Vessel & Field Research Operations Support Services

Not Stated

03/31/2022 09:56 AM EDT

04/26/2022 03:00 PM EDT

Disclaimer: This is not a solicitation. This is not a request for quote (RFQ), invitation for bid (IFB), request for proposal (RFP), request for application (RFA) or an announcement of a solicitation, and does not assume the Government will award a contract or proceed with any of the above solicitation efforts in the near future. This request is for information purposes only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or awarded. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect cost or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of information. All information considered proprietary shall be marked accordingly. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for improperly identified proprietary information. Properly identified proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with federal regulations. The purpose of this announcement is solely to gather information from the marketplace, and any responses received will neither be considered an offer by the responding party nor returned to the responding party. No telephone inquiries will be accepted, and requests for solicitation packages will not honored since no solicitation has been prepared.

Synopsis: Sources Sought 

This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is conducting market research for the purposes of identifying small businesses that have demonstrated capabilities in the area of vessel and field research operations support services. No solicitation of offers is made by this synopsis.

Background:

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), established in 1972 by the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and administered by NOAA’s National Ocean Service, protects a network of special marine and freshwater areas. The goal of the NMSA is to set aside and manage areas for resource protection, research, enhanced public education, and compatible public and private uses. At the present time, the ONMS system comprises fifteen national marine sanctuaries, one marine national monument and two further national marine sanctuaries undergoing the designation process.

Management activities for each sanctuary are detailed in site­specific management plans which outline regulatory goals, describe boundaries, identify staffing and budget needs, and set priorities and performance measures for resource protection, research, and education programs. In order to carry out these management activities, ONMS conducts scientific research in the field and operates vessels from 12’ to 85’ in length.

The expected scope of this work is to provide support services necessary to conduct a variety of tasks such as assisting with vessel operation planning and logistics; engineering and repair support; providing qualified vessel crew; providing research and field operational support including SCUBA and technical diving; maritime and cultural heritage, resource protection, stakeholder engagement, and education services; and assisting with a variety survey and characterization operations.

Requirements:

VESSEL OPERATION PLANNING AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT

1. Create and maintain small boat schedules including scientific projects, inspections, maintenance, repairs, and training.
2. Assist in the execution of small boat operational budgets including repairs, provisions, supplies, and fuel. 
3. Tracking, recording and reporting of the number small boat operations, personnel involved, and numbers of weather and maintenance days.
4. Maintain and/or update small boat inventory lists.
5. Provide oversight to ensure that all small boat personnel are trained and maintain currency in compliance with NOAA and ONMS policies. 
6. Approve and maintain files and records of Small Boat Qualification Letters for each vessel.
7. Designate an Operator in Charge (OIC) for each underway operation. 
8. Receive notification and coordinate all vessel casualty reports (CASREPs).
9. Create and maintain vessel operations manuals. 
10. Monitor changes in cruise plans and notify ONMS management.
11. Create, maintain and monitor active float plans. 
12. Oversight of environmental­compliance requirements.
13. Oversight of scheduling, assisting with, and reporting the results of small boat inspections. 
14. Responsible for coordinating small boat alteration requests. 
15. Ensure that accidents, incidents and near misses on board the small boats are reported and investigated as per NOAA and ONMS policies. 
16. Coordination of small boats risk assessments.
17. Ensure all procedures and engineering practices are in compliance with the current and appropriate regulating authorities including, but not limited to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC); and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). 
18. Provide oversight to ensure the safe operation, inspection compliance, life cycle maintenance, and material condition of small boats.
19. Assist in the preparation of long range life­cycle planning documents and materials related to small boat needs and replacements. 
20. Provide vessel design services including assisting with developing mission requirements, conceptual vessel designs including engineering calculations and drawings, construction cost estimates, operational costs estimates.   
21. Provide engineering support and assistance to ONMS Vessel Operations Coordinators and vessel crews in the fulfillment of these objectives. 
22. Coordinate and support emergent repairs to ONMS small boats. 
23. Assist in developing and managing maintenance engineering programs for ONMS vessels. 
24. Document monthly maintenance engineering progress reports for assigned ONMS vessels.

VESSEL CREW 

1. Provide safe vessel operations in a variety of underway operations for research, education, outreach, maritime heritage, law enforcement, intra/inter­agency partnership trips, etc.
2. Provide vessel crew possessing appropriate USCG licenses to operate each individual small boat per NOAA and ONMS policy in coordination with the local Vessel Operations Coordinator and/or COR. Typical vessel operations are for periods of one to five days per trip. While at sea, operations support up to 24 hours per day.
3. The Operator in Charge (OIC) must have an active USCG license per NOAA small boat policy based on boat length and complexity of the operation. Extended and overnight operations may require two or more personnel with appropriate USCG licenses based on the length of the vessel. Experience with NOAA operations is highly desired. 
4. All contractor personnel operating NOAA small boats are required to possess and maintain NOAA Component Course certification regardless if a USCG is also required. To support emerging and urgent requirements, the Contractor shall maintain a certified NOAA Component Course Instructor on staff throughout the period of performance.
5. The Government will schedule each mission as far in advance as possible, but the

Contractor is required to be flexible due to weather and emergency operations.

1. Assist the Vessel Operations Coordinator in maintaining a marine operations budget and financial ledger of expenditures and obligations for all vessels and marine facilities, and participate, as needed, in the planning and submission of annual budget requests. 
2. As requested by the Vessel Operations Coordinator, help develop marine operations procedures and protocols.
3. Assist the Vessel Operations Coordinator with logistical details including arranging for fueling, pier space, delivery of repair parts, galley stores, and supplies in various harbors as required.
4. Ensure that all vessels are properly docked or moored, and are left ready for immediate operation in the event of an emergency, and in preparation for the next mission. Help maintain vessels in a clean and orderly manner including freshwater wash downs after every mission.
5. Contractor shall conduct routine maintenance and repairs on vessel systems and equipment, document all work completed in a vessel maintenance log, and update the vessel preventative maintenance system after completion of maintenance activity. 
6. Help coordinate, prepare for and participate in annual inspections of vessels, including an annual review risk assessment for each vessel.
7. Inspect and maintain safety equipment in accordance with USCG and NOAA policy.
8. When assigned as OIC, document all vessel­related activities in the Ship’s Log. 
9. Ensure the safety of all persons on board, including conducting or assisting with a pre­mission safety briefing for all embarked personnel prior to every cruise, and ensure that all safety procedures as required by the NOAA Small Boat Policy and other regulations, are understood and adhered to while underway.
10. As requested by the Vessel Operations Coordinator, conduct periodic fire, man overboard and abandon ship drills on shore, or when underway.
11. Ensure the efficient contribution of the vessel and its crew to the accomplishment of the vessel’s mission.
12. In preparation for, and during storm events, assist the Vessel Operations Coordinator and other sanctuary staff with the securing and monitoring of the vessels and marine facilities. 
13. Help maintain NOAA and ONMS docks, piers, boathouses and vessel facilities and equipment locker(s) in a clean and orderly manner, including the inventory and control of supplies and equipment.
14. Coordinate and support emergent repairs to small boat assets if and when required.

Provide oversight during shipyard and repair periods.

1. Coordinate engineering work requiring certified technician assistance from engineering contractors, naval architects, electricians, and marine surveyors if required. 
2. Attend required NOAA training on an as needed basis.

1. Comply with safety stand­downs per NOAA procedures. 

1. Review of all Project Instructions to an approving authority including Cruise Plans, and

Float Plans, as directed.

1. Represent NOAA in vessel related intra and inter­agency meetings and partnerships, as necessary.

1. Operate other similar NOAA vessels as requested.

RESEARCH/FIELD OPERATIONS

1. Coordinates and assists in the implementation of characterization, monitoring, and research projects and activities designed to meet the management needs of the sanctuary. 
2. Serves as a liaison to other scientific agencies, offices and research institutions. 
3. Ensures that scientific data and information are effectively maintained and communicated in order to inform policy and management decision.
4. Coordinates research operational planning and execution, participates in fieldwork and research or monitoring expeditions, assists in permit development, review and NEPA documentation.
5. Supports all aspects of field operations, including activities such as maintaining field equipment, including inventory, maintenance, product research and purchasing, prepares equipment for fieldwork; prepares expeditions plans, dive plans, and reports; coordinates dive operations and equipment to meet NOAA dive standards, and provides support to the dive program; assists in small boat program; recommends adequate staffing and hiring of seasonal staff; conducts maritime vessel inspections using SCUBA or remotely operated vehicles, and the development of quarantine and disinfection protocols; performs in­situ field research and data collection. Provide topside support for dive operations. Collaborates with partners on missions. 
6. Participates in site planning activities including budgets, management plan reviews, field projects, and preparation and review of other science/field planning documents.

Supports execution of site operating plans.

1. Supports emergency response activities and training and other resource protection programs both internally and with partners.
2. Operates or assists with the operation of small boats for training, fieldwork, research and collaborative projects. 
3. Participates in NOAA, contracted and partner run ship­based research expeditions in a variety of roles, including administrative, scientific, technical, and support.
4. Provides scientific expertise and support, including collaborating with partners, conducting research and/or surveys, sampling and collecting specimens in the field, conducting laboratory analysis and writing scientific reports, assisting with data management, and conservation or curatorial work. 
5. Provide spatial analyses, mapping and graphic materials using mapping tools and

Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 

1. Operates equipment for sampling and analysis, and uses standard software packages for data analysis such as R, SAS, SPSS, PRIMER, MATLAB.

1. Provide video documentation of methods, implementation and management of field operations.

SURVEY OPERATIONS

1. Provide the necessary tools, equipment, operators and support vessels to conduct geophysical remote sensing operations. Examples include sidescan and multibeam sonar, magnetometers, acoustic Doppler profilers, CTDs, water sampling rosettes etc. 
2. Provide equipment, operators and support vessels to conduct underwater visual and camera surveys. Examples include closed circuit rebreathers, manned submersibles

ROVs, AUVs, gliders, etc.

1. Provide equipment, operators and support aircraft to support unmanned aircraft airborne surveys.

Information Requested:

Interested companies should describe their capabilities as they relate to the following:

• Demonstrate ability to provide the services and requirements describe nationwide including the Pacific Islands and US Territories.

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

• Name and address of firm
• Size of business (i.e., 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)
• List of customers covering the past five years (highlighting relevant work performed, contract numbers, contract type, and dollar value of each procurement)
• Point of contact – address and phone number.

Submittal Requirements:

Telephone responses are NOT solicited and will not be accepted. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. 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 via email to the attention of the Contracting Officer, Ms. Sarah Appleman at sarah.appleman@noaa.gov no later than 26 April 2022 at 2:00 PM Central Time. Each response shall be no more 15 single-sided, single-spaced pages (excluding the cover page), and each page shall be separately numbered.

Place of Performance: Nationwide including the Pacific Islands and US Territories.