Inactive

NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Northeast Enforcement Division Lobster Gear Inspection Services This is a Sources Sought Notice. In preparation for an upcoming procurement, the National Oceanic ... NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Northeast Enforcement Division Lobster Gear Inspection Services This is a Sources Sought Notice. In preparation for an upcoming procurement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Acquisition Division, Norfolk, VA on behalf of the NOAA Fisheries, Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is conducting market research to determine potential sources for supporting the Inspection of Lobster Gear. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. The size standard for this NAICS codes is $16.5 million. NOAA Fisheries, Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is tasked with protecting our nation’s living marine resources. OLE’s Northeast Division lists fishing gear compliance under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act as one of its priorities for a sustainable lobster fishery. Additionally, identifying gear violations prohibited by the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act is a regional priority. Specific gear configurations such as weak links and sinking ground lines are required to mitigate large whale entanglements. The need for inspecting the fixed lobster gear is two-fold. First, OLE must enforce regulations for the sustainability of the fishery. Second, the strict enforcement of trap limits and gear compliance could have a significant impact on the number of vertical and ground lines allowed in the water. The number of vertical and ground lines in the water directly correlates to the injury and mortality of large whale species to include the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. All data collected and hauling operations will be used to identify any violations, collect evidence and conduct follow up investigations and enforcement action. A draft Statement of Work (SOW) is provided for informational purposes only. Standard brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this notice. Submitted Capability Statements shall include the following: (1) General Information: Provide the company name and address, Unique Entity Identifier, i.e., DUNS number, type of business under NAICS code 541690 (e.g. small business, 8(a), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and/or women owned small business) as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM), and company point of contact including name, phone number, and e-mail address. (2) Capabilities: In five (5) pages or less, demonstrate how your firm has the capabilities, experience and can furnish a vessel with the specifications stated in the Draft Statement of Work (SOW) and can provide a Remove Operating Vehicle (ROV) as required for the mission. (3) Documentation Comments: In order to facilitate the exchange of information with industry, provide any comments, questions, or suggestions that pertain to the draft SOW included with this notice. Identify any areas that appear ambiguous or otherwise unclear. Interested vendors are invited to submit an electronic response to this Sources Sought Notice to Amy McLiverty, Contract Specialist, via e-mail at Amy.L.McLiverty@noaa.gov no later than 10 a.m. Eastern on March 22, 2021. Capability Statements and Documentation Comments must be submitted in writing; telephonic inquiries will not receive a response. This is not a request for technical or cost proposals. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or reimburse for costs incurred by interested parties providing the information requested herein. No collect calls will be accepted.