promote responsible and meaningful exchanges of information.