AFSC Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program RFI Q-A.pdf

NOAA/WAD Request for Information Page 1 of 4

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE

Western Acquisition Division

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

ACQUISITION AND GRANTS OFFICE

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

ALASKA FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

FISHERIES MOINTORING AND ANALYSIS DIVISION

ALASKA MARINE MAMMAL OBSERVER PROGRAM

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question Answer

Is providing an adequate number of small, easy to install EM systems to meet coverage goals included in the primary scope?

While it is in the PWS, it is not part of the "primary scope" for purposes of determining appropriate set aside (i.e. this could be subcontracted)

Will the Capability Statement Coversheet be excluded from the 5 page limit? Yes, it is excluded from the 5-page limit.

Dates refer to 2026, should this be 2025?

Yes, all dates are 2025 and official response are due January 27th.

Where will the mandatory safety training be conducted? Preferred in Seattle, WA, but could be coordinated for Juneau AK as well.

Will camera views need to be approved by FMA or just the provider?

EM Provider- if installed by them, otherwise if observer and vessel operator are responsible to hook up a temp camera, they will have instructions on what must be in the view.

"Facilities and computers will be provided by NMFS or by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission", what does this refer to?

Should the contractor need facilities/computers to process data, NMFS offices could be used. Observer datasheets will need to be scanned, uploaded and sent to AFSC on a weekly or biweekly schedule.

"FMA will supply a list of randomly selected permit holders and contract information to the contractor."

Would the vendor receive this at contract signing, at the start of the season, weekly, or another time? The vendor would receive the list in May 2025

"Data uploads may be conducted on-site at NMFS facilities." This would not be necessary with some equipment; will it be a requirement? It is not "required".

"Observers will be required to have served as fishery observers previously." Can you clarify whether they need to be NOAA certified observers or not, since there may be other fishery observer programs that qualify

No-not specifically NOAA Certified. We will clarify this in the actual RFP/PWS that experience in NPOP/Pacific experience preferred, but not required.

Is Monitoring in this fishing now mandatory? Is there a regulation in place and if so have vessels been notified of the monitoring component?

Under the MMPA - the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which has the delegated responsibility and authority to manage marine mammals, is directed to assess the level and nature of marine mammal interactions with commercial fishing operations, including mortality and serious injury (M/SI). The SEAK gillnet fishery is listed as a category 1 fishery (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-protection-act-list-fisheries#:~:text=The%20MMPA%20requires%20NOAA%20Fisheries,serio

NOAA/WAD Request for Information Page 2 of 4 us%20injury%20of%20marine%20mammals) where mortality and serious injury is greater than or equal to 50% PBR and hence, NMFS will require marine mammal monitoring in the fishery. This will be clarified in the PWS that comes out in the RFP.

Will NOAA be working with industry to understand the new management effort and doing outreach?

FMA has been working with the State and Industry since 2023. The AMMOP was presented at the 2023 SEAGA Task force meeting (https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.

salmon_meetings#2023). Additional outreach is planned for 2025.

If it is not mandatory, what is the expectation for vessel participation and the contractor's role in that effort? The plan is for 2025 to be a mandatory program

Is there a compliance program in place for vessel participation? Gillnetter compliance will be verified through State Fish Tickets

What percent of coverage are you aiming to achieve, and by what areas specifically?

Coverage and area targets are dependent on funding and uncertain at this time but will be included in the RFP

How will you be selecting vessels for coverage?

Vessels will be randomly selected. The Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS) used to select vessels in the partial coverage sector could potentially be utilized with vessels logging trips as Gear type Gillnet.

Otherwise we'll come up with a way to implement random selection and it will be outlined in the RFP

How far in advance will you be notifying vessels and contractors that a vessel has been selected for coverage?

72 hours to match PC observers and allow for placement of EM system. -once a final determination is made, this will be outlined in the RFP.

Will there by the opportunity to install equipment ahead of selection, since each vessel is unique, or could vessels be required to submit pictures of the deck/vessels so that the contractor can prepare ahead of time?

This will depend on what type of camera system we move forward with.

Most will be transportable units, but some may be more permanent ones like used in the test. We'll have more definitive descriptions of this in the actual RFP. If vessels can log/forecast several trips out, we will be able to coordinate logistics easier.

Does the Government have preferred vessel vendors and/or operators with whom they would prefer the contractor work? The plan forward is to randomly select vessels for coverage.

Does the Government have an estimate of the number of boats required for adequate observation of the gillnet fishery?

Not at this time - we will have an estimate prepared for the RFP or at least a range of possible vessels.

Archipelago is mentioned as having worked with the Government in the past. Are they considered the incumbent?

The amount of time between awards and potential changes make this a significantly different action

Does the Government encourage partnerships between contractors to address the needs described in the provided PWS?

Yes. The Government seeks maximum competition and industry participation

Are observers expected to perform maintenance on the cameras, such as installation or troubleshooting, while deployed?

To the extent possible, observers should be utilized for performing camera installations/maintenance/troubleshooting.

Will just one observer be required for one permitted vessel (i.e. there are no circumstances in which two observers are required for a single permit)

Single observer paired with possible EM system is the most that would be required for each permitted vessel. Since gillnetting occurs beyond a 12-hour observer work day, it may be necessary to set up observer shifts to ensure the full diurnal period is sampled.

Are observers' work compensation policies covered under the Federal Employees' Compensations Act (FECA) or other insurance policies held by the contractor?

Requirements will match what is required for Partial Coverage fishery observers. We will be sure to provide clarification in the PWS in the RFP. It is a State fishery with NMFS mandated monitoring.

NOAA/WAD Request for Information Page 3 of 4

This is a Request for Information (RFI), for market research purposes, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10 Procedures. This is not a solicitation, nor does it guarantee a solicitation will be issued. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This is not a request for proposals and it does not obligate the government in any manner.

Background The FMA Division desires to obtain sampling services and electronic monitoring technology support for the collection of fisheries data including fishing effort, gear characteristics and marine mammal and seabird interactions during the commercial salmon drift gillnet fisheries operating in inland waters of Southeast Alaska in 2025 and 2026.

The FMA Division plans to shift monitoring methods from a traditionally observer centric program to one that employs electronic monitoring (EM) methods. Direct observation of the fishery has historically been obtained from separate platforms requiring the program to procure vessels and boat operators in addition to fishery observers which is extremely costly. EM has been shown to be minimally intrusive to fishing operations and has the potential to document fishing effort and marine mammal interaction at a fraction of the cost of fishery observers, allowing the program to obtain higher coverage levels and more precise bycatch estimates.

While EM has been an effective method for monitoring marine mammal interaction in other gillnet fisheries, the application of EM for the AMMOP has not yet been attempted. In 2023 and 2024, FMA partnered with Archipelago Marine Resources to conduct field trials deploying several types of EM systems on SEAK drift gillnet vessels during salmon season. Results of those trials have been promising: Vessels have adequate power to support small EM systems, there is space to install small EM units on several vessel configurations in locations that are accessible but that also do not impede fishing operations, camera views and image quality can capture seabird and marine mammal interaction with the nets.

AFSC seeks industry input into the draft performance work statement (PWS), attached. AFSC welcomes any comments, concerns, or suggestions to clarify or improve the PWS, especially from vendors interested in participating in any future contract.

Primary Scope:

• Maintain qualified pool of fishery observers, with previous relevant experience and ability to move, install, or uninstall electronic monitoring (EM) equipment.

• Provide vessels and qualified boat operators to allow observers to view gillnet fishery

• Perform EM data review

The NAICS code is likely to be 541690 for Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a size standard of $19M.

Requested Information:

Responses to this notice shall be limited to five pages.

NOAA/WAD Request for Information Page 4 of 4

1. Vendor information

a. The organization’s UEI number, CAGE code, and organization/company structure (corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.).

b. The size classification of the organization under the appropriate NAICS code, and if the organization is classified as a small business, HUBZone small business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned small business, Woman-owned small business and/or 8(a) certified small business.

c. General statement providing the organization’s relevant experience and/or capability to perform the principal PWS services

d. Any additional information you would need to consider this opportunity.

2. PWS feedback

a. Identify any areas that need clarification or raise additional questions.

b. Suggestions for any improvement or way to increase vendor participation

3. Please add any comments, concerns, or feedback not reflected in previous questions.

Capability statements and other responses shall be submitted to Sarah Waugh at sarah.waugh@noaa.gov no later than 5:00 PM Pacific Time on January 27, 2025. Please do not call regarding this notice. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via e-mail to the above e-mail address no later than 5:00 PM Pacific Time on January 10, 2025. An amendment may be posted if necessary, so firms are encouraged to “follow” this announcement for future actions.

This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.