B -- Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract

The Department of Commerce, through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), intends to negotiate a sole source contract with the OGI School of Science and Engineering at Oregon Health and Science University. The contract aims to support a study focused on the historic habitat opportunities and food-web linkages of juvenile salmon in the Columbia River Estuary, assessing implications for river flow management and estuarine habitat restoration. This contract is part of a broader NMFS project funded by the Bonneville Power Administration, with OGI already serving as an approved subcontractor. The proposed study is essential for fulfilling project objectives, and the funding depends on OGI performing the required research. This acquisition is a simplified process with an estimated contract value under $100,000. It underscores the importance of leveraging specialized expertise from OGI to advance understanding of estuarine ecosystems critical to juvenile salmon survival. Questions about the contract can be directed to Randall Brown. The contract was posted on August 1, 2003, with performance and administration managed out of the Department of Commerce office located in Seattle, Washington.