Department of Interior Issues Presolicitation for “Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II” (DEADLINE: Fri, March 10, 2017 2PM EST)

This study will be sponsored by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP). NOPP is a collaboration of fifteen Federal agencies to provide leadership and coordination of national oceanographic research and education programs. This study directly addresses two of five elements of the NOPP Investment Strategy that represent emerging national ocean research needs and agency priorities Operational/Routine Observations and Outreach/Education. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (NOAA OER) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will be the collaborating agencies.

BACKGROUND: This interagency study will focus on the exploration and investigation of deepwater biological communities located in U.S. federal waters of the northwest Atlantic Ocean, potentially including areas offshore of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. In addition to a focus on hard substrate habitats, some study of soft bottom and water column environments will also be included. The overarching goal for this study is to obtain an understanding of the offshore Atlantic benthic environment as it relates to the potential future development of energy and marine minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) managed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which has the dual mission of environmental protection and responsible resource development. As a follow-on to a previous Atlantic canyons study, one of the focus areas of this study will include submarine canyons south of Norfolk Canyon. A larger portion of the study will focus on other sensitive deepwater ecosystems in the region, including chemosynthetic communities related to hydrocarbon seeps, areas with known presence of deepwater corals, and previously unexplored areas deemed likely to possess deepwater coral ecosystems. Additional exploration of areas with known or likely hard bottom is needed to better understand the distribution and disturbance sensitivity of associated biological communities. The resulting information will be used to develop appropriate protective measures designed to prevent, minimize, and/or mitigate impacts.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY INCLUDE: (1) Exploration and study of selected habitats that will refine scientific understanding of the distribution and species diversity of hard bottom communities in the mid-Atlantic slope area, specifically on the continental shelf and slope between a depth of approximately 200 and 3,000 m. Cruises will target three separate ecosystem areas including canyons south of Norfolk Canyon, and focus on deep coral habitats along with recently discovered gas seeps and associated chemosynthetic communities ; (2) Characterize substantial coral and chemosynthetic communities occurring in both hard and soft substrates, including associated megafauna and measures of relevant environmental conditions; (3) Develop or improve assessment methodologies for correlation of modeling and remote sensing information with the potential presence of sensitive biological communities; and (4) Determine degree of sensitivity of these ecosystems to anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., displaced sediments) using a variety of approaches. Additionally, a portion of the exploration and research effort will be directed at geomorphology investigations, including stability. The first field sampling cruise is anticipated to occur during September 2017, with two more mid-year (spring/summer) sampling cruises in the second and third years, with the remaining time dedicated to completion of all deliverables including analyses, synthesis of results, and final reports. Ship time for the first cruise has already been reserved for mid-September 2017 aboard the NOAA research vessel Pisces. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (NOAA OER) is expected to provide, at no cost to the Offeror, up to 18 days of field time on the R/V Pisces with the AUV Sentry (or equivalents) in 2017 and up to 24 days each year on a larger vessel including submergence facilities such as a Remotely Operated Vehicle in 2018 and 2019. This study consists of nine (9) main tasks: (1) Selection of a scientific review group; (2) Refinement of hypotheses, field methodologies and logistic planning; (3) Integration of USGS team; (4) Site selection; (5) Field sampling; (6) Sample and data analysis; (7) Data interpretation, synthesis and reporting; (8) Development of educational outreach materials; and (9) Submission of project data to database organizations.

HOW TO COMPETE FOR THIS CONTRACT: If you are interested in participating in this acquisition, please send your organization’s name, point of contact, address, telephone, email address, and DUNS Number via email to Paige L. Shin at [email protected]. Responses are due no later than 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time, March 10, 2017. Those organizations expressing an interest in this opportunity will receive a copy of the complete solicitation upon issuance. All correspondence must reference “Solicitation No. M17PS00032” in the subject line.Click here for more information on this opportunity.