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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT

FAR 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: obtaining market research information.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITION. This is a Request for Information (RFI); a market research tool used by the Government to gauge the marketplace and learn the industry's capabilities. Responses from all qualified businesses will assist in that determination. The information requested hereunder is for planning purposes and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or contract awarded.

No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of information. Responses to the notice will not be returned. The Government will not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with Government regulations.

The Western Acquisition Division (WAD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Seattle, WA is posting this Request for Information on behalf of the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC).

This request is issued for the purpose of exchanging information to improve the Government's understanding of industry capabilities. The RFI will enable potential offerors to determine whether, or how, they could satisfy the Government's requirements to provide supplies and services at reasonable prices.

For purposes of determine Small Business size standard, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541715

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The NWFSC provides scientific and technical support to NOAA Fisheries for the management, conservation, and wise use of the Northwest region's marine and anadromous resources. The Marine Mammal Program is responsible for research on the ecology, distribution, abundance, and threats to marine mammal species in the NW, primarily endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.

The Whale Museum maintains long-term data sets on the location of killer whales, primarily in the inland waters of Washington and southern British Columbia, and information about the number and types of vessels in close proximity to the whales. The Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program conducts on-water boater education and collects, compiles and analyzes data, and prepares reports on vessel activities around killer whales. Whale location data enables assessment of intra- and inter-annual movement and habitat use patterns. Vessel data assists with management of endangered Southern Resident killer whales including evaluation of the number and types of vessels that are potentially affected by whale watching guidelines within the waters of Washington State and Southern Vancouver Island, Bristish Columbia and impacts of vessel activities on recovery of the Southern Residents.

PURPOSE: The first purpose of the project is to collect, compile and archive all sighting data of killer whales, particularly Southern Residents, as well as other cetacean species (e.g. humpback whales) from all available data sources throughout the entire year for each year of the contract and to maintain a centralized database of these data that is compatible for Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses. The second purpose is to conduct on-water boater education and vessel data collection. The third purpose is to support field studies on foraging, noise, and health of killer whales and other cetaceans species (e.g. Dtag and other similar projects). The fourth purpose is to maintain an existing site and deploy new sites in The Whale Museum hydrophone network and develop outreach/education exhibits/programs. A fifth purpose is to periodically review the museum’s long-term data sets on killer whale sightings, vessel activities and ambient/anthropogenic sound around killer whales to conduct trend analyses for the purposes of generating data trends reports suitable for publication.

TASKS: Collect and compile location information on killer whales, particularly Southern Residents, and in consultation with NWFSC, other cetacean species from all available sources for each year of the contract. Conduct vessel/whale data collection and on-water stewardship. Support field research studies. Manage and deploy hydrophone nodes in The Whale Museum network and conduct outreach. Annually required tasks summarize as follows:

Task 1: Killer Whale Sighting Database

The vendor will compile all killer whale detection data (sightings and acoustic detections) and available data from other cetacean species from inland and coastal waters of Washington, Oregon, and California each year. Southern Resident killer whale sightings should also include, to the extent possible, sightings/detections in British Columbia and the outer coast of WA/OR/CA. Data collected should have the same variables as previously collected data to include date, time, descriptive location, latitude/longitude, fishery area, direction, count, pod/subpod, comments, and information source. The vendor shall follow-up on reports with incomplete or questionable information.

The vendor will enlist the support of outside sources, as needed, for the collection and compilation of killer and other whale sighting data. The vendor will provide an estimate of costs to provide support to outside data sources, for staff time costs to compile, error check data, and provide an annual report.

Task 2a: Soundwatch Vessel Education and Monitoring Program

The vendor shall provide on-water education to boaters and monitor vessel activity and compliance with existing guidelines and regulations. Program shall be conducted to support Be Whale Wise guidelines, State, and Federal regulations. As part of the Soundwatch program, additional hours of vessel monitoring and outreach specific to kayaks and the K.E.L.P. program will be conducted as directed in some years. Data collection on vessels, including kayaks, and kayak education complements the current Be Whale Wise campaign. The vendor will assist with additional outreach to boaters and regional boating communities about best practices operating vessels around marine mammals, utilizing new vessel regulations and updated Be Whale Wise materials. Vendor will provide a target of 50 total days on-the water monitoring and education days with the option to provide fewer or additional days on a daily or half day rate basis based on funding levels. For the kayak component, the vendor will provide a target of 40 days outreach, 10 days guide/naturalist training, 20 days data collection for monitoring and compliance, with the option to provide fewer or additional days on a daily or half day rate basis based on funding level.

Task 2b: Description of Vessel Activities Around Southern Resident Killer Whales

a. The vendor shall report seasonal and yearly trends in vessel activities around the whales for specific year(s) identified by the NWFSC. Reports will include historic and current data in a format consistent with previous reporting. Data will be collected according to standardized protocols to allow for comparison between years. The vendor will provide an estimate of the time to compile, error check data, and provide an annual report.

b. The vendor will collect data on kayakers in proximity to Southern Resident killer whales and other killer whales along the Westside of San Juan Island. Data will be collected according to existing program protocols to allow for comparison between years. The vendor will provide an estimate of the time to compile, error check data, and provide an annual report.

Task 3 Support for Field Studies on Foraging, Noise and Health

a. Use various methodologies as directed to support studies on killer whale foraging, health and effects of noise including data and sample collection, suction-cup attached tags that will be deployed by pole from a small boat, and noise level monitoring.

b. Surveys shall be conducted using an integrated equipment package which includes a global positioning system (GPS) with built-in data collector to record attribute data (e.g. whale identification, group size, and behaviors), a laser rangefinder to determine distance, and a compass for bearing. These components shall be physically/electronically connected and synchronized to generate geo-referenced data for focal whales and vessels. Two integrated equipment packages should be used to collect data simultaneously, with the first package dedicated to collecting data from killer whales and the second package dedicated to collecting data from vessels in the vicinity of the killer whales.

c. Characterize the behavior of killer whales with varying levels of vessel traffic over a range of geographic areas. Behaviors should be recorded and categorized according to published behavioral states of killer whales.

1. Detailed group behavioral data, including behavior state and spatial structure, shall be collected from groups of focal animals representing the range of age-classes present (e.g. adult females, adult males, calves, juveniles, etc.).

2. Identify focal animals from existing photo identification databases so that behavioral responses of different individuals and their pod members can be compared.

d. Collect data on vessel characteristics and behavior simultaneously with the collection of killer whale behavioral data during varying levels of vessel traffic and over several geographic regions. Also characterize the number of vessels present, types of vessels present, distance between killer whales and vessels, and vessel activity.

e. Collect data to assess whether vessel operators are more, less, or equally compliant with current voluntary whale watching boating guidelines, State, and Federal regulations in the presence of monitoring and/or enforcement vessels, and whether certain vessel types and/or vessel operators are more/less often in violation of particular guidelines.

f. Collect data on the vessel type and exact distance between the vessel and the tagged or focal whale. Vendor will provide cost estimate for all tasks above as a labor rate comparable to GS-level wage scale for 1) field data collection and 2) post-processing and analysis

Task 4: Hydrophone Monitoring Network

Repair and maintain the existing hydrophone site at Lime Kiln Lighthouse and expand to new sites. In consultation with the NWFSC, expand the network with additional hydrophone sites. Maintain and improve upon the automated detection, localization, classification, and notification system which provides near real-time alerts via email and/or text message. Expand system to include an app for using mobile devices like iPhones or Androids to listen live (e.g. at sites like Lime Kiln) and/or report human detections of killer whale locations (e.g. upon hearing sounds on the live streams or sighting orcas). Vendor will provide estimates for time and materials for repair, maintenance, and expansion on a per node basis. Vendor to estimate travel costs associated with establishment, maintenance, and repair of hydrophone nodes.

Task 5: Acoustic Outreach Program

Maintain the hydrophone outreach infrastructure and update existing exhibit and web content (including use of web cameras), develop acoustic outreach programs for killer whales, including interactive exhibits, listening station software, and web-based tools. The outreach programs will complement existing information, hydrophones, and infrastructure at The Whale Museum, Lime Kiln Point State Park, and at educational facilities associated with future hydrophone sites. Expand acoustic outreach programs to include Lime Kiln Lighthouse and other nodes where appropriate. Messages and signage for acoustic programs will be consistent with information in the Recovery Plan for Southern Resident killer whales and other NOAA outreach materials. Vendor will provide estimates for time and materials for periodic maintenance and updating of outreach exhibits and programs.

Task 6: Multi-Year Data Compilation

Periodically the vendor will compile historic killer whale sightings, vessel activities and ambient/anthropogenic sound around Southern Resident killer whales and shall report trends and spatial patterns for specific year(s) and parameters consistent with previous reporting. Vendor will provide estimates for time and materials for analysis and report preparation.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

Services are to be provided at a location agreed upon by both parties.

However, the majority of the work will take place in the Salish Sea with some work conducted in the coastal areas of WA, OR, CA, and BC, Canada. The contractor is to have all required permits to carry out this research and adhere to the requirements of those permits while conducting this work.

QUALIFICATION STATEMENT RESPONSE: The vendor's response to this Synopsis shall include the following information:

1. Vendor's name, address, point of contact, phone number and email address.

2. Vendor's interest in quoting on the solicitation when it is issued.

3. Vendor's qualifications and capability statement to meet all of the listed requirements. (core competencies and other relevant information)

4. Evidence of vendor's capability to execute and successfully perform comparable work in the past (list of customers).

5. Vendor's small business category and business size (along with your firm's Unique Entity ID and CAGE code). The applicable NAICS code is 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)) with a size standard of 1000 employees.

Any interested vendors should submit capability statement with information that clearly demonstrates their capabilities to provide the services described above. The vendor's capability statement is merely an aid to NOAA's market research efforts. NOAA will consider all comments, supportive or critical, but may or may not use these individual comments. Standard vendor brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to the Sources Sought Synopsis.

Qualification Statements will be treated separately from, and will have no bearing on, any subsequent evaluation of proposals submitted in response to any resulting future formal Request for Quotes. NOAA will not pay for information or comments provided and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of comments.

Respondents are advised that NOAA is under no obligation to provide respondents with any feedback on the information received.

Responses to this RFI are due no later than Wednesday, May 17, 2023 by 2:30 pm Pacific Time. Responses shall be sent via email to Jamie Abu Shakrah, Contracting Specialist, Jamie.AbuShakrah@noaa.gov of your response must be in ".pdf format" and readable by the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Questions pertaining to this notice may also be emailed to Jamie Abu Shakrah. EMAIL IS THE PREFERRED METHOD FOR RECEIVING RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT.

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