Bycatch Avoidance Tool for Cod Fish

Synopsis: Notice of Intent To Award A Sole-Source Contract Announcement Number: NFFM5100-20-01806 Project Title: Bycatch Avoidance Tool for Cod Fish The US Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Acquisition Division, Simplified Acquisition Branch intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MADMF), 251 Causeway St., STE 400, Boston, MA 02114 using the procedures in FAR Part 13, to provide a bycatch avoidance tool for cod fish in the Gulf of Maine Recreational Fishery. This project is an e expansion of the recently awarded 2019 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) project entitled, “Creating a bycatch avoidance tool for Cod in the Gulf of Maine Recreational Fishery” (Award # NA18NMF4720286) to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MADMF) . The first step of this project is to combine environmental data with existing survey observations to develop spatial models of cod and haddock abundance in the western Gulf of Maine. From these models, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)/Sustainable Fisheries Division (SFD) will develop guidance maps for the recreational fishery to foster voluntary avoidance of high cod bycatch areas. The current recreational cod avoidance maps, developed through the 2019 BREP project, will lose relevance over time as the abundance/distribution of cod and haddock change. SFD is seeking to establish a mechanism that can monitor the accuracy of the guidance maps, and update them with new information. SFD plans on conducting a "citizen science" project to collect observations of recreational cod and haddock catch rates for comparison with the guidance maps. Additional validation trips will also be conducted on standardized charter fishing trips to demonstrate the relative change in catch rates that can be achieved by fishing in accordance to the guidance maps. The final step will be to publish and broadly disseminate updated fishery guidance maps. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), Only one responsible source. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 924120. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotes, nor will one be posted on Contract Opportunities. Although a determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. However, if any interested party believes that it is capable of meeting the requirements, and in an effort to comply with the requirements outlined in FAR 5.102, a firm may request an electronic copy of the solicitation from the Contract Specialist, Kelly Parr, ([email protected]) All electronic correspondence shall have the subject line read: Announcement Number: NFFM5100-20-01806 Project Title: Bycatch Avoidance Tool for Cod Fish All responsible sources may submit a Capability Statement and/or a quote in accordance with the solicitation, which shall be considered by the agency if received on or before 1:00 PM EDT on June 2, 2020. The Capability Statement must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. The notice will remain open from 5/19/2020 to 6/02/2020.