MARINE RESEARCH SCIENTIST TO SUPPORT THE VALIDATION, UPGRADE, AND SUPPORT OF THE SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE (SST)-CHLOROPHYLL (CHL) FRONT DETECTION (BOA) ALGORITHM

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY - Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government. The Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Norfolk, VA is exploring sources for a Marine Research Scientist. BACKGROUND: The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is the research component of National Oceanic and Atmospherics' (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the Northeast Region. NEFSC has an ongoing research program to use remotely-sensed data collected by satellites to monitor the spatial, seasonal, inter-annual and decadal variability in sea surface temperature and phytoplankton productivity of the Northeast United States continental shelf ecosystem, and understand how oceanographic variability influences fisheries productivity and the living marine resources within this region. The Northeast U.S. ecosystem is oceanographically diverse owing to its location at the confluence of the warm northward Gulf Stream and cold southward Slope Current. There is a complex pattern of oceanic fronts in the Northeast region due to interaction of strong tidal currents and topography in areas such as Georges Bank, Nantucket Shoals, Bay of Fundy, and the Scotian Shelf. Such oceanic fronts represent major biogeographical/ecosystem boundaries and are often associated with zones of elevated primary and secondary productivity. There are numerous reports in the scientific literature summarizing the importance of oceanic fronts to fisheries. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) fronts, regions of sharp gradients in ocean surface temperature, can be detected by using satellite data. The methods for quantifying SST fronts from satellite data were developed and refined by oceanographers at the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) and published in the scientific literature (Cayula & Cornillon 1992). Climatology of SST front statistics has also been developed and published by GSO, for the Northeast US coastal region. The Northeast US coastal region is the principal focus area for this contract (see attached figure). PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: Scope: The purpose of this project is to validate, upgrade, and support the SST-CHL front detection (BOA) algorithm. Specific Tasks: 1) The contractor shall validate the BOA against in situ and satellite data (Year 1). The contractor shall validate the BOA SST-CHL front algorithm by comparing results from the BOA with in situ and satellite data (Year 1). Satellite data, from sensors AVHRR on NOAA satellites and MODIS Aqua on NASA satellites, will be provided by NOAA-NEFSC, Narragansett Laboratory and will consist of high resolution (I-km) data. Data collected from shipboard surveys (in situ data) will also be provided by NOAA-NEFSC, Narragansett Laboratory. 2) The contractor shall upgrade and modify (as needed) the BOA (Year 2). 3) The contractor shall prepare a technical report, to eventually be published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, detailing the results of the BOA validation (Year 2). References: References related to this work include oceanographic and remote sensing scientific technical reports and journals, technical scientific references and literature on oceanic fronts, accepted computer, statistical and analytical methods for satellite data processing, computer security policies and agency policies and directives. The C&A requirements of clause 73 does not apply; and a Security Accreditation Package is not required for this contract. Cayula, J.F., and P.c. Cornillon. 1992. Edge Detection Algorithm for SST Images. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 9(1):67-80. Belkin, I.M., O'Reilly, J.E., 2009. An algorithm for oceanic front detection in chlorophyll and SST satellite imagery. Journal of Marine Systems 78(3), 317-326. The DOC/NOAA is seeking the following information: Potential Respondents shall describe how they would propose to successfully perform these services, assuming that all services provided by Respondent would be accomplished in accordance with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. In addition, Respondents shall indicate any relevant experience in the Fisheries industry. Respondents shall not be obligated to provide the services described herein and it is understood by the United States Government that the cost estimates provided as a result of this request are "best" estimates only. Note: This announcement is a Request for Information and no contract will be awarded pursuant to this announcement. The requested information is for planning purposes and does not constitute a commitment, implied, or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. The response date for this market research is August 02, 2010 at 4:00 P.M. No collect calls will be accepted. All responses to this RFI may be submitted via e-mail to Brian O'Boyle, Contract Specialist, at Brian.OBoyle@noaa.gov courtesy copy to Brendon Johnson, Contracting Officer, at Brendon.Johnson@noaa.gov , and with a hard copy to the U. S. Department of Commerce/NOAA/ERAD Norfolk Federal Building 200 Granby Street, Room 815 Norfolk, VA 23510. Note: The phone number for the Contract Specialist is 757.441.3839 and the fax number is 757.664.3636. NO TELEPHONE RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.