Integrated Sea Scallop and Stereo-Optic Research Survey

Synopsis: Sources Sought

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), Ecosystem Surveys Branch is conducting market research for the purpose of identifying businesses that have demonstrated capability to provide a vessel, with experienced crew to participate in the ecosystem survey of the Atlantic sea scallop resource along the continental shelf from Virginia through Massachusetts including the U.S waters of Georges Bank up to 38 day period that begins on or about be conducted during summer (May and June) of 2023. Staging, survey activity, and de-staging is expected to occur during a period in May - July with one or more day’s dockside between each survey leg. The survey will typically be distributed over three (3) survey legs, with the first being roughly 10 days each plus in-port days between legs and for the vessel to return to its home port. The Government anticipates requiring the vessel to be available for staging for two (2) days prior to the start of each annual survey and one (1) day de-staging for each annual survey. NEFSC intends to port between legs in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and to refuel, replenish provisions and exchange crew. NEFSC intends to return to port in Woods Hole and disembark staff and equipment on the second to last day of the survey. This will allow the vessel a full day to steam to their homeport. The planned area of operation will cover the normal distributional range of sea scallops along the continental shelf from Virginia through Massachusetts including Georges Bank. Survey regions may extend to areas in the Gulf of Maine as the scallop resource recovers and populations increase.

The vessel and gear must be capable of safely conducting scallop dredge tows, Habcam deployments (towed and AUV configurations) along the continental shelf in waters ranging for 15 to 80 fathoms. The vessel is required to be able to deploy 3.5 fathoms of towing line for each fathom of depth. The vessel crew must be knowledgeable and experienced with fishing for sea scallops in the region described and with conditions in the target sampling area. The vessel shall be capable of carrying concurrently an 8’ scallop dredge and a stereo-optic towed vehicle consecutively.

During research operations, the vessel shall deploy multiple forms of sea scallop sampling equipment:

• 8’ standardized New Bedford style scallop dredge;


• A stereo-optic towed vehicle called Habitat Camera (HabCam); and


• A Long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (LRAUV) being developed by the ESB Advanced Technology group and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Scibotics Laboratory.


• Scientific Van -Specimens selected for scientific data collection will be moved to a scientific van (modified 8’ X 20’ ISO container) installed onto the deck of the vessel where biological data will be collected including lengths, shell height and meat weight data, and other biological data as required. Vessel needs to have a power hook up to the van.

The minimum and preferred vessel requirements are below:

• Length - 120 foot minimum; preferred - room for a powered sampling van laboratory (20*8*8) on the deck with room to deploy dredge/habcam/auv/ctd (max length 200ft);


• Beam - 25 ft;


• Draft - 10 ft minimum; preferred so it can fit at the dock at NOAA Fisheries Woods Hole (max draft 16 ft);


• Speed - 10 kts cruising speed minimum; preferred 12 kts;


• Endurance (at sea) - 10 days minimum; preferred 14 days;


• Range (nautical miles) - 2500 nmi;


• Total Berthing - science team 10 person and crew 6; preferred 13+ science team;


• Fiber optic winch 0.68”

INFORMATION REQUESTED:

The Government is requesting that all interested vendors provide information regarding their experience and capability to provide a qualified crew and eligible vessel.

NOAA may utilize the responses to this Sources Sought to conduct additional market research. Information obtained from this Sources Sought, and the subsequent communication with the vendors, if any, may be utilized to assist NOAA in developing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quote (RFQ).

In addition to addressing technical capabilities, responses must include the following:

• Name and address of firm


• Size of business (e.g. small, small disadvantaged business, woman owned, etc.)


• Average annual revenue for the past 3 years and number of employees


• Ownership


• Number of years in business


• Affiliate information


• Parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential subcontractor) or subcontractors (if potential prime contractor)


• Point of contact - address and phone number

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Telephone responses are NOT solicited and will not be accepted. No solicitation exists at this time. This synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to award a contract, nor will the Government pay for the solicited information.

Please submit your response to the attention of the Contracting Officert, Ms. Carina Topasna (carina.topasna@noaa.gov) no later than June 27, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., Pacific Time. Each response shall be no more than 15 single-sided, single-spaced pages (excluding the cover page), and each page shall be separately numbered, and shall be in .pdf format.