The U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC), National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration (NOAA), and the National Marine Fisheries in Miami, intends establish a purchase order to develop quantitative metrics of grazing intensity based on species- and size-specific grazing rates and grazing preferences for up to 10 species of reef-associated parrotfishes in the Caribbean. These grazing metrics shall then be used to characterize spatial and temporal patterns of grazing intensity using existing data sets. Work shall be conducted in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands where the largest parrotfish fishery in the US Caribbean is located. This project will characterize species-specific coral predation rates in order to begin to quantify the direct negative impacts of parrotfishes on corals via coral predation. This contract shall support the participation of a research biologist to lead field work and data analysis to develop and apply species- and size-specific metrics of grazing intensity of parrotfishes in St. Croix, USVI. The contractor shall collaborate with a researcher who shall be funded through a related contract. Collaboration shall be done by meeting in person and via electronic media (email, video and teleconferencing). This is a small business set-aside. The NAICS code for this action is 541990. Size standard not to exceed $15M. This support service is being procured under the guidelines of FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures and Part 12 Commercial Items. The attached statement must be completed and returned with the offer. The Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) requires that all contractors doing business with the Acquisition Office must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database. For additional information and to register in SAM please access the following website: http://www.sam.gov/. In order to register with the SAM 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 https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or by phone at (800) 333-0505. The government now requires all contractors submit their Certification and Representation thru the Systems for Award Management (SAM). The SAM is the single source for vendor data for the Federal Government. Contractors should go on-line at www.sam.gov. Award will not be made to any contractor that is not registered in SAM. Interested parties can provide a quote to, Attn: Sharon Walker by fax (757-664-3845) or via email, referencing the Solicitation No. by the closing date of this announcement.

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