Fish bone analysis

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region Seven (7), Alaska, intends to award a sole source, firm-fixed price purchase expiring September 30, 2011 with Pacific Identifications. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region Seven (7), Alaska, requires an analysis of fish bones compared to otter scat collected from the Buldir and Attu Islands of Alaska. Back Ground:Between 1991 and 2003 the FWS participated in a multidisciplinary archaeological project with a number of partners, including the University of Kansas. Archaeological investigation on the island of Buldir in the Alaska Maritime NWR resulted in a modest collection of fish bones. Fish bone analysis is a specialized filed requiring good comparative collections and none of the principles in the excavation had the necessary expertise. The collection was sent to Pacific Identifications in Victoria BC by the University of Kansas partner for analysis. Due to limited funding the entire fish collection could not be analyzed. The analyzed remains were returned to FWS for curation but PacID kept the rest in case additional funding became available. The research team focused on completing reports for research on Shemya Island and deferred analysis of collections from Buldir and Attu Islands. The team now plans to complete analysis and reports for Buldir beginning in fall of 2011. Work Description:The vendor will complete the analysis of fish bones recovered from a prehistoric archaeological site on Buldir Island in the 1990's. Fish remains will be identified to genus and species if possible, family if necessary. Each identifiable element will be listed in a table along with taxonomic identification and a breakdown by size. Size will be determined for each individual species-for example cod sizes will be based on the other cod bones. The vendor will use the analyzed fish bone collection from Buldir to compare with samples taken from the dens of otters. This analysis will identify the species used by the otters. In addition the size of the bones, degree of breakage, and other aspects of their physical conditions will be compared. Differences in the two collections will be described and diagnostic traits defined. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals and the Government does not intend to accepts proposals received.