The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is issuing notice of intent to negotiate a sole source procurement with The Center for Coastal Studies to conduct a study of entanglement scar rates in humpback whales. The scope of this work is to document and quantify entanglements among Gulf of Maine humpback whales based on photographs of the caudal peduncle and the insertion point of the flukes. The work builds upon and updates a previous study of this nature, and will potentially permit evaluation of the success of measures included in the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. The planned period of performance shall be July 26, 2004 through July 25, 2005 with two one-year option periods. The work cannot be performed without the use of the extensive database on individually identified humpback whales from the Gulf of Maine population that is curated at the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) in Provincetown, MA. The information from the sighting histories of humpback whales contained in the CCS database is essential to the study. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 41 USC 253 (c) (1), Only One Responsible Source. Interested parties may identify their interest and must provide evidence of their capability to respond to the requirement by July 21, 2004. Written requests for additional information may be faxed to (757) 441-3786. Telephone requests will not be accepted. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Numbered Note 22 applies.

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