Assistance with the development & implementation of scientific frameworks for three major research & review projects

Added: Jul 27, 2010 10:14 am This publication serves as notice of intent to procure service from Delta Stewardship Council located in Sacramento, California for the US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service for ( Introduction )
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) seeks to develop a contract with the Delta Science Program to provide
assistance with development and implementation of three major research and review
projects to be conducted in 2010. These tasks are associated with the implementation
of the Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs) for the Central Valley Project and
State Water Project operations biological opinion (OCAP Opinion).
II. Background
NMFS seeks the scientific expertise afforded by the Delta Science Program in
developing the scientific framework for these projects and providing independent review
of the research and information being used to guide these projects. Accordingly, NMFS
has identified the following three tasks: (1) Review the experimental design for the sixyear
acoustic tag experiment to assess the behavior, movement and survival of
salmonids rearing and outmigrating through the lower San Joaquin River; (2) Coordinate
an Integrated Annual Review science workshop with NMFS, the United States Bureau of
Reclamation (USBR) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to review the
2010 water operations and research to determine whether any measures prescribed in
the OCAP RPAs should be altered in light of information learned from the prior water
years' operations or research; and (3) host a public workshop on integrated life cycle
models.
III. Description of Work and Services
Task 1: Provide science advisors to assist with the experimental design
for the six-year acoustic tag experiment to assess the behavior,
movement and survival of salmonids rearing and outmigrating through
the lower San Joaquin River.
The six-year acoustic tag experiment is RPA Action IV.2.2 (page 645) in the
OCAP Opinion, and is intended to provide important information about the
response of fish migration to flows, exports, and other stressors in the San
Joaquin River corridor. The experiments should be designed to ensure that
results are statistically robust and uncertainties due to experimental design
have been minimized to the fullest extent possible. NMFS anticipates that
studies will utilize clipped hatchery steelhead and hatchery fall-run Chinook
salmon as test fish. The Delta Science Program will provide a minimum of
two scientific advisors to provide acoustic telemetry and statistical assistance
as well as fisheries expertise (at least one data user expert is preferred). The
Delta Science Program will assist with the development of the experimental
design, to include:
• An evaluation of whether:
o it meets the list of issues identified in Action IV.2.2(2) (OCAP
Opinion page 646);
o it would result in statistically robust results;
o uncertainties have been minimized to the fullest extent possible;
o clipped hatchery steelhead and hatchery fall-run Chinook salmon
are the appropriate test fish, and any advice on the source of the
test fish; and
o it meets the objectives of the experiment (OCAP Opinion page
645).
• Comments that summarize the above evaluation.
Task 2: Coordinate an Integrated Annual independent review panel to
review the 2010 water operations and research to determine whether any
measures prescribed in the OCAP RPAs should be altered in light of
information learned from the prior years' operations, monitoring or
research.
The NMFS OCAP RPA (NMFS' OCAP Opinion, section 11.2.1.2, starting on
page 583) requires USBR and NMFS to host a workshop no later than November
30 of every year to review the prior water years' operations and to determine
whether any measures prescribed in the RPA should be altered in light of
information learned from the prior years' operations or research. The intent of
this annual review is to inform NMFS and FWS as to the efficacy of the prior
year's water operations and regulatory actions prescribed by the RPAs, and to
determine if there is any justification for amending specific measures in the RPAs
to reflect new information, provided that such amendments are consistent with
the Opinions' underlying analysis and conclusions and do not limit the
effectiveness of the RPAs in avoiding jeopardy to listed species or adverse
modification of critical habitat. The Delta Science Program will coordinate and
host the review panel to include the NMFS and FWS 2008 biological opinions
and will coordinate with NMFS, FWS, USBR, and the California Department of
Water Resources (DWR) to gather information and data pertaining to the
implementation of the OCAP RPAs, to include:
• The effectiveness of the real-time operations and technical team process
(including documentation and elevation procedures);
• Implementation of operations actions and triggers, including the timing of
reporting;
• Timelines for and progress of habitat restoration actions;
• Results of any research conducted; and
• A review of the utility of the existing monitoring stations and costs/benefits of
adding monitoring stations.
Based on the review of the information and data, and the public workshop, the
Delta Science Program will provide a written independent review panel report to
NMFS, FWS and USBR regarding any RPA action(s) trigger or implementation
procedure (including monitoring stations, salvage techniques, etc.) within the
construct of the current Biological Opinions that could be tailored to be more
effective or feasible. The panel will not be responsible for review of the RPAs, as
this was already completed by the National Academy of Sciences.
Task 3: Host a public workshop on integrated life cycle models
Various peer reviews of NMFS' OCAP Opinions (i.e., October 22, 2004 final, and
December 11, 2008 draft), and the National Academy of Sciences' March 19,
2010, report1 have confirmed the need for life cycle modeling in order to
determine the effects of proposed water operations actions and the effectiveness
of prescribed actions on the listed anadromous fish species. The Delta Science
Program will host a public workshop on integrated life cycle models, to include:
• Soliciting the availability of existing and potential integrated life cycle models
(e.g., OBAN, Shiraz);
• Scheduling a public workshop that includes presentations of the life cycle
models by the principal model developers;
• Provide a report to NMFS, summarizing the various life cycle models, pros
and cons of each model, and the capability of the various life cycle models to
integrate the life cycles of multiple species, including Delta smelt, to be
utilized in determining the effects of water operations on multiple species.
• Further planning is needed with FWS to include Pelagic Organism Decline
species.
IV. Period of Performance
The period of performance of this contract shall be August 15, 2010 to December 31,
2010.
V. Deliverables
All deliverables will be submitted to the Government Project Officer.
1: Not later than September 15, 2010, Contractor shall provide comments on the
experimental design to be used to guide and instruct the investigators. The
comments should also include any suggested alternatives or variations to the
experimental design, and rationale for the suggestion(s). (Task 1)
2: Public Integrated Annual Workshop to be held no later than November 30, 2010.
(Task 2)
3: Final report shall be completed by the contractor by December 31, 2010, which
includes recommendations to NMFS and FWS regarding any RPA action that
could be tailored to be more effective or implementable, within the construct of
the existing NMFS and FWS Biological Opinions. (Task 2)
1 "A Scientific Assessment of Alternatives for Reducing Water Management Effects on Threatened and
Endangered Fishes in California's Bay Delta"
4: Public workshop on integrated life cycle models shall be held no later than
September 30, 2010. (Task 3)
5: Not later than October 31, 2010, contractor shall complete a report that includes
advice to NMFS regarding any RPA action that should be modified to be more
effective or implementable. (Task 3)
VI. Non-Personal Service Contract Statement
Contractor employees performing services under this order will be controlled, directed
and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Contractor
employees will perform independent of and without the supervision of any Government
official. Actions of contractor employees may not be interpreted or implemented in any
manner that results in any contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy,
obligating the appropriated funds of the U.S. Government, overseeing the work of
Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee or
otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal
Acquisition Regulations. The Government will perform the inspection and acceptance of
the completed work.

 Authority for sole-source purchase is 41 USC 253 (c) (1) only
one responsible source and no other source will satify agency needs. This
notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all
proposals received within 15 days of this publication of this synopsis will
be considered by the government. All responses must be in writing and may be
faxed attention Melvin Fondue at (206) 527-7166 or email at
melvin.n.fondue@noaa.gov . This is a simplified acquisition with an
estimated value of less than $100,000

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