Study Fleet Data Collection and Reporting Services for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center

This Sources Sought Notice is for Planning Purposes The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this sources sought notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Your response to this Source Sought 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 commercial fishing vessels support services for study fleet data collection and reporting services during the period of September 8, 2020 through September 7, 2021. The contract has a base period and four (4) option periods. This is a requirement for vessel support for Northeast Cooperative Research Branch Study Fleet activities in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries. The current research topics relate to enhanced stock monitoring through the use of electronic reporting technology and testing, tracking the use of more selective fishing gears and practices, linking oceanographic and socioeconomic factors to fishery models, and real-time data transmission. Supported Study Fleet research projects for this contract will require participation by Northeast and Mid-Atlantic commercial vessels fishing participating in ground fish, herring, squid, mackerel and other fisheries. The Contractor shall assist in collecting and reporting tow-by-tow data through an electronic logbook system. This will be accomplished through use of the NEFSC Fisheries Logbook Data Recording Software (FLDRS). The Contractor will also support the use and development of oceanographic data collection systems consistent with the vessel's normal fishing practices, real-time data transmission systems, and the testing of new hardware, software, and data collection protocols. Work shall be on a schedule consistent with the vessel's fishing practices. The DOC/NOAA is seeking the following information: The Government requests capability statements from all businesses who qualify under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), which has a corresponding business size standard of 1,000 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.). Interested Contractor response should provide a narrative how the Contractor could provide the following services: 1. Commercially fish with federal permits at least 9 out of 12 months of the year. 2. Participate in at least one of the fisheries identified in the Scope of Work (groundfish, herring, mackerel, and squid). 3. Experience with or interest in the collection of accurate, high resolution catch, effort, and environmental data to support fisheries science. 4. Experience with or interest in using electronic reporting technology. The draft Statement of Work is attached. This announcement is a Sources Sought Notice and no contract(s) 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 April 24, 2020 at 12:00 PM, EST. All responses to this Sources Sought may be submitted via e-mail to Roberta Smith, Contract Specialist, at contact@example.gov. The electronic copy of your response must be in .pdf format and readable by the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Questions pertaining to this notice may be emailed to the contact@example.gov. NO TELEPHONE RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED.