F -- NOAA-International Whaling Commision Technical Services

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation to consulting services for the NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Office of International Affairs. The statement of work is as follows. The contractor shall provide the services to complete the following tasks: Tasks: In accord with general guidance from the NOAA and the U.S. International Whaling Commission (IWC) Commissioner, prepare the following products that will contribute to US initiatives after the Annual IWC 2006 Meeting and thereby assist the US in successfully meeting defined challenges, as well as preparing for the 59th Annual Meeting. The products/deliverables may be revised in accord with the U.S. Commissioners and US?s strategic/tactical needs:A. 59th Annual Meeting 1. Serve on the committee as an advisor and assistant to the U.S. in preparation for hosting the 59th annual meeting of IWC in Anchorage, Alaska. B. Aboriginal Subsistence Quotas 1. Help the US prepare to meet the strategic challenge of renewing the aboriginal subsistence quotas for bowhead and gray whales. 2. Drawing on the results of joint US-Russia research on the status of the Western Arctic bowhead whale population, assist in the preparation of talking points to support the U.S. position on the AEWC hunt for bowhead whales. 3. Assist in the preparation of talking points for the U.S. position on the Makah hunt for gray whales. C. Intersessional Initiatives 1. Produce background paper(s) and talking points for use by the U.S. at intersessional meetings. 2. Help prepare for the review of JARPA I to be held in Tokyo in December and ensure consistency with overall U.S. strategy. 3. Help prepare a review of the JARPA II Scientific Permit. D. Other Issues 1. Provide advice/critiques of developing issues as requested by the U.S.Commissioner and US arising from follow-up to the 2006 meeting. The Government has budgeted approximately $15,000 for this requirement. The solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2005-12. The provisions and clauses may be downloaded at http://www.acqnet.gov/far. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-l, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items. The resulting purchase order shall be negotiated on a firm fixed price. The award shall be made on a best value basis using simplified acquisition procedures and commercial acquisition procedures. Quotes will be evaluated based upon their approach, past performance and price, while these factors are relatively equal, they are listed in order of importance. The Government plans to award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quote conforming to the solicitation which will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) approach, (ii) past performance, (iii) price; FAR 52-212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. All interested contractors must be actively registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at the CCR website (www.ccr.gov). All responsible sources may respond to this combined synopsis/solicitation with a quotation addressed to Ms. Catherine Perren, NOAA Acquisition Division, 1305 East West Highway, Room 7146, Silver Spring MD 20910, to be received no later than 1:00 p.m., September 13, 2006. Responses may be faxed to 301-713-0806 or emailed to Catherine.Perren@noaa.gov and a carbon copy(cc) to Mario.A.Checchia@noaa.gov Responses must be no more than 10(ten) pages. The Government reserves the right to make a single award, multiple awards, or no award as a result of this RFQ. It is the responsibility of the contractor to confirm NOAA's receipt of quote.