V -- PROVIDE VESSEL CHARTER OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST

PROVIDE A LONGLINE FISHING VESSEL CHARTER. CHARTER WILL BE PERFORMED FOR THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. PURPOSE OF CHARTER IS TO DETERMINE EAST-WEST BOUNDARIES OF COMMON THRESHER SHARK NURSERIES AND TO DEVELOP A METHOD FOR OBTAINING SUBSEQUENT FISHERY-INDEPENDENT ESTIMATES OF ANNUAL PUP PRODUCTION AND RECRUITMENT IN THESE CORE NURSERIES. CHARTER WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR A MAXIMUM OF 18 DAYS DURING SUMMER AND FALL 2006. CHARTER VESSEL MUST BE OF SUFFICIENT SIZE AND DRAFT TO EFFICIENT CONDUCT THE CHARTER DESCRIBED. VESSEL MUST ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH FISHING LONGLINE UP TO ONE MILE LONG, HOOK SIZE 13/0, AND 100-200 HOOKS PER LINE OR PER SET. THIS IS A SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF LESS THAN $100,000. ALL RESPONSIBLE SOURCES MAY SUBMIT A PROPOSAL WHICH SHALL BE CONSIDERED BY THE AGENCY.