PWS_FLD_testing_Final.pdf

Performance Work Statement National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

Project Title: Longline fishery gear testing trials including testing a fighting line device

Background:

NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) Protected Resources Division (PRD) is responsible for managing species protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This includes reducing mortality and serious injury to protected marine mammal species when the harm of fishery and other actions exceed the capacity of the species to survive or recover. In order to effectively execute this role, PIRO and the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) requires the assistance of a contractor that can develop and execute a deep-set longline experiment using various longline gear configurations including the use of the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA)-developed fighting line device, as specified by PRD.

The experiment shall be designed to determine whether the fighting line device would reduce the severity of injuries from “serious” to “non-serious” by increasing the likelihood of hook straightening during interactions with marine mammals. Gear strength testing will also include testing various gear types including various hook sizes, branchline sizes, and leader materials in combinations to measure potential effectiveness of the HLA fighting line device with a combination of gear types.

This is a firm-fixed price non-personal service order. Government personnel will be responsible for the overall scheduling of project activity and will provide the Contractor’s liaison/project manager with scheduling information as appropriate.

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to determine which combination of gear types used for longline fishing will increase the likelihood of hook straightening in order to reduce mortality and serious injuries of marine mammals when incidentally caught in longline gear.

The study will conduct strength testing of various gear types in combination, including with and without the use of the HLA-developed fighting line device.

The contractor shall collect and record all data on the various combinations of gear types, including the use of the HLA-developed fighting line device.

The results and analyses will be produced in a summary report.

Tasks:

A. Study Design

The contractor shall develop a study design for review and approval by NMFS (PIRO and PIFSC) prior to finalization or data collection. Study design must provide sufficient detail to understand the method(s) of evaluation, and shall be provided to NMFS in draft no later than 14 days following the kick off meeting. Specific requirements of the study design include testing the following gear types in various combinations:

a. Hook diameter of 4.2mm and 4.5mm hooks

b. Branchline diameters 2.0 mm and 2.3 mm branchlines

c. Leader materials including monofilament leader, braided leader, bloodline leader, and a monofilament looped leader

d. The above gear configurations used with the Hawaii Longline Association-developed fighting line device

Within 21 working days of receipt of the draft study design, NMFS will return the draft study design with any comments. The contractor shall respond to any comments and revise, as necessary, the study design within 14 days. Following receipt of the revised study design, PIRO will review and approve the final study design within 14 days.

The contractor shall procure at least two HLA fighting line devices for strength testing trails (~$100/each). The contractor shall work with PIRO and PIFSC to understand proper use of HLA fighting line devices prior to strength testing.

B. Meeting Participation

Participate in at least two meetings to coordinate with Hawaii Longline Association representatives and Project Lead, as requested by Project Lead. Meetings will be organized by Project Lead for at least one hour and scheduled at least one week in advance.

C. Strength Testing

The Contractor shall conduct gear strength testing using a variety of gear configurations as described in the study design. The full gear testing should test all of the following gear types:

1. Hook size (4.2 and 4.5mm diameter)

2. Branchline diameter (2.0 mm and 2.1 mm diameter)

3. Leader material (monofilament, braided leader, bloodline leader, monofilament looped leader)

4. Hawaii Longline Association fighting line device

The contractor shall collect and record all data using a combination of gear configurations as described in the study design. Data should include weights at which gear fails, including branchline breakage, leader material breakage, and hook straightening or breaking. Any and all gear breakage shall be recorded with associated force at which the gear fails. Gear breakage and associated force shall be recorded for longline gear both with and without using the Hawaii Longline Association-developed fighting line device.

The contractor shall also test the gear to evaluate the amount of strength gained with the use of the fighting line device by estimating the strength (or force) exerted on the line with the use of the fighting line device and the amount without the use of the fighting line device.

D. Report summarizing methods and results

The contractor shall prepare a report that summarizes the results from this experiment.

The report shall summarize the methods, data collection, analysis, and results from the experiment. The draft report and all records of data collected during the study will be submitted to NMFS-PIRO within 30 days of completion of the trials. NMFS-PIRO will review the draft report and provide comments to the contractor within 14 days of receipt.

The contractor will respond to comments and revise, as necessary, the draft report within 7 days. Following receipt of the revised report, NMFS-PIRO will review and approve the final report within 14 days.

Deliverables

● Study Design that details the methods and analysis for the experiment

○ Draft study design submitted to NMFS (PIRO and PIFSC) for review two weeks following the date of award

○ Final study design that addresses comments from NMFS review of draft study design

● Data collected from experimental gear strength testing

○ Data on gear testing, breaking strength, and hook straightening including use of

HLA fighting line device. Format for data reporting shall be included in the study design.

● Report summarizing experiment, including specific summaries of field methods, data collection, analysis, and results from the experiment.

Deliverables Schedule:

Due Date Deliverable Activities

14 days following the kick off meeting Draft Study Design

14 days following date of receipt of comments from NOAA Project Lead on the Preliminary Study Design

Final Study Design

Thirty days following strength testing trials, no later than August 15th, 2024

Draft Summary Report

One week following date of receipt of comments from NOAA project lead on the Draft Summary Report, no later than September 15th, 2024

Acceptance of Final Report

Requirements The proposed personnel must have experience in the following:

● Fisheries biology or natural resource management

● Substantial expertise designing and coordinating complex research studies

● Demonstrated experience in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery

● Experience in conducting experimental testing of longline fishing gear

Period of Performance September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024.

Place of Performance Work will be conducted at the facilities of the contractor.

Performance Requirements Summary This contract includes a Performance Requirements Summary (PRS). The PRS plays an integral role in the administration of the contract. In addition to any applicable inspection clauses or other related terms and conditions contained in the contract, the PRS shall serve as a primary tool for inspection and acceptance of services as facilitated by the Project Lead. Evaluation of the Contractor’s overall performance shall be in accordance with the performance standards set forth in the PRS, and will be conducted by the Project Lead. The PRS constitutes a material aspect of the contract and will not be changed or otherwise modified without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

The PRS establishes key elements of Contractor performance that represent “mission essential” service requirements, which are identified in the table below in the “Service Output” column.

The “Performance Objective” column represents the standard against which Contractor performance will be measured in relation to accomplishment of the corresponding service output.

The performance objective or “standard” describes the minimum acceptable level of service by the Contractor for satisfactory performance. The “Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)” column displays the maximum allowable deviation from the performance objective, which, if exceeded, evokes the negative incentive specified in the table below.

Service Output Performance Objective Acceptable Quality Level

(AQL)

Positive Incentive

Negative Incentive

1. Study design Study design that meets the objectives of the study and criteria defined in the PWS and any other supporting documents provided to the contractor.

+/- 0% NMFS approval of study design.

Revision of study design as necessary to meet performance objective prior to execution of field trials.

2. Conduct strength testing

Trials conducted to meet requirements identified in the PWS and final study design.

+/- 5% Completion of strength testing.

Continuation of trials to meet performance objective.

3. Summary report

Report that summarizes the field methods, data collection, analysis, and results; report summarizes and meets requirements identified in the study design.

+/- 0% NMFS approval of summary report.

Revision of summary report to meet performance objective.

Travel Travel is not expected or authorized for this task order.

Government-Furnished Property (GFP) The Government will not furnish any equipment, supplies, or other resources to the Contractor in support of this contract.

Post-Award Conference

The Contractor shall attend a Post Award Conference (i.e. “kickoff” meeting) with the Contracting Officer and Project Lead no later than 10 business days after the date of award. The purpose of the Post Award Conference, which will be chaired by the Contracting Officer or

Project Lead, is to discuss technical and contracting objectives of this contract and review the Contractor's draft project plan. The Post Award Conference will be held at the Government’s facility, located at the NOAA Inouye Regional Center (1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818) or via teleconference.