A09_Sources_Sought.pdf

Responses are due no later than 2:00 p.m. eastern standard time July 09, 2013. This is a Sources Sought Notice and is for informational/ market research purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, QUOTATIONS OR BIDS. Responses to this sources sought announcement will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. NO SOLICITATION IS CURRENTLY

AVAILABLE.

Project Description: Alternate Substrate Oyster Reef Monitoring- Locations: Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery, MD and VA

The solicitation will be unrestricted for one (1) base year with four (4) Option Years to perform monitoring on oyster reefs constructed by USACE. The proposed procurement is unrestricted. The NAICS code is 112519 and the standard size is $0.75 M. The contract duration will be for five (5) years.

The requirement is for services to perform monitoring of alternate substrate oyster reefs constructed in Harris Creek and at Cook Point, within the Choptank River system. Oyster reefs have been constructed using granite or mixed shell and then seeded with spat on shell. Samples are to be collected by divers because traditional harvesting gear cannot be used to collect samples on alternate substrate reefs due to potential damage to sampling gear. Sampling will be performed using quadrats and collecting the material within the quadrat for analyses. Sampling shall be undertaken between October and November while water temperatures remain above 50° F (10° C). Sampling is to be performed at 7 plantings at Cook Point in Fall 2013 and Fall 2015. Sampling will be performed in Harris Creek on a subset of constructed reefs in Fall 2014, Fall 2015, and Fall 2017. The following measurements shall be made and data collected at each sampling point (five random sampling points at each planting): longitude and latitude of sampling point, date and time, oyster size of all oysters collected, spat density, number of living oyster and oyster “box” (mortality) density, water quality (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and salinity at bottom), water depth to reef/planting, and videography and/or photography (if water clarity permits)

Responses should include capability statement and competence in the following:

• Expertise in biological and water quality monitoring in estuarine environments with a preference for experience in oyster monitoring.

• Access to the necessary equipment to perform this work.

• Capability to perform underwater sample collection including SCUBA certification.

• Capability to use ArcGIS and GPS mapping technology.

• Ability to capture underwater photography and videography.

• Ability to comply with all pertinent safety procedures and requirements.

• Ability to acquire scientific collection permit.

• Past performance on contracts with government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work and compliance with performance schedules.

Responses are to be sent via email to Cheley.auguste@usace.army.mil or hard copy to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 10 S. Howard Street, Room 7200-D, Baltimore MD 21201-1715 no later than 2:00 p.m.

eastern standard time July 09, 2013.