Sources_Sought__N62470-14-R-9000.pdf

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSAL AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED

FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. It is a market research tool being used to determine the availability and adequacy of potential business sources prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a Request for Proposal including the use of any appropriate small business programs.

The intent of this sources sought synopsis is to identify potential qualified 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Small Business firms for a marine species monitoring and research, and related environmental planning services contract. The place of performance is throughout the NAVFAC Atlantic and Pacific AOR, primarily in marine areas where U.S. Navy training and testing occurs in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Ocean. Upon review of industry response to this Sources Sought Synopsis, the Government will determine whether a set-aside acquisition in lieu of full and open competition is in the Government’s best interest. This is not a solicitation but Sources Sought only.

CONUS: All marine biological stewardship and management services shall be conducted in compliance with the Sikes Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishing and Conservation Management Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Executive Order 12114 (Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions), Executive Order 13089 (Coral Reef Protection), Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, the Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2005. Work must also be in compliance with Department of Defense regulations OPNAVINST 3150.2b, OPNAVINST 5090.1C, OPNAVINST 5090.1C CH-1, and other applicable federal, state and local laws, Navy policies, regulations and guidance documents. Additional client-driven regulations and procedures may also apply.

OCONUS: Services performed outside the United States or its territories shall be conducted in accordance with International and Host Nation laws and regulations, as well as the Department of Defense Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document (OEGBD), Final Governing Standards (FGS) and any Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA) for the country involved.

After review of the responses submitted, a solicitation announcement will be published in the Federal Business Opportunities if the government intends to continue with the procurement.

The general scope of work is to conduct marine species (primarily marine mammals and sea turtles) research services and implement components of the U.S. Navy’s Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program (ICMP) within the NAVFAC Atlantic and Pacific AOR.

Each particular operational area has specific baseline data and monitoring needs depending on the current level of knowledge and data availability. Monitoring research studies may include aerial and ship board surveys, passive acoustics in the form of autonomous devices and towed arrays, tagging, photo identification, biopsy sampling, and behavioral studies. Monitoring activities may be implemented before, during, and after Navy training and testing events or as ongoing baseline data collection. The contractor must be capable of providing or contracting all equipment and personnel for multiple concurrent field studies (ten or more) across several geographical areas; performing data analysis and reporting of results; and conducting program administration, budgeting, sub-contractor management, and general program oversight. Program administration is anticipated to include, but not be limited to, coordination with Navy representatives on monitoring projects, selection and oversight of field researchers in several geographical areas, analysis of field data, and consolidation of field data to meet overall program goals, and preparation of monthly and annual reports. Successful candidates will possess high levels of experience in both program administration and technical field research and will have access to a broad pool of researchers and equipment to meet the program needs.

The work conducted under this contract may include but not be limited to the following type services:

1. Program Management and Coordination

The primary contractor will be responsible for management, coordination, and oversight of Navy-wide monitoring efforts. In support of this initiative the Contractor should be prepared to establish, manage, and coordinate multiple monitoring data collection efforts simultaneously across broad geographic regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans where the U.S. Navy trains. To successfully accomplish the objectives of the ICMP and meet requirements of Navy permits and authorizations the contractor will be expected to assemble and/or have access to a large team of researchers and scientists with extensive experience developing and performing complex studies of marine species including acoustics, behavior, ecology, density/abundance, and habitat use. Expertise in identifying and working with species from both Atlantic and Pacific oceans will be required and previous experience conducting monitoring and research on Navy ranges is highly desired. The contractor is expected to establish and maintain physical office locations in San Diego, CA, Norfolk or VA Beach, VA, and Honolulu, HI within 9 months of contract award. In addition, the primary contractor must provide a dedicated program manager that will devote 100% of his/her effort to the oversight and management of this contract and associated task orders.

Monitoring Coordination and Team of Subject Matter Experts

The scope and magnitude of marine species monitoring plans under this contract will require significant collaboration and potential leveraging of monitoring efforts from a variety of Federal and State agencies, universities and institutions, and other regional marine scientists. The contractor is expected to effectively communicate and work collaboratively with various scientific organizations and, when applicable to this Contract, coordinate with these groups to provide required services and products.

Data Management

Large quantities of data (visual observation, passive acoustics, ecological, and environmental) will be collected and generated through various monitoring efforts. It is essential that data be organized, cataloged, and stored in a system that facilitates analysis and reporting requirements. Observation data from visual and acoustic surveys may need to be processed and prepared in specific formats to be submitted to existing databases such as OBIS-SEAMAP, or integrated into other systems developed specifically to manage marine resource and monitoring data

Analysis and Reporting

Results of monitoring efforts will need to be analyzed appropriately and reported in a format (written reports, tables, figures, maps, databases, etc.)

consistent with requirements of Navy monitoring plans established through coordination with NMFS and the MMPA authorization process. Data analysis may include, but is not limited to the following: assessment of observation data for trends in species distribution and abundance; evaluation of acoustic, behavioral and tagging data to examine potential changes in animal behavior;

assessments of mitigation and monitoring effectiveness, as well as addressing other questions that may be raised as part of the Navy’s environmental compliance and monitoring program. Periodic short timeframe reports may include summaries of monitoring effort and preliminary data/results immediately following individual training exercises.

2. Specific Research and Monitoring Activities

Specific research and monitoring activities under this Contract may include, but are not limit to:

Visual Surveys

Visual surveys using experienced observers may constitute a significant component of marine species monitoring programs. The primary purpose of visual surveys is to monitor, locate and report the distribution, numbers and behavior (including reactions/no reactions) of marine species (primarily marine mammals and sea turtles).

Surveys may support active Navy training exercises by providing before, during and/or after monitoring and may also be conducted for more synoptic purposes such as establishing spatial-temporal distribution, abundance and habitat associations.

Surveys may be conducted in a number of formats appropriate to the specific purpose including systematic line-transects and focal follows. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that all necessary safety regulations are followed and appropriate permits have been obtained.

Marine Mammal Observers

Monitoring obligations require that trained observers be stationed onboard Navy ships during a sampling of training exercises for the purpose of providing detailed data on encounters with marine species including species identification and behavioral observations. Observers shall meet specific minimum qualification standards as established through individual task orders under this contract.

Passive Acoustic Monitoring

Passive acoustic monitoring will be performed either in coordination with other monitoring techniques or as a primary means of monitoring for the presence of all possible species of marine mammals. Acoustic monitoring may be accomplished through a variety of methods including deployment of moored autonomous instrument packages/buoys (using both real-time and post-analysis methods), free-floating sonobuoys, and/or the use of passive acoustic arrays in conjunction with vessel-based visual surveys.

In addition to collecting passive acoustic data, access to individuals with extensive experience in developing analysis protocols, detection, location, and classification algorithms, and conducting sophisticated, complex analysis of passive acoustic data will also be required. Primary investigators with considerable previous experience reviewing and identifying recorded marine mammal vocalizations, underwater acoustic propagation, digital signal processing, automated detection, programming, and appropriate facilities to work with classified data during analysis, are also required.

Marine Species Tagging and Tracking

Marine species tagging and tracking will be performed either in coordination with other monitoring techniques or as a primary means of monitoring the presence of marine mammals and sea turtles. Experts that have experience in the application of various tagging methods will be required, as well as individuals who are trained in data processing and analysis. Specific expertise using a variety of tags (i.e., radio tags, satellite transmitters, satellite linked data recorders, GPS tags, acoustic recording tags (D-tags), etc.) and their associate attachment methodologies (i.e. epoxy, tethered, harness, suction cup, barbed, etc.) are necessary to identify the best use of tagging assets.

Photo Identification

Photographic identification of individual animals may be performed in coordination with other monitoring techniques as a means of cataloging the presence of marine mammals and creating a photographic database to analyze population parameters.

Undertaking photo-identification studies will require the use of experienced photographers who have worked with wildlife or other fast moving subjects.

Expertise in photo-matching or the use of automated photo-identification software may also be required to analyze and report results.

Behavioral Studies

Behavioral studies may be performed in coordination with other monitoring techniques as a means of assessing the effects of exercises and other stressors on the normal behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles. Observations of behaviors will be made through analysis of visual, passive acoustic, and tagging data. Visual survey methodologies may include focal follows, continuous observations and other standard surveillance techniques.

Event reconstruction and data integration

In order to assess potential behavioral responses to active sonar and underwater detonations, it will be necessary to correlate marine mammal movements and behaviors with Navy training and testing data including active sonar use and ship tracks. These data will likely be sensitive and may be classified. This analysis will provide a key component of interpreting the monitoring data in an operational context. Methods for this analysis and reconstruction will need to be developed with Navy operators and adapted as data needs require. Analysis will need to be crafted to integrate data from varied sensors used for monitoring including vertical and horizontal movements from tags, passive acoustic detections, behavioral observations from visual observers, and operational data related to the movements and actions of navy assets.

Miscellaneous Marine and Biological Resource Services

The Contractor may be requested to provide miscellaneous biological resources planning, evaluation, management and related services that may be required of the Navy as a condition of compliance with federal natural resources regulations and Navy natural resources policies. These services may include but are not limited to preparation of assessments, evaluations, engineering evaluations, maintenance plans, management plans for conservation areas, baseline assessment surveys, training programs and workshops, and compliance assistance.

Should a future requirement (s) evolve from this preliminary planning purpose, the Government intends to solicit and award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with an estimated value of $75 million. The contract term will be a base year and four one year option periods. The task order projects will vary in magnitude. The NAICS code is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. The small business size standard is $14 million.

Statement of Capabilities submittal requirements: The Statement of Capabilities (SOC) will determine the feasibility and/or basis for the Government’s decision to proceed with acquisition.

Interested firms must submit a SOC, which describes in details the firm’s capability of providing the described services.

The Government will evaluate sources’ capabilities based on the following:

1. Prime and key consultants in terms of recent experience (within the last 5 years) with regard to the services listed above, knowledge of pertinent regulations, and experiences working within NAVFAC Atlantic and Pacific AORs. Provide a minimum of six and a maximum of twelve concrete examples from current or past contracts that demonstrate this experience. Individual projects (task orders or stand alone contracts) under $50,000 will not be considered. One or more individual project(s) of $250,000 should be included in the examples provided.

2. Professional qualifications and capabilities of the staff to be assigned to the resulting contract; include experience within the past 5 years in the types of work addressed above.

3. Provide evidence of support facilities necessary for this program and corporate capacity to perform multiple tasks concurrently.

4. If you are considering entering into a teaming arrangement, you should provide the name of all teaming partners, the anticipated type of teaming arrangements, address the specific services each member will provide and include applicable experience for each member, and to what extent your firm has worked with the proposed subcontractors in the past. For other than bundled requirements you may be able to joint venture with one or more small businesses and not be considered affiliated as long as each member of the joint venture is small under the applicable NAICS code (13 CFR 121.103(h)(3)). The limitation on subcontracting would apply to the cooperative effort of the joint venture and not each individual member (13 CFR 125.6(i)). A small business prime will be required to comply with FAR 52.219-14 which states that at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended by employees of the concern.

Provide evidence that on past contracts of a similar nature that your firm (as the prime contractor) was able to comply with the requirement of FAR 52.219-14 and will be able to comply with this requirement under the proposed contract.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: It is requested that interested firms submit to the contracting office a brief capabilities statement (no longer than 20 pages in length) demonstrating their ability to meet and execute the requirements as set forth above, company or organization name and address, point of contact, telephone and facsimile number, email address; DUNS Number, Cage Code number, and indicate whether you are a small business, small disadvantage business, woman-owned business, etc. Firms submitting responses shall present their information in a matrix format showing contracts they have performed. The matrix shall show the most recent projects (minimum of six, maximum of twelve), which demonstrate an ability to meet the qualification criteria listed above. Provide the contract number, contract type (i.e. fixed price, indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery, cost reimbursement, etc.), project value, contract value and point of contact with phone number. Indicate whether the work was performed as a prime or a subcontractor, as well as what percentage of work your firm performed. List key personnel that participated in the projects and their responsibilities. Provide your ability to meet the qualifications described above relative to your firm/team. Provide business name, address, telephone number and business site, socioeconomic category for NAICS code 541690, average number of employees of the concern, and average annual receipts based on the last 3 fiscal years.

Responses are due 20 December 2013 at 14:00 EST. Submissions should be sent either by email to katya.oxley@navy.mil or by mail to the following address:

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic 6506 Hampton Blvd. LRA, Bldg. A ATTN: Ms. Katya Oxley, Code ACQ34 Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278

This market survey is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bid or proposals, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government.

The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for or award a competitive contract. The Government will not provide a “debrief” on the results of the survey. All information submitted will be held in a confidential manner and will only be used for the purpose intended. Points of contact listed may be contacted for purpose of verifying performance.

POINT OF CONTACT:

Katya Oxley, Contract Specialist; Phone: (757)322-4735; Email: katya.oxley@navy.mil