NFFO20002101953 SON_White Abalone 02122021 RFQ.pdf

SUPPORT FOR WHITE ABALONE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM

THE CULTURED ABALONE

NOAA/NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SUPPLY

WEST COAST REGION

STATEMENT OF NEED

13 May 2021

NF-FO2000-21-01953 WHITE ABALONE

A. Background:

In 2001, white abalone received the dubious distinction of being the first marine invertebrate listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The marine mollusk was once prevalent off the West Coast south of Point Conception to Baja California (with historical estimates of more than 300,000 individuals off the coast of California) but will likely number fewer than 1,000 within 10 to 15 years.

Intense commercial harvesting of white abalone began in 1969 and peaked in 1972 at about 143,000 pounds of white abalone per year. Just six years later, the fishing industry caught less than 5,000 pounds. Unfortunately, it appears that there have been few, if any, offspring produced since the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. A likely reason for the inability of white abalone to rebound is their need to be close to each other when reproducing. The relatively short duration but high impact of the fishery diminished the density of the species, making it difficult for the remaining individuals to reproduce. A captive rearing and enhancement program may be the species’ only chance of restoring white abalone populations in the wild.

In April of 2019, a member of our captive rearing program successfully produced over 20 million white abalone larvae. Another few million larvae were produced in the spring of 2020. These production numbers exceeded the rearing and settlement capacity at our member facilities.

Fortunately, other organizations offered to rear the excess larvae until the abalone reach sizes appropriate for outplanting by NOAA and team partners.

The work described here supports NOAA’s mission to support the recovery of federally endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni). Our desired action is the production of appropriately sized and healthy white abalone from an entity so that the abalone may be outplanted in an effort to restore wild populations. The entity we are seeking must be in the process of obtaining or in possession of an ESA permit issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The production of white abalone for outplanting is necessary in order to meet the recovery criteria outlined in the NMFS White Abalone Recovery Plan.

B. Objectives NOAA NMFS West coast Regional Office (WCR) is seeking to obtain abalone from an entity that has initiated the process of being issued or is in possession of a NMFS ESA white abalone research permit and can support the captive rearing of endangered white abalone. The white abalone produced by the entity are essential for NMFS efforts to successfully restore white abalone populations in the wild.

C. Scope This contract supports the production of approximately 125,000 healthy white abalone that would be produced for the NOAA white abalone recovery program to enhance (throughout planting) populations in the wild. During the first 12 months, ~62,500 abalone that have reached a size of ~ 10 mm shell length will be produced. During months 13-24, ~62,500 abalone that have reached a size of ~ 25 mm shell length will be produced.

D. Tasks: Base Year and Option Year 1

The contractor is responsible for producing ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) in the base period over a 12-month period and ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) in the option period over a 12-month period. Not later than 24 months from the date of award, the contractor shall provide a short report that summarizes how the funds were used to produce the healthy white abalone.

Task 1 Base Year - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) - 09/01/2021 through 08/31/2022 and a progress report to NMFS (CONTACT TNAME TO PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD) to include 1) the approximate total number of abalone produced within each shell length target (10 mm and 25 mm shell length); 2) a list of any challenges/limitations encountered; and 3) measures taken to overcome said challenges/limitations.

Task 2 Option Year 1 - ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) - 09/01/2022 through 08/31/2023 and a progress report to NMFS (CONTACT TNAME TO PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD) to include 1) the approximate total number of abalone produced within each shell length target (10 mm and 25 mm shell length); 2) a list of any challenges/limitations encountered; and 3) measures taken to overcome said challenges/limitations.

E. Deliverables:

The contractor is responsible for producing ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) over a 12-month time frame no later than 08/31/2022 and ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) from months 13-24 no later than 08/31/2023, the contractor shall provide a short report that summarizes how the funds were used produce the healthy white abalone on Task 1 and Task 2.

Period of Performance Base Year: 09/01/2021 through 08/31/2022 Option Year 1: 09/01/2022 through 08/31/2023

F. Place of Performance: Contractor’s location

G. Reimbursable Expenses (Travel, Conference, Training, Equipment, Materials, Etc.): None required.

H. Education/Experience Required:

● The contractor must be in the process of obtaining or have a NMFS-issued ESA permit

● The contractor must be a member of the white abalone captive breeding program

I. Other Unique Requirements: None required.

J. Other:

DATA PRIVACY:

Should work on this agreement require that personnel have access to Privacy information, personnel shall adhere to the Privacy Act, Title 5 of the U.S. Code, Section 552a and applicable agency rules and regulations. Data created, obtained and collected during the performance of this agreement is the property of NMFS. Data may not be released by any party without written consent from the NMFS POC. Data must be protected from unauthorized disclosure. Personnel must comply with all Federal, DOC, NOAA, and NMFS policies relating to IT and data security.

K. Billing/Invoicing to be completed on a monthly basis in arrears.

L. Program Office Point of Contact

TO BE PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD