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NOAA Seeks Contractor To Analyze IATTC Tuna Catch System ff

25 July 2012 United States

Source: Federal Business Opportunities

This publication serves as notice of intent to procure services for the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) located in La Jolla, Ca. on a sole source basis with Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla CA 92037.

The government intends to acquire services using FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures with an estimated value of less than $100,000. Proposed contract will conduct Empirical Analysis of IATTC Paper through a workshop. The workshop will address allocation and management centered upon the IATTC paper on “Evaluation of a Total Allowable Catch System for the Purse-Seine and Longline Tuna Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.” The workshop attendees will bring their expertise to the workshop that will facilitate the ability to evaluate the document. This informal setting sets the stage for a productive debate on these issues in which delegates will debate the issues.

The workshop will address allocation and management centered upon the IATTC paper, document IATTC-82-INF-A “Evaluation of a Total Allowable Catch System for the Purse-Seine and Longline Tuna Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.”

This document explores four allocation schemes: (i) limiting total catch through an overall TAC; (ii) use of the overall TAC to assign individual fishing quotas (IFQs); (iii) limiting total catch using national TACs; (iv) limiting total catch through national TACs, with IFQs allocated to vessels of each nation.

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is an international Regional Fishery Management Organization for the conservation and management of highly migratory species under the Antigua Convention, of which the most important by value and volume are tunas.

The proposed contractor is uniquely placed to provide these services. No other organization in the world has access to the confidential data required to conduct an analysis of the costs, benefits, and effects of alternative policy options contained within IATTC paper, Document IATTC-82-INF-A “Evaluation of a Total Allowable Catch System for the Purse-Seine and Longline Tuna Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.” Proposed contract will accomplish the following tasks:

Task 1: Empirical Analysis

The Contractor will work with NMFS staff as necessary to analyze using proprietary vessel-level data the Document IATTC-82-INF-A “Evaluation of a Total Allowable Catch System for the Purse-Seine and Longline Tuna Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.” Contractor will need to complete by September 07, 2013.

Task 2: Draft Report

The Contractor will work with NMFS staff to produce a draft report of professional appearance that includes: background to the issue; framing the policy issues; summarizes the empirical background analysis from Task 1; summarizes the workshop and its outcomes and recommendations (if any). Contractor will need to complete by November 30, 2013.

Task 3. Final Report

The Contractor will work with NMFS staff to produce a final report of professional appearance that includes the comments and suggestions of NMFS and IATTC staff and others. This information is intended to give NMFS insight into enhanced conservation and management of the tuna fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean managed by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Contractor will need to complete by December 31, 2013.

The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) of this procurement is 928120. The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract with period of performance commencing approximate 09/07/2012 through 12/31/2013. It is the Government’s belief that only IATTC can complete this project. This notice represents the only official notice.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, all submittals received by the due set forth in this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses must be faxed to Pamela G. Jones, at (858)546-7004 or provide by e-mail to
Pamela.g.jones@noaa.gov.

The Western Acquisition Division, requires that all contractors doing business with this Acquisition Office be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) as of October 1, 2003. After this date, NO award can be made unless the vender is registered in CCR. For additional information and to register in CCR please access the following web site:
http://www.ccr.gov. In order to register with the CCR and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all offerors must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at www.dnb.com/eupdate or by phone at (800) 333-0505. All contractors are required to complete online Representations and Certifications at http://www.orca.bpn.gov to be eligible to receive an award.