revised SOW for Juvenile Rockfish Trawl Charter - May 15_.pdf

CHARTER FOR STERN TRAWLER TO CONDUCT WEST COAST JUVENILE ROCKFISH SURVEY

STATEMENT OF WORK/SPECIFICATIONS

The contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, fuel, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified) to perform the following Statement of Work/Specifications:

A. OVERALL DESCRIPTION

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has a requirement to charter a trawl-capable vessel for up to 15 days at sea within the time frame of June 1 through June 20, 2020 off the Central California coast (between 36°N and 39° N latitude). Exact dates, length of surveys, and port calls will be determined in consultation with ship operator after award of contract.

The work will consist of conducting mid-water trawling for juvenile rockfish at a series of pre-determined locations. Trawling operation will be conducted between sunset and sunrise each day. Daytime operations will consist of moving between nighttime sampling locations, delivering catches to NOAA researchers, or hove to or drifting. The Government will supply the trawl nets, doors, associated rigging and other sampling gear. The data collected will be used to inform assessments of various stocks of rockfish and other forage species (krill, coastal pelagic mesopelagic species).

An important consideration is that juvenile rockfish are only susceptible to capture until mid- June, after which they settle to the bottom and are no longer vulnerable to mid-water trawling.

Thus, the dates of the charter are time-certain between 1 and 20 June 2020.

B. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS

1. Overall vessel length of at least 60-feet.

2. Continuous horsepower output from main engine of at least 450 hp.

3. Demonstrated experience in deploying and towing a commercial-size two-warp mid-water fish trawl at a continuous speed of 2 knots. Government will provide trawl nets, doors and rigging.

4. Able to maintain a cruising speed of at least 8 knots

5. Desirable to have 25 square feet or more of dedicated laboratory space with 110/115 v power.

6. Desirable to have a system for monitoring head-rope depth of mid-water trawl.

7. Minimum of two deck bins or comparable area for storage of sampling equipment and holding catches.

8. Crane or boom system must be capable of vertically raising and lowering cod-end anywhere along centerline of working deck.

9. Minimum of 20 cubic feet of freezer storage exclusive of space for ship's stores for stowing scientific samples and supplies.

10. Working toilet.

C. CREW REQUIREMENTS

1. Sufficient crew personnel to conduct scientific operations on a 12-hour per day/ seven days per week basis while at sea.

2. In addition to the Captain, at least two experienced deck hands shall have at least two-years experience deploying commercial-size trawl gear.

2. Relevant employment experience shall be provided for each crewmember for the last three years. Similar documentation shall be submitted for approval of all replacement personnel proposed for use during the charter.

4. Ability to record key information on trawl locations and information (data forms to be provided by NOAA), such as latitude, longitude, depth, time of day, trawl duration, haul number, weather conditions, volume of total catch). Ability by crew to archive catches, including estimating a total volume, and freezing and storing subsamples of the total catch if the total catch is too large to archive in its entirety, based on simplified protocols to be provided by NOAA. Will include photographing catch (NOAA will provide camera).

D. SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL

1. The Scientific Field Party will consist of two NOAA scientists for the first night of the survey, who will embark at approximately 6pm on the first day of the survey and will disembark at approximately 6am on the second day of the survey (~12 hour period).

The Scientific Field Party will provide guidance on the fishing methods and potential challenges associated with conducting standardized research hauls, on recording data on the detailed information associated with each trawl, on how to photograph, label and archive the catch from each haul, and how to subsample catches from each haul, if necessary. If necessary to maintain quality control during the duration of the survey, the scientific field party may participate in additional nights of fishing throughout the duration of the survey.

2. The Contractor will deliver catches, monitoring equipment (temperature/depth recorders attached to the headrope of the net), and a written record of data associated with all trawls conducted, and photographs of the catch) either every day or every other day, but no less than every other day (unless agreed to by the scientific field party). Times and locations will be determined in consultation between the scientific field party and the contractor. These deliveries can take place at either Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, or Moss Landing harbors, depending primarily on the contractor’s preference and location of fishing activities. Other ports or locations are acceptable if agreed to by both the scientific field party and the contractor.

E. OPERATING PROCEDURES

1. The Scientific Field Party, in consultation with the Captain, will determine the daily operations plan, with respect to which stations to fish each night. The Scientific Field Party will have final authority in survey operations except in matters relating to safety of the vessel and vessel personnel. The Contractors will work with the Scientific Field Party to ensure that fishing operations are being conducted consistent with standardized protocols, based on discussions with Captain and crew, and analysis of temperature/depth recorder data. The Contractors will ensure that data are being recorded in a clear and consistent manner, and that subsampling, labeling and archiving (freezing or cold storage) of catches are done according to provided protocols.

2. Vessel will be considered off-charter should mechanical failure or inadequate staffing prevent it from preforming the scientific mission.

3. The Scientific Field Party and Captain will work together to resolve all problems that may arise during the duration of the survey. In the event the Scientific Field Party and Captain are unable to resolve any problem which has the potential for invalidating the survey or threatens the safety of the Scientific Field Party, the Scientific Field Party will direct the vessel to return to port where an acceptable solution will be arranged between the Government and the Contractor or the charter may be terminated. The vessel will be considered off charter if required to return to port and will remain off charter until the problem has been resolved.

4. The Captain and crew shall exercise due caution and follow safety procedures as directed by the Scientific Field Party to help prevent damage or loss of Government gear and equipment. The Scientific Field Party may present specific safety procedures in writing to the Captain. If loss of or damage to Government equipment is the result of negligent disregard of such instructions and procedures, repair or replacement costs may be deducted from charter payments.

5. All fish and shellfish taken in the trawl remain the property of the Government. The Scientific Field Party is responsible for coordinating their disposition with the Contractor.

F. SAFETY

1. The vessel Captain is responsible for all matters relating to safety of personnel, the vessel, and equipment operation. The Captain shall adhere at all times to Navigational Rules and Rules of the Road while towing, running, drifting, or when at anchor. He/she shall review safety procedures and equipment with the scientific party at the beginning of any day for which the Scientific Field Party is onboard the vessel.

2. The Contractor shall provide U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets and survival suits for all embarked personnel. Adequate dry, topside storage for all survival suits shall be provided.

3. The Captain shall post a wheel/anchor watch at night and during the daytime while the vessel runs to the next station, drifts, lies at anchor, or runs to the first station early in the morning to ensure that the vessel and all crew are secure.

4. The exercise of due caution and safety procedures will include efforts to minimize the risk of exposure of the Captain, crew, and science party to exposure to COVID-19. If reliable tests for COVID-19 can be made available by NOAA or other parties prior to initiating survey, vessel captain and crew will provide test results in advance of departure. NOAA researchers will also be tested prior to conducting vessel operations, provided such tests are available. Any indication of symptoms of

COVID- 19 will lead to postponement of the survey until testing can confirm that all participants are free of COVID-19, or cancellation of the survey. Additional safety precautions will include twice-daily temperature and COVID-19 symptom checks by all vessel personnel and science party, wearing of masks, eye cover and latex gloves to the maximum extent practicable, and regular disinfecting and sanitizing of commonly used surfaces inside the vessel multiple times per day. All cruise participants will hand wash routinely and use other best practices for minimizing risks of exposure.

Protocols continue to be worked on at the national level, and additional precautionary measures may be adopted as conditions or best practices warrant. NOAA will supply contactless forehead thermometers, disinfectant and means of tracking temperature and symptom checks, as well as disinfectants for routine surface cleaning. NOAA will provide masks, gloves and protective eyewear for scientific personnel, the vessel is responsible for providing these supplies for vessel crew.

G. GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

1. Government will provide trawl nets, doors and rigging. It will also supply other sampling equipment and instruments, including digital cameras for photographing catches, data logging computers for the Scientific Field Party, sample preservation supplies, personal foul weather gear for scientific party.

H. POST-AWARD AND POST-SURVEY MEETINGS

1. Upon award of contract and prior to the start of the charter, a post-award meeting will be held at an agreed upon location to discuss issues relating to the charter and survey. The vessel manager and the Captain are required to attend the meeting. The COR upon award of the contract will schedule the location, date and time of the meeting.

2. Periodically throughout the charter progress meetings may be held. The purpose of the meetings is to provide the charter operator an evaluation of the performance of the vessel and crew during the charter. At a minimum, the vessel manager is required to attend the debriefing. The location, date and time of these meetings will be scheduled by the COR.