The Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), requires the charter of a commercial trawler to conduct a bottom trawl survey this summer of the slope zone (100 to 700 fathoms) off the West Coast of the United States. The vessel will be under charter for approximately five weeks during which time it will conduct an independent survey of the slope zone from Cape Flattery, Washington to Morro Bay, California. The charter will begin in Newport, Oregon, and end in Morro Bay, unless other ports are selected by mutual agreement. Under the direction of a NMFS-designated chief scientist, the vessel will fish in a systematic manner with bottom trawl gear according to a pre-specified survey design and a manual governing the construction, rigging, and operation of the trawl gear used for sampling. The trawl gear to be used during the charter will be supplied by NMFS, as will a portable trawl instrumentation system that will be used to monitor and measure various aspects of the trawl's performance during sampling hauls. The vessel will serve along with other trawlers already under contract either during the first survey period beginning on or about June 25, 2002 or during the second survey period, which will begin approximately three weeks after the end of the first and will also run for approximately five weeks. In general, typical coastal trawlers are required, however, vessels must be at least 60 feet long and have a minimum horsepower rating of 400. The vessel must be prepared to fish effectively at depths up to 700 fm and accordingly must have at least 1200 fm of warp installed on the trawl winches. There must be berthing accommodations for three project scientists (which may include women) as well as a crew comprising at least two fishermen and a captain. The vessel must be prepared to operate for at least nine days between port calls. This will be a "Fish for Research" charter. That is, a mixture of cash and additional fishing opportunities over and above current limited-entry groundfish trip limits will be used to compensate the vessels chartered for this survey. The Government intends to pay cash for 50% of the value of the charter services. Any balance still owed to the vessels will be compensated by revenue from sales of fish caught during survey operations and by means of exempted fishing permits issued to the vessels allowing them, during regular commercial trips after the conclusion of the charter, to land fish in excess of their trip limits up to the value of the amount owed. A Request for Proposals providing detailed technical and performance specifications and proposal instructions will be issued on or about March 7, 2002. The proposed contract is 100% set aside for small business concerns. The NAICS code for this procurement is 487210 and the size standard is $5.0 million. See Numbered Note 1.

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