Statement of Work NFFS73002101963.docx

Performance Work Statement National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory Steller sea lion and gray whale surveys from Northern California to Southern Oregon

NF-FS7300-21-01963

Background The Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML) conducts studies on the vital rates of Steller sea lions and the abundance and movements of gray whales from northern California to northern Washington. Because the two species overlap in space and time, this contract includes services for both species. This contract supports the MML’s efforts to conduct surveys from northern California to southern Oregon for these two species. These services benefit the Government by providing data that supports the mandates of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.

The Eastern Distinct Population Segment (EDPS) of Steller sea lions was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990 and was delisted in 2013. In support of the ESA listing and monitoring of the population post-delisting, the MML and its collaborators marked Steller sea lion pups in southern Oregon from 2001-2015. This contract will provide annual resights of marked Steller sea lions from northern California and southern Oregon haul out and breeding sites that are used to estimate survival. Survival rates are an important population metric for population models that are used to evaluate the status of the population relative to recovery and post-delisting goals.

The Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) of gray whales travels to summer feeding grounds off the west coast from northern California to northern British Columbia, Canada. Each whale has unique markings that can be used to identify the whale from digital images. This contract will provide annual resights of identified whales and new gray whales sighted from northern California to southern Oregon. The data will be used in population models to estimate annual abundance to monitor their status and recovery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Tasks

Key tasks include the following:

· Steller sea lion surveys

· Conduct eight Steller sea lion vessel surveys at breeding and haulout sites from Cape Blanco in southern Oregon to St. George Reef in northern California between June and September each year. Sites shall be circled multiple times to ensure all marked animals that can be observed are photographed for identification. Effort shall be made to conduct surveys bi-weekly as weather allows. Specific areas include but are not limited to:

· St. George Reef, California

· Lighthouse rock (North Seal Rock) and Castle Rock

· Reading Rock, Patrick’s Point, and Cape Mendocino

· Rogue Reef with a focus at Pyramid Rock; other scattered rocks and islets shall be surveyed including Needle Rock, Double Rock, and the scattered rocks to the west and northwest of Pyramid Rock.

· Orford Reef with a focus at Arch Rock, Seal Rock, Best Rock and Long Brown Rock and peripheral sites where sea lions are observed. The sea lion haul out site off Cape Blanco shall also be surveyed.

· Conduct shore-based surveys off northern California in the vicinity of Patrick’s Point, Otter Rock and Reading Rock to count and resight marked Steller sea lions.

· At each Steller sea lion survey site, the Contractor shall

· count Steller sea lions upon approach

· use binoculars to identify branded or tagged Steller sea lions. When a marked animal is sighted, digital photographs of the mark from different angles shall be taken to increase the probability of a positive identification.

· Record the date, location, effort (number of hours), individual marked animals and any other ancillary information about the marked animal (e.g. with a pup, territorial male, entangled) to provide metadata for the photographs

· Record effort for each survey day that includes date, number of hours, and locations covered

· Gray whale surveys

· Conduct six vessel surveys for gray whales in the coastal waters in northern California and southern Oregon between June and November. At least two surveys shall be conducted from Rogue Reef to Cape Blanco, Oregon and two surveys from Arcadia to Crescent City California.

· Take digital photographs of the left, right, and fluke of any gray whale encountered. Each gray whale encountered shall be photographed around the first dorsal hump on both sides of the whale.

· Record the date, location, water depth (if available), general behavior and association with other whales for each whale

· Record effort for each survey day that includes date, number of hours, and locations covered.

Deliverables

· Steller sea lion surveys

· High quality digital photographs shall be organized and named as requested by the Marine Mammal Laboratory and provided to the Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, WA by 18 January following the year of collection.

· An electronic file in MS Excel or ACCESS summarizing the date, location, identification (brand or tag), and ancillary information about each Steller sea lion sighting shall be provided to the Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA by 18 January following the year of collection.

· Gray whale surveys

· Digital photographs of the left, right and fluke (if available) of each gray whale encountered shall be provided directly to Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA by 18 January following the year of collection, with a notification to the Marine Mammal Laboratory when the photographs have been sent.

· An electronic file in MS Excel or ACCESS summarizing the date, location, water depth (if available), and ancillary information about the sighting shall be provided to the Marine Mammal Laboratory by 18 January following the year of collection.

· Monthly progress report due the last day of each month to include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: accomplishments, issues encountered, travel (including purpose, significant outcomes, action items), and recommendations, if applicable, for the two projects provided to the Marine Mammal Laboratory.

· An annual report summarizing the number images and a summary of the effort (number of surveys, hours observing, locations surveyed) for Steller sea lions and gray whales due 1 March each year provided to the Marine Mammal Laboratory.

Requirements The proposed Contractor must have experience in the following:

· Operating small boats in ocean conditions

· Conducting observations of marine mammals from small boats and from shore

· Using digital cameras to document sightings of wildlife

· Organizing and naming digital photographs

· Using MS Excel or ACCESS to manage data and prepare data summaries

The proposed Contractor must possess and maintain the following skills/certifications and/or credentials during the period of performance:

· Small boat safety

· A vessel or vessels approved for offshore surveys

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 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). 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 COR. 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.

Removing Contractors for Misconduct or Security Reasons The Government may, at its sole discretion (in coordination with the Contracting Officer where practical), direct the Contractor to remove any Contractor employee from NOAA facilities for misconduct or security reasons. Removal does not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to continue providing the services required under the contract. The Contracting Officer will provide the Contractor with a written explanation to support any request to remove a Contractor.

Post-Award Conference The Contractor shall attend a Task Order Kick-off conference with the Contracting Officer, COR, and Project Lead/Officer no later than 10 business days after the date of award. The purpose of the Task Order conference, which will be chaired by the Contracting Officer, is to set the standards of performance, clarify details, place of performance, building access time, communication channels, anticipated travel (if any), required GOV training, and progress report and invoicing details. The Task Order Kick off conference will be held at the Government’s facility, located at NMFS AFSC Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA or via teleconference.

Confidentiality and Data Privacy

This contract may require that services contractors have access to Privacy Information. Services contractors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all subjects and materials and may be required to sign and adhere to a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Intellectual Property Rights All deliverables are the property of the U.S. Government. All documents, analyses, files (digital or other), reports, notes and photos are to be used only by Contractor personnel assigned to this Task Order. Documents, files and other data are to be stored exclusively on Government owned equipment and at no point should be saved or archived on personal drives or devices. Copies are not to be disseminated to anyone outside of the NMFS or to any other contractor personnel without explicit release from the Government.

Government Furnished Resources

The Government will provide all necessary information, data and documents to the Contractor for work required under this contract.

The Government will not furnish any resources to the Contractor in support of this contract.

The Government will provide to the Contractor the following equipment, supplies, and similar, necessary to conduct these services and anticipates facility and security access as follows:

Description of other access or equipment requirements not already addressed above:

IT Security

The contractor must meet the Department of Commerce IT Security Program Policy and Minimum Implementation Standards (found at https://connection.commerce.gov/collection/it-security-policy-and-fisma-reporting-program). The contractor must also adhere to NOAA and NMFS security policies (found at https://www.csp.noaa.gov/policies/).

Section 508 Compliance Pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) as amended by P.L. 105-220 under Title IV (Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998), all Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) developed, procured, maintained and/or used under this contract shall be in compliance with the “Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards” set forth by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (also referred to as the “Access Board”) in 36 CFR Part 1194. The complete text of Section 508 Standards can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/ or at http://www.section508.gov.

Operational Hours Work will be performed not to exceed 40 hours per week.

Place of Performance Work will be conducted at other than the government facility (i.e. off-site) Overtime, Travel, and Training Overtime is not anticipated nor authorized at this time. If overtime is required, it will be coordinated through the COR and approved on a case-by-case basis by the Contracting Officer in writing. Any overtime worked prior to the receipt of proper written authorization from the Contracting Officer will be done at the Contractor’s own risk and expense.

The Contractor will need to travel to multiple survey sites to conduct observations. Any travel conducted prior to the receipt of proper written authorization from the COR will be done at the Contractor’s own risk and expense.

Special and/or Additional Requirements The following additional aspects are / are not anticipated during the performance of this order:

Description of anticipated special and / or additional requirements not already described above:

Risk This project is considered low risk, and Contractor staff must be suited for public trust classification. Background investigations are required for all contractor staff proposed for this project, and must be completed prior to beginning work.

Period of Performance The base period is expected to begin no more than 10 business days from the date of award for 12 months, with two (2) option periods.