SOW_DRTO_Vessel_Support.pdf

VESSEL SUPPORT – SCOPE OF WORK

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE – DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK

Period of Performance:

The period of performance for this contract is May 26, 2024- May 25, 2025, with up to one (1) additional option year available (05/26/25 – 05/25/26) dependent upon availability of funds. Exact trip dates are weather dependent and may shift slightly. Expected trip start dates are May 28 – June 8, 2024.

Trip Duration:

May 28 – June 8, 2024, is scheduled for DRY Tortugas National Park (DRTO) Reef Visual Census monitoring (RVC) for 12 days. This contract is providing for those 12 days aboard the vessel, with an addition of 10 days of ship time planned for future work in the park where exact dates have yet to be established.

Project Objective:

Provide DRTO with a research support motor vessel that will meet all the requirements to conduct a reef visual census trip (RVC), as well as additional coral reef ecosystem research. The first trip is an essential component of the DRTO Science plan that is “Assessing the Conservation Efficacy of the Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area”. A live aboard vessel that can transport up to ten (10) divers and can handle remote SCUBA operations in the Dry Tortugas region for a twelve-day research trip from May 28 to June 8, 2024. This service is necessary to the support of NPS and other agencies’ science and resource management activities within Dry Tortugas National Park.

Background:

This service will provide Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) with a vessel that will meet all our requirements to conduct a reef visual census trip (RVC). This trip is an essential component of the DRTO Science plan that is “Assessing the Conservation Efficacy of the Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area”. This is a collaborative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Park Service (NPS), the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA- NMFS), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), and the University of Miami. A live aboard vessel that is capable of transporting up to ten divers and can handle remote SCUBA operations in the Dry Tortugas for a twelve-day research trip from May 28 to June 8, 2024.

Tasks:

1) Berthing and boarding up to ten divers for at least 12 consecutive days. This includes at least 3 meals per day where at least two are "hot" meals prepared on site. Additional snacks (fruit, chips, etc.) must also be available to divers throughout the day and night.

2) Each diver must be provided a bunk in a designated berthing area with a covering that limits visibility within the bunk.

3) Vegetarian meals must be provided, if requested at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the mission.

4) The vessel must provide a working shower and flushable toilet capable of supporting 6 divers for twelve days.

5) As all diving operations must conform to NPS Diving Safety and Operations Manual, the vessel must provide an experienced, NPS certified Dive master or allow NPS personnel on the vessel operational control of all diving operations.

6) Vessel personnel are required to work with the individuals from NPS to facilitate all dive operations to ensure that they are completed in a manner that conforms with industry standards or NPS standards. Any concerns in safety by the vessel crew are required to be reported to the NPS Chief Scientist, Dive master, or Deck Boss immediately.

7) Vessel personnel are required to communicate with NPS staff each day prior to the start of dive operations to discuss weather conditions and dive site locations. A map of all possible dive site locations will be provided to the captain prior to the trip.

8) Provide NITROX air for SCUBA tank fills continuously throughout the diving day without the divers having to separate diving gear from their tank. Dive fills will be completed when a whip is available by the vessel crew when a diver removes their 1st stage from the tank and notifies the crew member.

9) The NITROX mix should be 32±2% at least 95% of the time.

10) The NITROX breathing gas system will be tested to a commercial breathing gas standard within 6 months of commencement of the charter.

11) Vessel crew will have experience working with "live-boat” operations in the Dry Tortugas area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Dry Tortugas National Park, as no anchoring will be allowed during dive activities, emergencies excluded. Anchoring may be permitted within designated areas or outside the Dry Tortugas when no dive operations are underway.

12) The vessel must beat the first dive location at 0730 each day and available for dive operations from 0730 to 1800.

13) The vessel will provide an experienced Divemaster on-site for the entirety of the cruise familiar with the vessel operations and emergency plans.

14) Must provide all standard dive-safety equipment required for chartered dive operations as per US Coast Guard. Captain and crew must be CPR, First Aid and AED trained and certified.

15) Must provide at least a single 100ft² deck space to accommodate required NPS provided safety equipment.

16) Vessel must have 120V AC power and provide an area to accommodate the set-up of a vessel-wide wireless network system for the duration of the mission. All divers must be able access the wireless network at any time dive operations are not occurring.

Delivery:

• The contractor will make the vessel available to loading at least 4 hours before departure.

• Weather permitting, departure will be on time with a tentative departure time/date of 1200 on May 28, 2024.

• Weather dependent, at least 90% of meals should be provided within one hour of the following times: Breakfast- 0630, Lunch- 1200, Dinner- 1900.

• Vessel must be ready each day for diving operations within 30 minutes of the daily agreed upon start time. This will be approximately 0730, however, it will be dependent on the sampling schedule for the day.