Background and Objective: The NWFSC provides scientific and technical support to NMFS for the management, conservation, and wise use of the west coast's marine and anadromous resources. The Fisheries Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division (FRAM) of the NWFSC are charged with conducting research and scientific analysis on the groundfish fisheries within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of Washington, Oregon and California.

GENERAL

 The Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, annually provides stock assessment managers and researchers with data concerning the abundance, distribution and health of West Coast Fisheries stocks. Fundamental to the acquisition of this data, are the surveys that provide the foundation of almost all fisheries management. Since 1998, FRAM has exponentially increased its survey capacity by progressively increasing survey durations and geographical locations. In 1998 FRAM completed its first and only survey of that calendar year, covering just the slope depth zone of 100 to 700 fathoms (183 - 1,280 meters) and attempted 347 tows with a total compliment of four survey nets. These tows were distributed among four vessels and were sampled with an Aberdeen-style four-panel bottom trawl net and covered the area from Cape Flattery, Washington (48 10'N) to Morro Bay, California (35 N), just north of the California bight. Since 2003:
• FRAM increased its groundfish bottom trawl survey to cover the shelf depth zone of 30 to 100 fathoms (54 - 183 meters) as well as continuing to survey the slope depth zone.
• FRAM extended the area surveyed to include the large shelf/slope region south of the California bight to the Mexican border (32 N).
• In the 2012 - 2013 field seasons the NWFSC'S FRAM division will be sampling over 1600 stations and urgently needs additional sampling trawls to complete the survey year.
• The average life span of a typical sampling trawl is approximately 1600 tows which, at current rotation levels, put necessary replacement at 4-6 years. This number is largely dependent upon the substrate, but there is inventory attrition with FRAM sampling trawls every year.

 FRAM supplies its four chartered fishing vessels with three to four Aberdeen sampling trawls per year, equating to 12 to 16 trawls deployed per survey year. Currently, FRAM possess' only 10 trawls and requires an additional trawls to adequately outfit each survey vessel. There is substantial wear on bottom trawls, as they are towed over the sea floor. The dynamic and harsh environment that the nets traverse places a temporal lifespan on each survey trawl. The sun's ultraviolet radiation degrades the polyethylene line from which the webbing is created. Rocky habitat and sand abrade the bottom of the trawl; due to these factors the nets also need to be replaced. With the inadequate number of nets that FRAM currently has, staff is overworked while getting gear maintained and "turned around" for other boats, and potentially deploying gear that does not adhere to strict standards, and could result in a mission failure. There are numerous safety reasons to provide additional nets; breaking framing lines while under tension, seafloor bottom roller-gear loosening from the footrope, any of these items could hit a scientist or a vessel crewman and the consequences would be catastrophic. There are fiscal reasons to provide additional nets; worn trawl gear could be lost: At any given time, acoustic net mensuration equipment, sensor recorders, and the net itself, FRAM has approximately $90,000 equipment in the water which is being towed over variable and harsh bottom, to lose any sensor, would be financially devastating.

 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Aberdeen 85'/104'/5.5", four panel, Aberdeen trawl bodies, intermediates, codends with floats installed, liner and footropes for each individual net will be included and built according to the attached figures. Due to NMFS's adherence to strict trawl standardization protocols all nets must pass measurement and mesh count before product acceptance (a copy of the FRAM division certification sheet is attached)

 Float brand name, model type, and buoyancy are specified in net diagram and description sheets.

 Minor variations in design or alterations in the general panel shapes, dimensions, or specified mesh sizes will not be accepted. Minor variations in materials will be considered but must be justified and described in the quotation, any proposed alternative materials must be accompanied be manufacturer's specifications demonstrating their suitability.

Rigging components and hardware for the above trawls, according to the attached list. Only Campbell brand "Q-A" coupling links (hammerlocks) with stainless steel pins and spacers will be accepted.

Nets will be examined by a net specialist prior to acceptance of delivery, to assure quality and to ensure consistency with specified plan.

 Scheduling: All gear named in this request must be delivered, complete and ready for use, not later than December 1, 2012 in order to meet the schedule for planned fieldwork on chartered research vessels.

 
Shipping: Shipping trawl gear to Seattle will be included in the bid.

POINTS OF CONTACT

• Victor Simon; (206) 860-3368, [email protected], will be FRAM's designated point of contact.
• Mary Breaker; (206) 860-3425, [email protected]

 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
[email protected] . This is a simplified acquisition with an
estimated value of less than $150,000

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doing business with this Acquisition Office be registered with the
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333-0505. All contractors are required to complete online
Representations and Certifications at http://www.orca.bpn.gov to be
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