NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OF ST. PAUL ISLAND.  PURPOSE OF PROPOSED CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SERVICES FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF CATWALK AND STRUCTURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROOKERIES ON ST. PAUL ISLAND, ALASKA.  THE CATWALKS AND ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES PROVIDE ACCESS TO NORTHERN FUR SEALS AND STELLAR SEA LIONS FOR RESEARCH DURING PEAK SEASON.  THE CONTRACTORS SPECIFIC PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE:  1) SURVERY EXISTING CATWALK AND TRIPOD STRUCTURES WITHIN EACH ROOKERY AND ASSESS INTERGITY TO ENSURE SAFETY OF PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CATWALK REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL 2) PURCHASE AND SUPPLY ALL NECESSARY LUMBER AND MATERIALS TO EFFECTIVELY PERFORM THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WORK 3) MAINTAIN AND REPAIR EXISTING CATWALKS AS IDENTIFIED IN SURVERY 4) CONSTRUCT NEW CATWALKS AND TRIPOD STRUCTURES AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE THROUGH SURVEY.  THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OF ST. PAUL ISLAND IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED AS THEY ARE UNIQUELY TIED TO NOAA FISHERIES THROUGH A CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.  TWO STATUTES PROVIDE CONTEXT AND EXPLANATION FOR CONTRACTING WITH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OF ST. PAUL ISLAND FOR THE SERVICES DESCRIBED ABOVE.  FIRST, THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT IS A SIGNATORY TO A CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH NMFS.  THE CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT IS PROVIDED FOR BY THE MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT, SECTION 119.16 U.S.C. 1388.  THE CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT DEFINES BROAD TERMS THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AND NOAA/NMFS FOR NORTHERN FUR SEAL ROOKERY MAINTENANCE PER SECTION 6 OF THE CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.  THIS CONTRACT INVOLVES THE PROVISION OF SERVICES ENVISIONED BY TEH CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.  SECOND THE FUR SEAL ACT, DISCUSSES FUR SEAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, DESCRIBES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN ADMINISTERING AND PROTECTING FUR SEALS AND THEIR HABITAT ON THE ISLANDS.  THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED UNDER THIS CONTRACT ARE PART OF THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES OUTLINED IN THE FUR SEAL ACT. 16 U.S.C. 1169B ALSO SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES THS U.S. GOVERNMENT TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH RESIDENTS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS TO ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES.  FINALLY THE GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, UNDERSTANDING OF THE SENSITIVITY OF FUR SEAL HABITAT, UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPECIALIZED USE OF THE ROOKERY FACILITIES, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A CATWALK MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR MANUAL UNIQUELY QUALIFIES THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THESE SERVCIES IN TEH MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND CULTURALLY APPORIATE WAY.  BASED ON TEH ABOVE, NOAA BELIEVES THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OF ST. PAUL ISLAND IS THE ONLY VENDOR AVAILABLE THAT CAN MEET THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS AND IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO WORK ON THIS CRITICAL PROJECT.  PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS FROM DATE OF AWARD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 31, 2008.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE GOVERNMENTS INTENT TO NEGOTIATE THIS REQUIRMENT WITH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OF ST. PAUL ISLAND, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF 41 USC253 (C) (1), ANY OTHER RESPONSIBLE SOURCES MAY SUBMIT A STATMENT OF QUALFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE WHICH, IF TIMELY RECEIVED, WILL BE EVALUATED BY NOAA TO DETERMINE IF A COMPETITIVE SOLICATATION SHOULD BE ISSUED.  RESPONSES MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 16, 2008.  RESPONSES MAY BE FAXED TO (907)586-8726 OR E-MAILED TO GILBERT.MENDOZA@NOAA.GOV.  QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS PROPOSED ACQUISTION MAY BE DIRECTED TO GILBERT MENDOZA.  THIS IS A SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION WITH AN ESTIMATED TOTAL AWARD VALUE OF LESS THAN $100,000.