Fish Counting

This Request for Information (RFI) is to determine the potential availability of existing (off-the-shelf) computer software that could be used for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Portland and Walla Walla Districts adult fish counting program at eight mainstem Columbia and Snake River dams. These Corps dams have fish ladders and associated facilities for passing adult salmon, steelhead, shad, lamprey, and other migrating and resident species. The Corps has specific requirements for counting adult fish passing at each of these projects. Fish counting services are currently being performed by a contractor under a base contract with two option years and is scheduled to expire February 2019. The currently used computer software is out-of-date and research is being done to find a suitable replacement. At this time we are requesting information on commercially available, off-the-shelf computer software with the capabilities to satisfy fish counting needs. This information will be used so a decision can be made on what is the best method/software for a new fish counting contract. Specifically, we are interested in software packages which can; 1. Be used by fish counting staff to record and archive hourly and daily numbers of fish of multiple species as they pass upstream (positive counts) and downstream (negative counts) at fish count stations at the dams. 2. Transmit net hourly counts at a set time daily to Corp's designated host for posting on publically-accessible internet websites, and 3. Archive counts for backup and long term records storage. In addition, the Corps is interested in software that could automate processing video records of fish as they pass count stations at night and during winter months when count staff are not present. Examples of automated processing can include video compression (to eliminate blank frames) and pattern recognition (algorithms that use body morphology to identify and enumerate fish by species and age) techniques. Vendors would need to demonstrate that video processing software can differentiate among multiple species with a 95% accuracy. Only firms that have or know of commercially available off-the-shelf computer software that could fulfill our requirement should respond to this announcement. This announcement is being used as market research and does not constitute a Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. Responses to this RFI will be used by the Government in making appropriate acquisition decisions. NOTE: The NAICS code in 2017 changed from 541712 to 541715. Set-aside Status: The 2019 solicitation is scheduled to be issued as a Set-Aside 100% for Small Business concerns. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) with a small business size standard of 1000 Employees. In order to determine the extent of industry interest and experience in the requirement, interested firms shall present the following information: (1) Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and CAGE code; (2) Socio-economic classification(s) (e.g., 8(a), small business, small disadvantaged business, etc.) as they relate to NAICS code 541715; (3) A brief overview of the items requested above regarding software. No basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this notice or Government use of any information provided. The Government will not pay for information or comments provided and will not recognize any costs associated with submission of comments. Companies or individuals interested in responding are invited to submit their information via email only to Nona R. Fincher at Nona.R.Fincher@usace.army.mil Please provide all attachments in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Responses should be received by 2:00 p.m. PDT, 5 February 2018. Please reference in the subject line of your quote - Request for Information: Fish Counting on the Lower Columbia and Lower Snake River Contracting Office Address: USACE District, Walla Walla, 201 N. Third Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876 Point of Contact(s): Nona R. Fincher, 509-527-7220