This publication serves as notice of intent to procure services for the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Protected Resources Division (PRD) located in Long Beach. CA on a sole source basis with Los Angeles Conservation Corp's Sea Lab. The government intends to acquire services using FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Proposed contract is for implementing the NMFS Species of Concern Program for green abalone.
III. Description of Work and Services
A. Research Tasks: Develop reliable and cost-effective techniques to restore wild
populations of green abalone to the Santa Monica Bay.
1. Monitor and manipulate feeding, light cycles and water temperature to
determine the optimum growth rates for newly settled, juvenile and adult
green abalone.
2. Investigate the methods for long term monitoring and tagging of
outplanted green abalone.
3. Conduct feeding trials and water temperature manipulations to determine
optimum reproductive output for captive adult green abalone.
4. Perform 3 spawning events with an anticipated juvenile recruitment of
2,000 abalone per spawn, creating a total of 6,000 juvenile green abalone
for outplanting trials.
5. Develop and construct modules for outplanting different life stages of
green abalone and perform trials in a controlled environment.
B. Education Tasks: Educate people about the plight of wild abalone by promoting the NOAA ‘Species of Concern' management approach; the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) Abalone Recovery and Management Plan (ARMP); and providing practical hands-on trainings.
1. Train the public in commercial abalone husbandry techniques. This will
include caring for brood stock, juvenile and larval green abalone.
2. Train the public to lead education activities and public tours at the
cultivation facility.
3. Provide students from schools throughout Los Angeles with hands-on,
interactive learning activities highlighting abalone and the importance of a
healthy coastal habitat.
4. Provide the public with community events and guided tours of the
cultivation facility that will convey the goals of the ARMP and NMFS's
‘Species of Concern' objectives.
C. Conservation Tasks: Improve the health of the Santa Monica Bay ecosystems by investigating the restoration of a viable wild population of green abalone in Southern California to an area where historic populations have been locally extirpated.
1. Plan outplanting trial for captive raised green abalone, including obtaining
a ‘Private Stocking Permit' from the CDFG.
2. Determine the optimum outplanting locations with respect to food
availability, substrate structure, ecosystem health and logistics involved.
3. Develop ongoing partnerships that will ensure project resources and
financial support.
The Los Angeles Conservation Corp's Sea Lab in Redondo Beach, CA provides a healthy and safe environment for captive green abalone and is authorized through the State of California to hold green abalone broodstock and captively spawn them. They are the only facility with flow through seawater to stimulate natural conditions, ideal geographic and logistical positioning for outplanting along Palos Verdes Peninsula, green abalone populations for restoration and educational purposes. The government intends to negotiate a firm- fixed price contract with period of performance of eighteen months from date of award. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 15 days of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the government. All responses must be in writing and may be faxed attention to Maria Mendoza at (206)527-7513or email at [email protected]. This is a small purchase action estimated value not to exceed $100,000.00. ****The Western Regional Acquisition Division, requires that all contractors doing business with this Acquisition Office be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) as of October 1, 2003. After this date, NO award can be made unless the vender is registered in CCR. For additional information and to register in CCR please access the following web site: http://www.ccr.gov. In order to register with the CCR and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all offerors must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at www.dnb.com/eupdate or by phone at (800) 333-0505. All contractors are also required to complete online Representations and Certifications at HTTP://ORCA.BPN.GOV.