VESSEL CHARTER FOR GULF OF ALASKA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION SURVEY

UPDATE 09/18/2019 - Solcitation has been officially cancelled. Please see attached SF30 Amendment 00002. UPDATE 08/15/2019 - Solicitation has been modified and the due date is extended to 08/20/2019 at 2:00 PM MT. See attached SF30 for required signature and additional Solicitation fill-ins. PLEASE SEE SOLICITATION AND ACCOMPANYING ATTACHMENTS. Background: NOAA PMEL, the Alaska Ocean Observing System, and the Hakai Institute intend to jointly conduct scientific research in the Gulf of Alaska. The primary purpose is to assess spatial and temporal patterns of biogeochemical variability in this ecosystem, including physical, chemical, and biological measurements. This research will include deployment and recovery of buoys and moorings, and multiple CTD surveys and zooplankton net tows through the southwestern, central, and eastern Gulf of Alaska (Station Locations and Depths). The specific objectives of the research are to continue long-term observations of ocean acidification in the Gulf of Alaska, including but not limited to: recovery and deployment of autonomous sampling equipment that supports sustained autonomous carbon sampling; and oceanographic sampling to determine spatial patterns in carbon system parameters, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and zooplankton. Although the primary focus will be on the Gulf of Alaska, NOAA PMEL and the Hakai Institute will also be conducting research through Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait and Dixon Entrance in the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) pending clearance with Canadian authorities. The vessel may be asked to transit Clarence Strait, Sumner Strait, Chatham Strait, Icy Strait, and Cross Sound, colloquially known as the United States Inside Passage. The scientific party will consist of United States Government employees and their contractors and volunteers and Canadian Government employees and/or their contractors and volunteers. Objective: Conduct scientific operations pursuant to fulfill the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 and the Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring Requirements of Ocean Acidification and its Implementation Plan requirements. Specifically, this project addresses Objective 2 in the Implementation Plan, monitoring of ocean chemistry and biological impacts. Robust monitoring of environmental conditions in Alaska coastal waters is necessary to constrain the intensity, duration and extent of Ocean Acidification events, particularly in sensitive habitats. Observational and modeling studies have indicated that ocean acidification could have major consequences for marine life, including commercially and culturally important fisheries. The observational data collected during this mission will also support other parts of the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program in Alaska that constrain and model the potential impacts of ocean acidification on Alaskan ecosystems and economies.