SOW.doc

STATEMENT OF WORK

FY14 INFORMATION TO SUPPORT AND CONDUCT STOCK ASSESSMENTS

Purchase Order Agreement with Honolulu Deep-7 Bottomfish Wholesaler/Dealer

I. BACKGROUND

NOAA, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) is responsible for developing stock assessments that provide the information needed by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) to evaluate the status of any fishery, and if necessary, develop and implement management measures to ensure the future sustainable of that fishery. An external program review conducted in April 2014 evaluated PIFSC recent stock assessment efforts and priorities in the Pacific that cover a breadth of pelagic and insular stocks. A major outcome of this review was the recommendation to emphasize the assessment of the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) bottomfish fishery, particularly the Deep-7 species complex composed of six species of eteline snappers (ehu, gindai, kalekale, lehi, onaga, and opakapaka) and one non-Deep-7 eteline snapper species (uku) that all inhabit the deep-slope environment of islands and banks at depths of 100-400 meters. This review also recommended further work to better understand this fishery on a species level as some species within the Deep-7 complex may have life history characteristics that make them more vulnerable than other species. Currently major gaps persist in life history characteristics for most Deep-7 species (validated length-at-age relationships, longevity, and length & age at median maturity) of direct relevance to these assessment efforts. This situation is exacerbated by the difficulty and expense of obtaining samples of otoliths (for length-at-age and longevity studies) and gonads (for reproductive maturity studies) through the fishery as Deep-7 species are highly prized and bring the highest value as a whole intact fish. These circumstances provide no opportunity to sub-sample fish for otoliths or gonads prior to sale. Virtually all of the Deep-7 catch landed on Oahu goes through the local fish auction in Honolulu (United Fishing Agency) from which fish wholesalers/dealers compete to bid and buy for their clients and customers. To achieve sample collections needed from the local fishery will require us to work within the framework of the local fishing industry. One practical way to achieve access to these needed samples is to contract an established fish wholesaler/dealer that we have an developed a rapport with to buy fish on our behalf of a specified species and size and during a specified month within a maximum price range that both meets are funding resources and provides access to desired fish for biological sampling.

II. PURPOSE

The purpose is to develop a purchase order agreement with a locally-established and reputable fish wholesale/dealer company based in Honolulu that would purchase whole fish specimens of desired Deep-7 bottomfish of a specified species, length, and time of year on our behalf. These specimens will provide the basis for fulfilling length and seasonal gaps by species for which adequate otolith and gonad samples are currently lacking. This will require working with a company that has an established record of successfully bidding and purchasing Main Hawaiian Island caught Deep-7 bottomfish through the United Fishing Agency fish auction in Honolulu. Due to the interactive nature of this arrangement, we highly value working with a company that we have previously established a cooperative working relationship with NOAA and the United Fishing Agency.

III. CONTRACT TASKS

The Contractor would bid and purchase whole Main Hawaiian Island (MHI) caught onaga (Etelis coruscans) landed and auctioned for sale at the United Fishing Agency (UFA) fish auction in Honolulu. The Contractor will bid on onaga of a size from 16-24-inches in fork length (measured from tip of snout to the mid-fork of the tail) and also larger sizes as requested by the PIFSC Life History Program Leader. The Contractor will target the purchase of 30 whole onaga per month through bidding efforts at the UFA. The Contractor will communicate with the PIFSC Life History Program Leader to inform of any changes in monthly availability of onaga at the UFA. Based on changes in availability of onaga at the UFA, the PIFSC Life History Program Leader will consult with the Contractor to agree to increase the monthly purchase bidding of onaga beyond 30 whole specimens and/or re-direct bidding efforts to include bidding to purchase other Deep-7 snapper species (ehu, gindai, kalekale, lehi, onaga, and opakapaka) and non Deep-7 snapper species (uku) of a specified size range and number per month.

The Contractor, while bidding for bottomfish at the UFA auction on behalf of the PIFSC Life History Program, will limit the bidding price for onaga to a maximum of per pound price for any particular specimen or lot (2 or more specimens sold together). If the Contractor is directed by the PIFSC Life History Program to include bidding on other snapper species, bidding price will be limited to a maximum a lesser per pound price as specified on the original Schedule of Supplies/Services. A fixed service fee per pound for each fish purchased by the Contractor on behalf of the PIFSC Life History Program is included as compensation for services rendered by the Contractor.

The Contractor will have all fish bought at the UFA on behalf of the PIFSC Life History Program transported to the premises of the company’s fish processing facility. The Contractor will measure and record the fork length of each fish purchased for PIFSC and record and provide this information to the PIFSC Life History Program. The Contractor will remove the head of each specimen by cutting the head well back from the brain case in order to ensure that the cut does not pass through the brain case where the otoliths reside. The Contractor will also extract the whole gonads and provide these intact with the head including the UFA identification tag and recorded data obtained by the Contractor that identifies the species and associated fork length. Staff of the PIFSC Life History Program will be allowed to promptly retrieve these specimens once the head and internal organs have been removed. The Contractor will retain the carcass of these fish (sans head and visceral organs) for their desired use.

IV. CONTRACT DELIVERABLES

The Contractor will provide a maximum of 30 whole onaga specimens per month of a specified size range caught within the Main Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery and bought through the United Fishing Agency auction. As directed, the Contractor will provide whole specimens of other eteline snapper species if sufficient onaga are not available or as directed by the PIFSC Life History Program Leader. The Contractor will sever the head and visceral organs of each specimen in a manner specified by the PIFSC Life History Program to ensure that otoliths remain within the head and gonads are intact. The Contractor will process these samples no more than 1-2 days after purchase and store head and gonad samples for each specimen in a separate bag to be picked up by PIFSC Life History Program staff. The Contractor will also retain and provide the UFA tag from each fish as well as data on the species and fork length measured prior to processing the fish.

V. GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED AND CONTRACTOR-PROVIDED PROPERTY

The Government (NOAA) will provide the following:

· Consults with Contractor prior to the first of each month to advise Contractor on the species and sizes to bid on at the UFA auction. Also consults with Contractor at mid-month if changes are needed in the species and sizes to bid on.

· Provides measuring board and/or measuring calipers for Contractor to measure fork length of each fish purchased under this agreement.

· Advise Contractor on protocols for removal of head to ensure that otoliths are retained within each head sample and gonads are retained within the viscera sample.

· Provides sample bags for storing the head and gonads together for each specimen purchased and processed for the PIFSC Life History Program.

· PIFSC Life History Program staff to retrieve head and gonad samples from Contractor as they become available.

The Contractor will provide the following:

· Quote on Main Hawaiian Island caught onaga of specified size range as they become available daily (Monday-Saturday) at the UFA auction not to exceed the maximum per pound price as stipulated in the purchase order agreement.

· As requested, Contractor will bid on other specified species and size ranges of Main Hawaiian Island caught eteline snappers as they become available daily at the UFA auction. The Contractor will adhere to the agreed upon maximum per pound price of as stipulated in the purchase order agreement for other eteline snapper species.

· Purchased fish to be transported to Contractor’s fish processing facility for removal of head and gonads as specified by PIFSC Life History Program.

· Measure and record fork length of each purchased fish, retain UFA tag, and store severed head and gonads along with fork length data and UFA tag in a provided sampling bag.

· Notify PIFSC Life History Program when samples are available for pick-up.

· Notify PIFSC Life History Program promptly of any changes in availability of desired species and sizes through the UFA.

VI. PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

Payment to the Contractor will be made upon receipt of an invoice. Invoice can be issued on an end-of-month or bi-weekly basis.

VII. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The contract shall begin on the date of purchase order award (which is expected to be on or about September 10, 2014) and end one year thereafter.

Two additional one-year option periods will also be included.

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