StatementOfWork-_CNMI_surveys-_20161207_fbo.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK/SPECIFICATION

I. BACKGROUND

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requires assistance in the collection of occurrence, group size, and tissue sampling for assessment of occurrence, population identification, and short-term movements of humpback whales and other cetaceans in the Marianas Archipelago. The PIFSC will be conducting shore and small boat-based surveys in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in February and May 2017 as part of this work.

II. PURPOSE

The primary purpose (Task 1) of this contract is to secure assistance with collection of species occurrence, identification photographs, and biopsy samples, and deployment of satellite telemetry tags during a PIFSC-lead cetacean survey effort in Saipan, CNMI in February 2017. The PIFSC cetacean program staff will lead the survey effort, including the determination of daily survey routes and priorities. The contractor must provide one skilled cetacean observer and daily vessel charter services to assist PIFSC with this project. The contractor must have previous experience conducting cetacean surveys from small vessels in moderate and poor sea conditions, including driving the vessel during cetacean encounters, as well as experience with collecting location data, providing group size estimates, and collecting behavioral observations of cetaceans. In addition, the contractor must have prior experience in the collection of tissue samples from cetaceans using a crossbow, knowledge of and experience with proper sample handling protocols, and the skills and expertise to deploy LIMPET satellite tags onto medium and large-sized cetaceans.

In addition, PIFSC may pursue additional survey effort in Guam and Saipan in late-spring or summer 2017 (optional Task 2). As with Task 1, the PIFSC cetacean program staff will lead the survey effort. The contractor would provide one to three skilled cetacean observers and daily vessel charter services to assist PIFSC with this project. All other skills, experience, and charter vessel requirements are the same as for Task 1.

Personnel requirements for Task 1: Two skilled cetacean observers are required for this contract. Both observers must have the following qualifications upon arrival for the field project:

· at least three years of cumulative field experience on marine mammals and working from small boats

· ability to identify all common tropical cetaceans to species in the field

· ability to accurately estimate group size

· ability to evaluate cetacean behavior

· experience taking excellent quality identification photographs with digital SLR cameras fitted with up to 400mm lenses

· experience collecting and processing biopsy samples.

In addition, at least of the contracted observers must have these additional qualifications upon arrival for the field project:

· experience preparing LIMPET satellite tags for deployment, including proper species-specific tag programming, cleaning and sterilization of tag darts, tag assembly, and rifle maintenance

· deploying LIMPET satellite tags onto medium and large-sized cetaceans using an air rifle

Vessel requirements for Task 1: Small vessels must be chartered on Saipan by the contractor for this project. Small vessels must have the following characteristics:

· be at least 20 feet long, and able to safely carry at least 4 passengers

· capable of maintaining survey speeds of at least 9 kts

· have an endurance of at least 7 hours continuously on the water and range of at least 150km without refueling (i.e. the ability to circumnavigate Saipan or Tinian)

· maintain all appropriate safety equipment, meeting Coast Guard and NMFS Small Boat Safety Program inspection requirements

· be configured such that satellite tagging, biopsy sampling and photo-identification can be conducted from the bow while maintaining clear communication with the vessel captain

· some larger vessels inappropriate for satellite tagging, but optimized for better sighting conditions may be considered for occasional use during the survey

Further, it is desirable for vessels to have the following additional characteristics:

· have twin engines for safety and maneuverability

· a flying bridge capable of accommodating at least 3 observers

· maintain good maneuverability around small cetaceans

· allow survey staff to drive the vessel during satellite tagging operations

Personnel requirements for optional Task 2: One to three skilled cetacean observer(s) must have the following qualifications upon arrival for the field project:

· at least three years of cumulative field experience on marine mammals and working from small boats

· ability to identify all common tropical cetaceans to species in the field

· ability to accurately estimate group size

· ability to evaluate cetacean behavior

· experience taking excellent quality identification photographs with digital SLR cameras fitted with up to 400mm lenses

· experience collecting and processing biopsy samples.

In addition, at least of the contracted observers must have these additional qualifications upon arrival for the field project:

· experience preparing LIMPET satellite tags for deployment, including proper species-specific tag programming, cleaning and sterilization of tag darts, tag assembly, and rifle maintenance

· deploying LIMPET satellite tags onto medium and large-sized cetaceans using an air rifle

Vessel requirements for optional Task 2: At PIFSC direction, small vessels must be chartered on Guam, Rota, and/or Saipan by the contractor for this project. Small vessels must have the following characteristics:

· be at least 20 feet long, and able to safely carry at least 4 passengers

· capable of maintaining survey speeds of at least 9 kts

· have an endurance of at least 7 hours continuously on the water and range of at least 150km without refueling (i.e. the ability to circumnavigate Saipan or Tinian)

· maintain all appropriate safety equipment, meeting Coast Guard and NMFS Small Boat Safety Program inspection requirements

· be configured such that satellite tagging, biopsy sampling and photo-identification can be conducted from the bow while maintaining clear communication with the vessel captain

· some larger vessels inappropriate for satellite tagging, but optimized for better sighting conditions may be considered for occasional use during the survey

Further, it is desirable for vessels to have the following additional characteristics:

· have twin engines for safety and maneuverability

· a flying bridge capable of accommodating at least 3 observers

· maintain good maneuverability around small cetaceans

· allow survey staff to drive the vessel during satellite tagging operations

III. CONTRACT TASKS

A. Tasks

Task 1- The Contractor will be required to organize small boat surveys in the waters surrounding Saipan and Tinian. The Contractor will fulfill the following requirements:

· Work with PIFSC personnel to carry out surveys in CNMI, including timely communication with designated shore contacts twice daily: before departing and after returning from the survey. .

· Make arrangements with (and pay for) charter vessels that will be used for conducting cetacean surveys

· Provide two qualified marine mammal observers, including payment of associated travel to/from CNMI and lodging, vehicle rental, and M&IE during the survey period, as well as transport of assigned survey gear to Guam/CNMI or between Guam and Saipan.

· When necessary, the Contractor may be responsible for inspecting and driving the chartered vessel and is required to have NOAA small boat certification training.

· Be responsible for finding accommodations and making travel arrangements to and while in CNMI. Accommodations must include internet connectivity for programming satellite tags and checking daily weather reports.

· Collect photo-id data and biopsy samples

· Prepare and deploy up top 10 SPOT5 or MK10 LIMPET satellite tags onto cetaceans

· Process photos per instruction from PIFSC staff

· Process biopsy samples per instructions from PIFSC staff

· Collect acoustic data from select species when opportunities arise.

· Provide limited expendable supplies as needed during the survey (ice for sample storage, line for securing equipment on vessels, etc.)

Task 2- Option If funded, the Contractor will be required to organize small boat surveys in the waters surrounding Guam, Rota, and/or Saipan and Tinian in late-spring or summer of 2017. The Contractor will fulfill the following requirements:

· Work with PIFSC personnel to carry out surveys in CNMI, including timely communication with designated shore contacts twice daily: before departing and after returning from the survey. .

· Make arrangements with (and pay for) charter vessels that will be used for conducting cetacean surveys

· Provide 1-3 qualified marine mammal observers, including payment of associated travel to/from CNMI and lodging, vehicle rental, and M&IE during the survey period, as well as transport of assigned survey gear to Guam/CNMI or between Guam and Saipan.

· When necessary, the Contractor may be responsible for inspecting and driving the chartered vessel and is required to have NOAA small boat certification training.

· Be responsible for finding accommodations and making travel arrangements to and while in CNMI. Accommodations must include internet connectivity for programming satellite tags and checking daily weather reports.

· Collect photo-id data and biopsy samples

· Prepare and deploy up top 20 SPOT5 or MK10 LIMPET satellite tags onto cetaceans

· Process photos per instruction from PIFSC staff

· Process biopsy samples per instructions from PIFSC staff

· Collect acoustic data from select species when opportunities arise.

· Provide limited expendable supplies as needed during the survey (ice for sample storage, line for securing equipment on vessels, etc.)

B. Deliverables

Task 1 and 2, due upon completion of the survey effort:

· Contribute to photo data set, including proper file naming scheme, addition of IPTC fields and geospatial data per PIFSC-provided protocol

· Completed and verified sighting data, photo, biopsy, and tag deployment information entered into provided database format

· Biopsy samples processed and properly stored in frozen state for later transport to PIFSC

Task 1 and 2, in coordination with PIFSC staff, and due no later than 8 months after the completion of survey effort:

· Assist with project reporting, including formulation of text, tables, and figures as needed.

IV. GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED AND CONTRACTOR-PROVIDED PROPERTY

The Government will provide the observation equipment required for the contracted tasks above. The Contractor will provide personal effects that might be desired while in CNMI. The Contractor will obtain use of charter vessels for all small boat surveys in CNMI. When necessary, the contractor will obtain fuel for the small boat surveys.

V. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The Contractor shall be required to complete and submit all data and samples collected, including a dataset log from the marine mammal surveys throughout operations of the field season. The Contractor will be instructed by the PIFSC on the sampling protocol and on the format of the dataset logs.

VI. Invoicing and Deliverable Schedule:

Task 1:

(14 days on location) 75%

Optional Task 2:

(26 days on location) 75%

VII. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The contract shall begin on or before February 1, 2017 and end December 30, 2017.

Dates and locations below are subject to change. Such changes may be beyond the control of the Contracting Officer.

Task 1 10 February 2017- Observers available in Saipan to assist with survey setup 11-24 February 2017- Conduct small vessel surveys based from Saipan (11 total survey days, 14 total days on location) 1 March 2017- Provide any data held by the contractor to the PIFSC project manager 30 December 2017- Provide documentation for and review of final project reports

Task 2- Early May 2017- Observers available in Saipan to assist with survey setup May-June 2017- Conduct small vessel surveys based from Guam, Rota, and/or Saipan (20 survey days, 26 total days on location) 15 June 2017- Provide any data held by the contractor to the PIFSC project manager 30 December 2017- Provide documentation for and review of final project reports

Proposals should include cost proposals according to the following payment schedule:

Task 1:

· Pre-survey planning costs

· Daily cost for observers and vessel charters for the survey duration (i.e cost per day for 14 survey and 2 travel days)

· Travel estimate (reimbursement will not exceed Government hotel and per diem rates for the specific location).

· Post-survey demobilization costs

Optional Task 2:

· Pre-survey planning costs

· Daily cost for two observers and vessel charters for the survey duration (i.e cost per day for 26 survey and 2 travel days)

· Daily cost for one additional observer

· Travel estimate (reimbursement will not exceed Government hotel and per diem rates for the specific location)

· Post-survey demobilization costs