19-02832_-_NFFP5000-19-02832_-_PROPAGATED_ABALONE_PURCHASE_06102019_-_CS_FBO.pdf

SUPPORT FOR WHITE ABALONE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM

THE CULTURED ABALONE

NOAA/NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

WEST COAST REGION

STATEMENT OF NEED

NFFP5000-19-02832

17 May 2019

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. 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 to purchase 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 purchase 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 purchase 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 purchased by NMFS for the purposes of outplanting. 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

● Task 1: Produce ~125,000 healthy white abalone over a 24 –month time frame

● Task 2: Progress report to NMFS

E. Deliverables:

The contractor is responsible for producing ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~ 10 mm shell length) during the 12-month Base Period and ~62,500 healthy white abalone (~25 mm shell length) during the 12-month Option Period. The contractor shall provide a short report that summarizes how the funds were used to produce the healthy white abalone (1) month before the end of the Option Period.

F. Period of Performance Base Period: September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020.

Option Period: September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021

G. Place of Performance:

Contractor’s place of performance.

H. Non-Personal Service Contract Statement Contractor employees performing services under this order will be controlled, directed and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Contractor employees will perform independent of and without the supervision of any Government official. Actions of contractor employees may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the U.S. Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. The Government will perform the inspection and acceptance of the completed work.

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

J. 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

K. Other Unique Requirements: None required.

L. 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.

NON-PERSONAL SERVICE STATEMENT:

Personnel performing services under this order will be controlled, directed and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Personnel will perform independent of and without the supervision of any Government official. Actions of contractor employees may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the U.S. Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. The NMFS will perform the inspection and acceptance of the completed work.

M. Program Office Point of Contact

TO BE PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD

National Marine Fisheries Service 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200 Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 Phone: TO BE PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS/INFORMATION:

- Instructions for contract payment:

Payment will be processed by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) in arrears. Invoices if mailed, is to be mailed to the Billing Office address below or electronically submitted invoices will be accepted in lieu of mailed invoices. If invoices will be submitted electronically via e-mail, e-mail the invoices to the Billing Office POC and Contracting Officer. Invoices, billed for supplies received by the Government, must include at a minimum, the company name, address, telephone, fax number, invoice number, invoice date, order number or contract number (see block 2 for the order number or contract number), and line item billing.

- Billing Office:

Invoices are to be mailed/emailed to:

U.S. Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region 501 W. Ocean Blvd. Suite 4200 Long Beach, CA 90802

POC: TO BE PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD

POC: TO BE PROVIDED AT TIME OF AWARD