B -- Marine Species Monitoring Plan for Navy Operating Areas (OPAREA) and training ranges

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. A SOLICITATION IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command-Pacific is conducting market research to identify interested sources for information and planning purposes only. We are seeking qualified and experienced sources for preparation of a marine species monitoring plan for Navy Operating Areas (OPAREA) and training ranges in 1) Hawaiian Islands, 2) Southern California, 3) Gulf of Alaska, 4) Pacific Northwest and 5) Marianas Islands. Responses may be provided for any or all of these five areas. All qualified and experienced contractors, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, state and federal agencies are encouraged to respond. The Hawaii OPAREA covers approximately 745,000 square kilometers, surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands as well as Kaula and Nihoa. The OPAREA runs up to the Hawaiian shoreline off northwestern Hawaii, western Molokai, southwestern Kauai, at three locations around Oahu, and around the entire island of Kaula. The offshore component is extensive, stretching beyond the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in three locations. The Southern California OPAREA covers approximately 411,000 square km and is located in the eastern North Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Southern California and Baja Mexico. It includes a nearshore and offshore component. The nearshore component encompasses ocean waters along the Southern California Coast, from Oxnard to just north of the California/Mexico border, as well as all of San Diego Bay. The offshore component surrounds many of the Channel Islands, and extends in a southwesterly direction out to 125 degrees West longitude. The Gulf of Alaska OPAREA covers approximately 82,000 square km and is located in the northern Gulf of Alaska southeast of Kenai Peninsula and northeast of Kodiak Island. The Pacific Northwest OPAREA covers approximately 445,000 square kilometers. The OPAREA has both an inshore and offshore component. The offshore component encompasses ocean waters along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. The inshore component includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the southern Strait of Georgia, and the entire Puget Sound. The OPAREA runs up to the shoreline in portions of Puget Sound and the Quinault Area. The Marianas OPAREA covers approximately 40,000 square kilometers and is comprised of both inshore and offshore components. The inshore component contains nearshore areas of Guam, Tinian and Farallon de Medinilla. The offshore component is a polygon extending southwest of Guam to approximately 10 degrees north. Each particular OPAREA/range has specific baseline and monitoring needs depending on the current level of knowledge and data availability. All methods of monitoring will be considered, including, but not limited to, aerial and shipboard surveys, passive acoustics, and individual-level behavioral studies, to form the foundation of the monitoring program. Preparation of the plan is anticipated to include assessing current information (species composition, distribution, etc), modeling the movement and responses of a marine fauna in the OPAREA, investigating survey designs and analyses to assess potential effects of training. Plan must be completed in coordination with Navy biologists and regulatory agencies, and on-site meetings will be required. The contractor must provide or contract all equipment and team members needed for the proposed study, monitoring and reporting of results. Species to be included in the plan include marine mammals, sea turtles and commercially important fish. Implementation of the plan, including systematic monitoring to assess trends in species composition, distribution, and abundance may follow plan preparation. This announcement is open until 12:00 Hawaii Standard Time, 17 March 2006. The Government reserves the right to make this requirement a set-aside. If a contract is awarded for this effort, the Government anticipates a Firm Fixed Price/Indefinite Quantity contract for a duration of five (5) years (1 basic plus 4 option years). However, contract type and duration could change. Proposed submissions of interest and/or statements of capability in the area mentioned above should include the following information, taking into consideration that the information submitted may not be used for a procurement action: (1) Reference to reference number N62742-06-R-1884; (2) Company Name and Address; (3) Point of contact name, telephone, and email address; (4) If a United States or Foreign company; (5) Company Size, NAICS Code 541710 with a size standard of 500 employees (6) If your company is a Small Business, specify if your company is or is not one of the following: a. Small Disadvantaged Business, b. HubZone Business, c. Women-Owned Business, d. 8a Business; (7) Proposer's capabilities and related experience, or unique combination of these which are integral factors in achieving the proposed objective (8) Capability to perform the required tasks with a general approach to baseline research and monitoring (9) the qualifications and experience of the principal investigator(s), team leader(s), or key personnel who are critical in achieving the objectives of the proposed tasks, and (10) Any other specific or pertinent technical information as pertains to this particular area of solicitation that would enhance our understanding of your qualifications and abilities. Contractors should mark any data that is proprietary or has restricted data rights as appropriate. Questions regarding this announcement should be sent via email to annette.tijerina@navy.mil or richard.keener@navy.mil, or via fax to (808) 474-5909. Announcement responses should be sent to: Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Code AQ12 Annette Tijerina, 258 Makalapa Drive, Ste. 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860; facsimile (808) 474-5909; or email annette.tijerina@navy.mil. This announcement is not a Request for Proposal, but is a sources sought for information and planning purposes only. The Government will not pay for any effort or materials expended in response to this announcement. All information submitted shall become the property of the Government. This announcement does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract for any items for which information is voluntarily submitted for assessment.