V -- NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH THE ALASKA STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY (ASDPS) FOR THE NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL LABORATORY (NMML). PURPOSE OF PROPOSED CONTRACT IS TO USE THE WILDLIFE PROTECTION VESSEL STIMSON TO CAPTURE AND HANDLE JUVENILE STELLER SEA LIONS IN THE CENTRAL ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. THIS WORK IS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT BETWEEN THE ALASKA FISH & GAME, MARINE MAMMALS RESEARCH GROUP. THE ASDPS IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY SOURCE DUE TO QUALIFICATIONS OF ITS CREW AND VESSEL. IN ORDER TO CAPTURE JUVENILE STELLER SEA LIONS AND SAFELY H ANDLE THEM ON A BOAT THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE MET. THE STIMSON AND ITS CREW IS EXPERIENCED IN WORKING IN AL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, POSSESSES SPACE AND MEETS SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR UP TO THIRTEEN (13) SCIENTISTS, POSSESSES AN EXPERIENCED SKIFF OPERATOR AND SKIFF, POSSESSES CRANE AND EXPERIENCED OPERATOR TO PICK A LOADED TWENTY-FOOT SKIFF IN ROLLING SEAS, POSSESSES DECK SPACE TO LOAD UP TO THREE SKIFFS WITHOUT STACKING, AND POSSESSES A SHELTERED AREA WITH SPACE FOR UP TO TWO THREE HUNDRED POUND SEA LIONS ON GURNEYS SIMULTANEOUSLY. ANY OWNER WHICH POSSESSES VESSELS MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY REQUEST SOLICITATION IN WRITING. THIS IS A SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF LESS THAN $100,000.