The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), has a requirement for a vessel charter for a bottom trawl survey with the purpose of conducting research and scientific analysis of groundfish fisheries within the Exlcusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off of the coast of Washington, Oregon and California. NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) in support of the Fisheries Resource Management Division (FRAM) is planning a research survey in within the Exlcusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off of the coast of Washington, Oregon and California for groundfish along the continental slope and shelf along the coastlines of the above referenced western states during the spring and summer of 2013. The overall goals of the mission are to Conduct a bottom trawl survey of the groundfish resources of the continental shelf and slope of the United States West Coast region. A commercial trawl-fishing vessel will be chartered to carry out this survey. The vessel will commence survey operations on or around May 13, 2013 and complete survey operations approximately 75 days later on or around July 26, 2013. The charters will begin and end in Newport, Oregon, with survey operations proceeding from north to south. This is to be a one-year contract with no option years. This solicitation is to charter a vessel to complete the 2013 West Coast groundfish bottom trawl survey. The vessel shall conduct an independent survey of the shelf and slope zone from 30 fathoms to 700 fathoms, extending from the Canadian border around Cape Flattery, Washington to the Mexican border near San Diego, California. Survey stations will be designated in the sampling manual to representatively sample this range of depths, and will be randomly pre-selected within a geographical area and depth strata. The sampling locations will be provided to the vessel captain and crew during the week of mobilization. The vessel will be allocated approximately 188 stations. Under the direction of a NMFS-designated chief scientist, the vessel shall 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 mobilization with the vessel captain(s). With the assistance of the crew, the scientific party will examine the catches and record various data species, size, gender, maturity, and age composition), catch (weight), and effort data. Those portions of the catch that have commercial value and are not required for biological or as retained specimens will be kept and sold by the vessel in Washington and Oregon but not California. Proceeds from the fish sales will be deducted from the total cost of the survey. Vessel requirements shall include the following: - The vessel shall have berth capacity for a minimum of 6 scientists - The vessel shall be at least 65 feet and no more than 109 feet in registered length. The vessel shall be seaworthy and suitable for trawling operations in the geographic region previously specified during the season indicated. - The vessel's main engine shall be rated at a minimum continuous horsepower of 450 to 1200 horsepower. - The vessel shall be able to maintain a cruising speed of at least 7.5 knots in low sea states. Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, transportation and services necessary to provide a vessel charter for survey of the continental slope and shelf within the Exclusive Economic Zone along the coastlines of California, Oregon and Washington as noted in the Statement of Work. The resulting firm-fixed-price (with reimbursement of fuel, ice and moorage at cost) contract will have a base period of performance from approximately May 13th, 2013 through July 26th, 2013, with one (1) option period, consecutively occurring after the base period. The proposed contract is a 100% Small Business Set-Aside. The NAICS code for this procurement is 483114 and the size standard is 500 employees. All responsible and fully responsive sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Agency. Solicitation documents will be made available for download on or about November 16th, 2012 at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. Paper copies of this solicitation will not be issued. Interested parties should use the FedBizOpps [Add To Watchlist] and [Add Me To Interested Vendors] features which provide a notification when the RFP becomes available for download as well as all postings of information associated with this solicitation, thereafter. Each potential offeror is responsible for checking the FedBizOpps website to gain all current information related to the solicitation. The solicitation and any further announcements regarding the solicitation will be posted only at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. The estimated response due date is December 16th, 2012; however, the actual date offers are due will be stated within the solicitation documents. All questions of any nature regarding this procurement are to be sent to Contract Specialist, Joshua Dodson at josh.j.dodson@noaa.gov or via fax at 206.527.6940. All vendors doing business with the Government are required to be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), as well as completed Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). NO award can be made unless the vendor is registered in CCR and ORCA via the System for Award Management (SAM), which may be accessed the following web site: http:///www.sam.gov/. In order to register with SAM and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all vendors must also 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.
