Notice of intent to negoiate ia sole source contract with Northwest Indian College for NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service located in Portland, Oregon to provide funding for the continued development of a summer program to provide up to six internships for secondary and/or post-secondary Native American students within the Pacific Northwest Region in the areas of environmental sciences, natural resource management, estuary science, marine science, fisheries management, public administration and/or public policy, etc. In addition to educational development and professional-level experience, an outcome of the project will be to enhance the students' awareness of career opportunities, as well as other potential professional relationships, with NOAA.
This project is designed to assist secondary and post-secondary Native American students gain an understanding and appreciation of the relationship between NMFS and the tribal governments with which we co-manage salmonid and coastal fisheries and with whom we have an unique trust relationship. Other trust species involved include, but are not limited to, whales and pinnipeds.

Work with NMFS/NWR to develop and implement a program identifying qualified students that will benefit from enhanced educational and internship opportunities during the summer of 2007. Operational aspects of the project will include, but are not limited to:
 Identify potential participating tribes/tribal programs.
 Enlist identified tribes/ tribal programs to participate in this pilot program.
 Identify and select qualified Native American students to participate in the pilot program.
 Identify/hire an instructor/internship supervisor for the six-week pilot program. If a local (on reservation) person does not meet the specific academic requirements needed, an appropriately credentialed contractor employee will strictly monitor and oversee his or her activities.
 Enroll each participating student in five credits of internship and three credits of interactive video (ITV) general education classes. (Each student must commit and stay current with all credits to receive the summer stipend.)
 Develop and provide general education courses including Native history, a non-lab science course, or a writing course at the appropriate secondary level. (However, a specific course could be implemented to complement the particular internship as well as for other identified specific needs.)
 Teach at the contractor site, either in-person or via interactive video.
 Internships will be arranged through a variety of sources, but all students funded by this program would work in Natural Resources, Fisheries, Public Policy, and/or Public Administration Fields.
 Periodic meetings with NMFS/NWR representatives to report on, and monitor, project progress and success.

The government reserves the right to solicit offers based on receipt of affirmative responses to this notice, or issued a contract to Northwest Indian College without further notice. This is a simplified acquisition with an estimated value of less that $100,000

**** The Westren Regional Acquisition Division, requires that all contractors doing business with this Acquisition Office be registered with the Central Contractor Registey (CCR) as of October 1, 2003. After this date, NO award can be made unless the vendor 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 CCR and be eligible to receive an award from this Acquisition Office, all offerors must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUN). A DUN number may be acquried free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on line at www.dnb/eupdate of by phone at (800) 333-0505