NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, Vessel Charter Services, Trawl Gear Typ Training

This Sources Sought Notice is for Planning Purposes. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of the Sources Sought Notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Your response to this Sources sought notice will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a quote. The Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Norfolk, VA is soliciting information, on behalf of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for a Contractor to provide services and equipment to support training trips aboard a commercial fishing vessel. The required training vessel gear type is for Trawl Gear vessel(s). The vessel must be available March 15, 2019 through March 14, 2020. The NESFC, Fisheries Sampling Branch (FSB) plans to conduct a minimum of three (3) training trip sessions using two (2) trawl vessels within the FSB Observer Certification Courses, and three (3) dock-side Safety Training opportunities. The vessel must sail or land from a port that is within a reasonable commute (50 miles) of East Falmouth, Massachusetts. BACKGROUND NOAA Fisheries is the federal agency responsible for the management, regulatory compliance, economic data and protection of living marine resources within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. Within the NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), the Fisheries and Ecosystems Monitoring and Analysis Division (FEMAD), Fisheries Sampling Branch (FSB) is responsible for monitoring and observing fishing in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic U.S. The FSB collects, processes, manages, and provides fishery dependent data and biological samples obtained from fishing vessels. Collection of these data is mandated or otherwise needed for management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Atlantic Tuna Convention Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The branch staff and observers under contract perform at-sea operations aboard commercial vessels to collect information on fishing operations, fishing effort, catch, including by-catch and discard information, economic data and vessel efficiency, and biological samples of landed catch and discard. The DOC/NOAA is seeking the following information: The Government seeks a response from all businesses who qualify under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 483112, (Deep Sea Passenger Transportation), which has a corresponding size standard of 1,500 employees. Company size status for the NAICS Code stated above (small business concern per 13 CFR, educational institution, federal, local or state entity, commercial entity, nonprofit organization, etc.); and socio-economic status for NAICS Code stated above (8(a), hubzone, small disadvantaged business, service-disabled/veteran owned, women owned, etc.). The interested Contractor's capability statement should include how the Contractor could furnish a vessel necessary to provide the services as provided in the Draft Statement of Work (SOW). Standard brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this notice. Note: This announcement is a Sources Sought Notice 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 Sources Sought Notice is December 28, 2018 at 3:00 P.M. No collect calls will be accepted. All responses to this RFI may be submitted via e-mail to Amy McLiverty, Contract Specialist, at contact@example.gov. NO TELEPHONE RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.