PISCES CLASS SUBMERSIBLE CHARTER

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the charter of 3 Pisces submersible dives to survey the adolescent habitat for opakapaka and the recovery of sonic data loggers. Three submersible dives will be contracted to survey the habitat of the adolescent opakapaka. Life history habitat studies on opakapaka have been focused on adults and juveniles but not the adolescent phase where the fish moves from soft bottom shallower nursery grounds to live in rocky habitat at mesophotic depths for a period of time before migrating deeper to adult depth . Fishery stock models need to extrapolate habitat specific density estimates to get area-based projections. The survey of the mesophotic habitat and its fish assemblage needs to be comparable with submersible surveys conducted on deeper adult opakapaka. To do this we need to use the same Pisces submarine used in prior surveys. Three Pisces dives are planned for Mokapu Point Oahu which is a mesophotic site close to the Kaneohe opakapaka nursery ground. Each submersible dive will conduct transects to document the community of adolescent opakapaka and other fish and will attempt to locate and recover sonic tag data loggers that were deployed at the site from the surface in prior years . This sources sought notice is not a request for competitive offers and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide the service requested may submit substantiating documentation in writing within ten days of this notice. Responses can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]. Documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. Award will be made using FAR 13, Simplified acquisition procedures, current through FAC 2005-61. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.