The U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) in Miami, Florida intends to award a contract to University of the Virgin Islands (USVI) for support of a fishery independent project to assess the coral reef fisheries of an island platform in the US Caribbean. The project develops an efficient cost-effective survey program to provide a baseline description of fisheries resources that will provide new information to fishery managers and serves as a foundation for continued research and resource monitoring. This work will provide the first comprehensive spatial evaluation of fish abundance for any US Caribbean territory and provide a model for developing similar programs in other locations. By incorporating our understanding of coral reef ecosystems and utilizing existing products (e.g. habitat mapping), this pilot project will be efficient and yet intensive enough to evaluate the spatial resolution necessary to adequately sample the coral reef fish complexes. This cooperative project employs the resources and knowledge of the local fishing communities and begins to build bridges between the stakeholders, scientists, and resource managers, providing provide critical information to the Council and developing a model for coral reef ecosystem surveys; demonstrating the power of inter-agency/cross discipline collaborations and cooperative research. The results will provide the first spatially comprehensive snapshot of relative reef fish abundances in the US Caribbean.

The USVI shall provide Geo Information System (GIS) and Spatial Analysis expertise and support (preferably ArcGIS) in support of the above mentioned project. The contractor will generate best benthic habitat map of chosen island platform in GIS format including bathymetry. The contractor will integrate information from existing habitat mapping projects with local, historical fishing patterns and existing ecosystem research and monitoring to develop a stratified, statistically sound survey design with cooperative support from SEFSC and NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) Biogeography Program. The contractor will assist with the generation of survey locations (GPS coordinates and habitat targets), and decision support tools for the fishery independent project, and act as a general consultant on the development and execution of sampling program. The contractor will assist in the generation of figures for publications, reports and presentations related to this project.

 

Requirements:
1. Contractor shall be preferably geographically located in the US Virgin Islands in order to be in close proximity to the study area. Those located in US Virgin Islands will be looked at more strongly.
2. Contractor shall have adequate advanced computer hardware and software on hand to support advanced spatial analysis and GIS activities
3. Contractor shall have a strong background in coral reef science, including experience working with the snapper/grouper complex and working with fish trap studies.
4. Contractor shall have excellent oral and written communications skills.
5. Contractor shall have working knowledge of mapping and monitoring activities taking place in the US Virgin Islands to inform study design

The NAICS code for this action is 541990. Period of Performance: March 31, 2010 through November 30, 2010. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source USVI. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within ten (10) days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. 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. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. Interested firms shall include, in writing, the company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, and business size; a statement regarding their capabilities and qualifications, and any additional supporting literature. Submissions received in response to this notice shall be evaluated based on the technical ability and demonstrated past experience to meet the requirements described in the description section above. Information must be mailed or faxed to:

Sharon Walker 816-426-7470 phone
U.S. Department of Commerce 816-274-6983 fax
Eastern Region Administrative Service
601 E. 12th Street, Room 1756
Kansas City, MO 64106

Vendor must provide a DUNS number (http://www.dnb.com/us/ ) and register with the Central Contractors Registration (http://www.ccr.gov/ ) to further qualify for this contract.

 

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