SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT SERVICES

NOTICE: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. The information provided in response to this notice will assist the Government in determining the extent of the business size and socio-economic market for the type of work described herein. The intent of the notice is to identify sources that are qualified small business concerns capable of providing scientific support services for the National Marine Fisheries Service, Fish Ecology Division (FED). FED is research directed at improving survival of Pacific salmon as they migrate to and from the ocean. The FED requires scientific support services to meet the following objectives: 1) assess the effects of transportation on juvenile salmonids; 2) determine the migration timing and relative survival of salmon through reservoir and dam passage routes; 3) determine fish guidance and orifice passage efficiencies at selected Columbia and Snake River dams; 4) develop and evaluate alternative fish collection and/or bypass strategies; 5) conduct juvenile and adult radio-telemetry, acoustic and PIT-tag studies; 6) conduct estuary and river plume studies to determine life cycle strategies; and 7) conduct oceanographic, benthic and plankton sampling studies. FED seeks to improve the downstream survival of migrating juvenile salmon through development and testing of mitigation strategies and techniques such as: juvenile salmon transportation around dams; submersible screens to divert smolts from turbine passage; and research to better characterize in river survival of smolts and identify high mortality areas. Other research focuses on improving passage conditions for migrating adult salmon and lamprey. These studies are conducted largely during the spring and summer periods when juvenile salmon migrate. Typical disciplines and professional qualifications that will be required to support the work are: fishery biologists, biology technicians, statistician, electronic technicians, mechanics, truck drivers, vessel operators (45 feet or less), and deckhands. Various activities shall be performed in each of the following categories: Living Resource Sampling and Environmental Data Collection Acquire and process fisheries and related biological data Design of experiments and field surveys Conduct field sampling and data collection Data quality control Assessment and Analysis of Environmental Quality Acquire, compile, and process environmental quality data Conduct field sampling and measurement surveys Conduct chemical analysis of sediment and biological tissue samples Conduct biochemical, physiological, histopathological, biostatistical, etc., analyses Analysis and Interpretation Data validation and quality control Data compilation, reduction, and processing Data analysis Data interpretation Theoretical analyses Scientific Support Services Document preparation, review, and publication Assist in the preparation of specification and designs Provide logistics support for scientific programs Provide scientific services with emphasis in fisheries biology Equipment operation and maintenance It is anticipated that an Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity type contract will be awarded with firm-fixed price, labor hour or time-and-material task orders issued for perform work on an as-needed basis. Work will be performed at various Government facilities, dams, and rivers located at various sites in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Work may also be required in Puget Sound, WA and along the coastal waters of WA and OR. The period of performance will be for one base year, beginning on or after November 1, 2008 and will include four one-year option periods. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 541690 with a size standard of $6.5 M. All contractors doing business with the Government are now required to be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). NOTE: THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded on the basis of responses received to this notice. Interested firms should submit in writing, its name, address, point of contact, e-mail address, telephone number, business type and size, and a brief narrative regarding its experience, knowledge and capability to provide the required services. The Government will review each response to determine if the contractor has the experience, knowledge, and capability to perform the services as specified above. Any response that does not include this information will not be considered. Detailed information must be submitted by mail to the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, WRAD, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115-6349, ATTN: Sharon S. Kent, or to the email address below by 4:00 pm local prevailing time, April 21, 2008. Questions of any nature may be addressed in writing to [email protected]. NO TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL BE HONORED.