B -- Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract with University of California-Santa Cruz.

Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract withUniversity of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Purpose of proposed contract is to provide a research project entitled "Salmonid growth in California as a leading index to the impacts of ocean climate change on fishery resource productivity." The NMFS Santa Cruz Lab has an on-going collaborative relationship with the Institute of Marine Science at UC Santa Cruz. NMFS staff work closely with UCSC faculty and graduate students in conducting research under the proposed contract. Research projects are designed to take advantage of specific personnel with specialized skills and expertise. The proximate relationship of the two institutions allows shared use of multiple facilities, and mutual involvement in research operations that would not be possible with any other institution. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000.