EASTEN PACIFIC OCEAN TUNA PURSE SCIENE FISHERY

Title: Workshops on Transferable Rights and Buybacks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Purse Seine Fishery. NOAA's Acquisition & Grants Office, Western Acquisition Division-Seattle intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) with Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. The sole source determination is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) requirement for services to provide workshops on Transferable Rights and Buybacks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Purse Seine Fishery managed by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. The products of this project will include organize and hold two international workshops and produce analyses and guidelines through separate reports on: (1) buybacks of capacity and rights and (2) transferable rights to be held in Mexico. These workshops will assist NMFS and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission's responsibilities for conservation and management of the international tuna fisheries of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Buying back vessels reduces capacity and sets the stage for catch shares. The introduction of catch shares requires considerable consultation with industry and other stakeholders, and forms the purpose of the second workshop. The deliverables for each workshop entails working with National Marine Fisheries Science staff to produce a succinct final report that includes the intent of the meeting, summary findings, and recommendations. Therefore, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is uniquely poised to efficiently and effectively provide the necessary resources that meet the requirements of the Government. No other organization in the world has: (1) access to the confidential data required to conduct background analyses of the costs, benefits, and effects of buybacks and transferable rights programs; (2) the authority conferred to enter into a partnership with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank in holding the buyback workshop; (3) ability to tie together both workshops into an integrated package; (4) ability and authority to bring together scholars, NGOs, World Bank, national representatives from fisheries and foreign ministries, vessel owners, and vessel representatives; (5) the credibility and network of IATTC, presentation to ATTC meetings, and other unique and specialized IATTC - World Bank meeting. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is an international Regional Fishery Management Organization for the conservation and management of highly migratory species under the Antgua Convention, of which the most important by value and volume are tuna. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can provide equipment that fully meets the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact within 15 days after publication of this synopsis. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.