18-03800_Seabird_Observer_Training_SOW.pdf

PROVIDE SEABIRD TRAINING AND BRIEFING SESSIONS FOR ALASKA

FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER FISHERIES OBSERVERS

STATEMENT OF WORK

BACKGROUND

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) deploys fisheries observers to commercial fishing vessels in Alaskan Waters. The AFSCS North Pacific Observer Program manages the training, field work, and debriefing of observers and database management that supports provision of observer data to a wide suite of clients and end-users. As part of their duties, observers complete work related to seabird interactions with commercial fisheries. Duties are defined in the annual field manual for observers. Many of these tasks are required by the Reasonable and Prudent Measures of the Short-tailed Albatross Biological Opinion. All observer candidates in the 3-week certification course and all prior observers taking the annual briefing receive a 3-hr or 1.5 hr (respectively) seabird session.

Observers were first assigned specific duties related to seabird bycatch and taught how to identify individual seabirds in 1993. This work was initiated by the USFWS, working closely with Observer Program staff. At the time, and through 2003, seabird expertise resided in the Observer Program. Since 2003 however, staff who are experienced with seabird conservation and field work have not resided within the Observer Program. While other Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) staff are available for consultation and to assist with observer training, they are not available to conduct the many training sessions needed throughout the year and are often unavailable during the fall when protocols and presentations are being updated for the coming year. From 2003 through 2009 seabird training was still handled “in-house” within the Observer Program, with the assistance and coordination of the AFSC Coordinated Seabird Studies Group. Unfortunately, staff turnover within the Groundfish Observer Program is such that we cannot achieve good continuity for this training.

Similar to the manner in which all fish identification training is provided to observers, an outside vendor supplying the seabird identification modules is the most effective and dependable manner in which to provide this required training. It helps the AFSC to achieve internal goals for data quality and allows the AFSC to meet obligations for such training under the Short-tailed albatross biological opinion.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work is to prepare individuals taking either the 3-week observer certification course or the certified observer’s annual briefing in seabird identification (ID) and seabird related duties. This activity is needed so that observers can carry out their seabird-related responsibilities while in the field (deployed to vessels or shoreside plants) and provide high-quality data and reliable seabird bycatch identification for inclusion in the Observer Program database.

SCOPE OF WORK

There are several components to this work. In each year of this contract, the work begins in the fall with review of pertinent seabird ID and observer responsibilities. Two types of training modules are then developed, one for the 3-week observer certification course and one for the annual briefing course. These sessions will then be applied consistently throughout the year.

Periodic meetings with the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) shall occur.

Development: The vendor will meet with the COR and North Pacific Observer Program/AFSC staff each fall and review current training materials, observer manuals, etc. AFSC staff will discuss what changes are needed for each upcoming season and provide the training and briefing schedule. Staff will also discuss potential areas for improvement in the materials used in the previous year. Input from the vendor will be welcome. The vendor will then develop a draft seabird module for each type of observer training session. The COR and Observer training staff will review this for completeness and accuracy and OK the work. This process is expected to require about 40 hours of work annually.

Provision of training modules: The 3-week training is fairly standard and includes observer duties related to seabirds and seabird identification. The annual briefing reviews seabird identification, especially of albatross species, and delivers information on how important seabird data collection is and what it is used for. The vendor will provide 10 training sessions and 14 annual briefing sessions at the AFSC each year, according to the observer training schedule developed by Observer Program staff. The session provided for new observers within the 3-week observer certification course is 2-3 hours. The session provided for prior observers within the annual briefing session is about 1.5 hours. Observer training and briefing is most intense in the mid-December to late January period, but will be provided throughout the year. Modules will consist of a lecture, using presentation formats compatible with government systems (powerpoint is acceptable) that focuses on seabird biology, identification, fishery interactions, and how to use specialized guides developed for seabird bycatch identification. Each module also includes a lab session where museum-type specimens or frozen seabird specimens are used. Birds taken as bycatch are difficult to identify and standard bird guides are not useful for these purposes. All observers are provided with the University of Washington Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Guide to Beached Birds, Alaska edition. The vendor will instruct observers on how to properly use this guide in order to attain a high level of accuracy in seabird identification relevant to Observer Program species or species group codes.

Each type of session should be consistent throughout the year, unless an error is found which of course should be corrected before any further sessions are provided. Due to the nature of the Observer Program, Fishery regulations, and observer employment opportunities it is not possible to define exactly the number of training or briefing sessions a year ahead of time. Numbers here are based on past deployments and expectations for the future. Sessions in excess of the numbers contracted will be covered by AFSC staff, unless the vendor is willing and able to take on the additional work at no additional cost. Training modules will be projected using standard equipment in the observer training rooms. The vendor will provide a flash drive with the training modules at the outset and North Pacific Observer Program staff will load the presentation in appropriate drives for use throughout the year. The AFSC maintains a collection of museum-type study skins that will be available to the vendor for training. The AFSC also has frozen seabird specimens that can be used for training and testing. For each training module, and equal number of hours to the actual presentation is spent on prep time and proper storage of materials afterwards, interactions with observers, and interactions with training staff. On average, about 2 hours per week is needed for planning, logistics, etc.

Status meetings: The vendor representative and the COR shall meet quarterly to track progress and quality of the deliverable, and to track the number of sessions provided against the total contracted and the total being conducted by the North Pacific Observer Program. The COR may also sit through training sessions done early in the year to ensure the presentation meets with annual seabird data collection responsibilities. Meetings with the COR (AFSC seabird coordinator) are held in Seattle, at the AFSC or offsite. Meeting time and place will be arranged by mutual agreement and can occur before or after a training module is presented. Feedback to the vendor will be provided via observer evaluations and observer program staff. The vendor will make adjustments to each season’s training modules as appropriate, based on this feedback until a consistent module can be provided. The vendor will also, however, advise the AFSC on how to improve seabird training sessions.

TASKS

• Meet with AFSC Seabird Studies project coordinator and Observer Training staff and become familiar with training and briefing provided to observers

• Develop seabird training protocol, lesson plans, and updated presentation materials for seabird identification and seabird duties.

• Training modules will use presentations, COASST guidebooks, museum-type specimens, and birds selected from frozen specimens on hand.

• Provide 10 seabird module sessions annually for observer certification training, with each session lasting from 2-3 hours and including seabird biology, identification, fishery interactions, and how to use specialized guides developed for seabird bycatch identification. Each module also includes a lab session where museum-type specimens or frozen seabird specimens are used

• Provide 14 annual briefing seabird modules annually with each session lasting ca 1.5 hours and including seabird biology, identification, fishery interactions, and how to use specialized guides developed for seabird bycatch identification. Each module also includes a lab session where museum-type specimens or frozen seabird specimens are used. These sessions will not include all the material used in the certification training, but will also include some information on how seabird data are used.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

a) Coordination meetings with AFSC staff completed previous to each season’s training, typically in October to mid-November.

b) Training materials and presentations for 2019 prepared by 20 November 2018.

Presentation will be done on software compatible to that used by the North Pacific Observer Program/AFSC. At the outset of each training year (ca. 20 Nov) the vendor will provide the presentation on a device which can be uploaded to government computers used for observer training.

c) Seabird module training provided throughout the calendar year at the AFSC as needed, according to Observer Training Schedule and meeting the required numbers of certification (10) and annual briefing (14) sessions. Exact timing of when these are provided will be determined by the Observer Training staff. Past year schedules are available to vendors as examples.

d) Quarterly status meetings with COR.

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The government will furnish each observer with a University of Washington COASST field guide to beached birds, Alaska Edition. The government will also make available the museum-style study skins held at the AFSC and an assortment of frozen birds for use in observer training and testing.

Observers are trained at the NOAA Western Regional Center campus, primarily in Building 4, the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Observer training utilizes the lecture room (classroom setting) and nearby wetlab, which the vendor will have access to.

OTHER UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS

The vendor shall:

• Be familiar and experienced with training observers on seabird identification o Experience in training live bird identification (“birds on the wing”) o Experience in training identification of dead birds. Training in beached bird programs will be considered. Preference points for training fisheries observers in identification of bycaught birds.

• Indicate they will be responsive to AFSC Observer Program staff in the scheduling of these sessions, and remain flexible and able to deal with last-minute changes to schedules.

• Have familiarity with Fisheries Observer Programs and the seabird data collection components of those programs. Preference will be given to knowledge of the AFSC North Pacific Observer Program protocols.

• Be within a normal commute distance of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle

WA.

Also, the vendor shall indicate the following cost considerations:

• Ability to cap overhead at a rate relevant to most of this work occurring at the AFSC (i.e., “offsite” for the potential vendor). Rates above 25% will be considered but will rank lower in consideration of unique requirements.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Training sessions will be provided at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle WA or other locations on the NOAA WRC campus. The development of the training modules can be done at the vendor’s home office. The vendor will have access to the Observer Program freezer and wetlab for use in training and maintaining a collection of frozen birds for use in training.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The period of performance for this contract is October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. The period of performance begins with the base year, which runs from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. Option year 1 would begin on October 1, 2019 and run through September 30, 2020, and so on. See table below.

Item Begin annual performance End annual performance* Base Year October 1, 2018 September 30, 2019 Option Year 1 October 1, 2019 September 30, 2020 Option Year 2 October 1, 2020 September 30, 2021 Option Year 3 October 1, 2021 September 30, 2022

Option years may or may not be exercised at the sole discretion of the government. Exercising an option year depends on annual funding availability and government need.