NOAA-NEFSC-Scallop Dredge Survey Charter

This is a request for information only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or awarded. This is not a solicitation.  This is not a Request for Quote (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Application (RFA) or announcement of a solicitation, and does not assume the Government will award a contract or proceed with any of the above solicitation efforts in the near future. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect cost or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of information.  All information considered proprietary shall be marked accordingly, and properly identified proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with federal regulations. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for improperly identified proprietary information. The purpose of this announcement is solely to gather information from the marketplace, and any responses received will neither be considered an offer by the responding party nor returned to the responding party. No telephone inquiries will be accepted, and requests for solicitation packages will not be honored at this time since no solicitation has been prepared.

Synopsis: Sources Sought

National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), Ecosystem Surveys Branch is seeking a vessel platform to participate in an ecosystem survey of the Atlantic sea scallop resource along the continental shelf from Virginia through Massachusetts including the U.S waters of Georges Bank. 

The survey will be conducted during spring/summer (May and July, optimally in June) of 2024 with option years through 2028 survey season. Each awarded contract will have a one year base period with four one year option periods (5 years in total).

The minimum specifications for the vessel are:

1. Sufficient berth space and lavatory facilities (hot water shower, sink and toilet) for crew members and 13 scientific personnel;

2. Mess facilities for concurrent seating of six (6) scientists

3. Fuel and potable water capacity to operate continuously for 10 sea days;

4. Adequate deck space to accommodate a scientific van (analogous in size to an 8’ X 20’ ISO container) containing scientific equipment

5. Equipment to monitor vessel speed, direction, bearing and water depth including

• Two (2)operational conventional and/or electronic compasses
• An echo-sounder capable of accurately determining the water depth throughout the survey area (each sounder must have a data output cable available for NOAA –Fisheries data collection)
• Sensors should be service and calibrated prior to the survey

6. Navigation equipment to include:

• Two (2) satellite navigation systems (DGPS) (each GPS must have a data ouput cable from the sensor for NOAA Fisheries data collection)
• at least two radar units

7. Communications Equipment to include:

• A VHF radio
• A UHF radio
• Cellular phone
• Email capability to a distance of 100 nm offshore.

8. Freezer storage for the exclusive use for storage of scientific samples (minimum 20 cubic feet; not collocated with frozen food stores)

9. Safety equipment to include:

• A minimum of two EPIRBs
• Survival suits for each of the vessel’s crew, scientists and master
• Life rafts sufficient to accommodate both the vessel’s crew and embarked scientists

10. Fishing equipment capabilities

• Equipment to safely deploy scallop dredges, stereo-optic towed body or autonomous vehicles
• Powered spooling winches for deployment of gear
• Sorting table to hold the catch in order for the scientific party to sort at a reasonable height to avoid medical issues with bending over catches.
• Technical ability to terminate fiber optic cable for the habcam vehicle and maintain functioning data transfer via fiber optics

***DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK ATTACHED***

INFORMATION REQUESTED:

The Government is requesting that all interested vendors provide information regarding their experience and capability to provide a qualified crew and eligible vessel. 

NOAA may utilize the responses to this Sources Sought to conduct additional market research.  Information obtained from this Sources Sought, and the subsequent communication with the vendors, if any, may be utilized to assist NOAA in developing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quote (RFQ).

In addition to addressing technical capabilities, responses must include the following:

• Name and address of firm
• Size of business (e.g. small, small disadvantaged business, woman owned, etc.)
• Average annual revenue for the past 3 years and number of employees
• Ownership
• Number of years in business
• Affiliate information
• Parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential subcontractor) or subcontractors (if potential prime contractor)
• Point of contact - address and phone number

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Telephone responses are NOT solicited and will not be accepted.  No solicitation exists at this time.  This synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract, nor will the Government pay for the solicited information.

Please submit your response to the attention of the Contracting Specialist, Amanda Rossiter (Amanda.Rossiter@noaa.gov) no later than November 22, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Each response shall be no more than 15 single-sided, single-spaced pages (excluding the cover page), and each page shall be separately numbered, and shall be in .pdf format.