Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) Modeling of Snow Crab Energetics Under Projected Ocean Acidification and Temperature Changes in the Bering Sea

NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, WESTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-SEATTLE, ALASKA FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER (AFSC) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY, OUT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, TO PROVIDE DYNAMIC ENERGY BUDGET (DEB) MODELING OF SNOW CRAB ENERGETICS UNDER PROJECTED OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN THE BERING SEA.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY (PML) IS THE SOLE PROVIDER WHO CAN PROVIDE THIS DYNAMIC ENERGY BUDGET (DEB) MODELING OF SNOW CRAB ROCKFISH BECAUSE THEY HAVE STAFF WHO ARE EXPERTS IN APPLYING DEB MODELS TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN MANIPULATIVE MARINE EXPERMENTS. THIS IS A HIGLY SPECIALIZED AREA OF RESEARCH THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY.

THE SERVICES ARE REQUIRED FOR AFSC’S CURRENT ONGOING PROJECT LOOKING INTO THE ENERGETIC EFFECTS OF OA AND TEMPERATURE ON FEDERALLY MANAGED SPECIES. PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY’S SERVICES WILL PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SNOW CRAB ENERGETIC ACROSS MODEL PH AND TEMPERATURE PARAMETER SPACE IS A CRITICAL STEP IN UNDERSTANDING POPULATION DYNAMICS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE BERING SEA SNOW CRAB STOCK, WHICH WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL INFORMATION TO THE CRAB PLAN TEAM AND COUNCIL.

PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY IS THE ONLY VENDOR THAT CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS REQUIREMENT. PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY IS THE ONLY SOURCE FOR THESE SERVICES AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS . MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED A SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE SEARCH TO IDENTIFY RESEARCH ENTITIES WITH THE REQUISITE EXPERIENCE. THE LITERATURE SEARCH WAS EXTENSIVE AND USED BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE CITATIONS IN SALIENT PAPERS TO ENSURE COMPLETENESS.

AFTER ENTITIES WERE IDENTIFIED WHO HAD PERFORMED SIMILAR WORK IN THE PAST, THEIR FULL PUBLICATION RECORDS WERE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAD THE EXPERTISE IN ALL REQUIRED AREAS. PML IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE EXPERT STAFF WHO CAN FULFILL THIS REQUIREMENT.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET 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.