V -- Charter for Stellar Sea Lion Research in the Western Bering Sea

This modification is to change the issue date of the Request for Proposals to April 12, 2002. The new due date for responses to this Request for Proposals is May 13, 2002. Previously, this synopsis was listed under classification code V-Transportation, Travel, and Relocation Services and had been changed to classification code F - Natural Resources and Conservation Services. The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) requires the charter of a vessel to conduct surveys of Stellar Sea Lion pups and non pups and to conduct other research activities on Sea Lions in the Russian Far East. Surveys of Steller Sea Lions will be conducted in the western Bering Sea and the northern part of the Okhotsk Sea during Sea Lion pupping period of June-July 2002. Specifically, the surveys in the western Bering Sea will include the eastern coast of Kamchatka (from the Southern tip to the Navarian area) and the Commander Islands. In the Okhotsk Sea, the surveys will include all Stellar Sea Lion sites in the Northern part of the Okhotsk Sea, including Yamski Inlands, Ioni Island, Lisynskogo Penninsula, and Zavyalov Island. Counts at these sites will include the total number of live and dead pups, territorial males, juveniles, and other nonpups. Counts must be obtained from land when possible. The count records must contain a description of the counting methods, date, time, and weather condition at the time of the count. When seen Sea Lions marked with numbered brands or flipper tags will be recorded and reported. The associated North American Industrial Classification System code is 334112. Observational studies are requested to monitor Steller Sea Lion rookeries and haulout sites for banded and tagged sea lions, record reproductive behavior, and age and sea of sea lions. Sites to be monitored include Medney Island, Tuleny Island, Brat Chirpoev Island, Antisferov Island, Luvushki Island, and Raikoke Island. The (NMML) will provide the contractor with the data format and collection protocol to ensure compatibility of data to similar data collected by the Government on US Steller Sea Lion rookeries. These observational studies will last for 4 to 6 weeks during the end of May to early July at all sites except the Medney Island and Tuleny Island sites where the observations will last for 2 months , approximately from the end of May to early August. Contractor is responsible for providing travel for Russian scientists to the sites required to accomplish the tasks described above. Additionally, the contractor will provide travel for at least 10 Russian Scientists to attend the Russian Marine Mammal Council meeting at Lake Baikal in September 2001. A Request for Proposals (RFP) providing detailed technical and performance specifications and proposal instructions will be issued on or about April 4, 2002. To request a copy of the RFP please contact Crystina Elkins at +1 (555) 000-0000 at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Administrative Support Center (WASC), Acquisition Management Division WC 32, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Or, for further further information please contract contract specialist Stephanie Kyles at +1 (555) 000-0000.