V -- Notice of intent to negotiate sole source contract

Notice of intent to negotiate a sole source contract with American Fishermen’s Research Foundation (AFRF) for the office of The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) located in La Jolla, CA. Purpose of proposed contract is to charter vessel to conduct 2 tagging trips off the U.S. West Coast in the North Pacific transition zone. The charter vessels for 2 tagging trips will deploy 120 electronics archival tags per year in juvenile north Pacific albacore tuna during the albacore fishing season in July –November. Tagging will begin on or about July 1, 2004 and continue until 120 tags are deployed. Tags may be deployed in multiple trips as determined by SWFSC scientists. Tag deployments and data collections will be supervised by one or more SWFSC technicians. AFRF is the only organization that has exclusive communications and relationship with all other vessels in U.S. toll fleet that are able to reach every vessel suitable for albacore tagging operations. This notice may represent the only office notice. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100, 000.00.