Provision of Guides to Catch & Tag Ringed Seals in the Belcher Islands Area

Country:

Canada

City/Locality:

Nunavut

Notice/Contract Number:

can:153101

Publication Date:

Jun 26, 2008

Deadline:

Jul 9, 2008

Buyer:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Central and Arctic Region

Original Language:

English

Address:

Jeff Hutchison
501 University Crescent
Winnipeg , MB R3T 2N6
Canada

Telephone:

204-984-0100

Fax:

204-983-4466

Email:

Click here

90312000 - Environment impact studies

Provision of Guides to Catch & Tag Ringed Seals in the Belcher Islands Area

Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

Solicitation Number: F2465-08011

Provision of Guides to Catch & Tag Ringed Seals in the Belcher Islands Area

1. The Purpose and Explanation of an ACAN

An Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) allows Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) contracting authorities to post a notice on MERX, for no less than fifteen (15) calendar days, indicating to the supplier community that a good, service or construction contract will be awarded to a pre-identified contractor. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a Statement of Capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the contracting authority may then proceed with the award. However, should a Statement of Capabilities be found to meet the requirements set out in the ACAN, then the contracting authority will proceed to a full tendering process.

2. Rights of Suppliers

Suppliers who believe that they are fully qualified and available to provide the services or goods described in this ACAN may submit a Statement of Capabilities clearly demonstrating how they meet the advertised requirement. This Statement of Capabilities must be provided via e-mail only to the contact person identified in Section 10 of the Notice on or before the closing date and time of the Notice. If there is a reasonable level of evidence regarding capability, the requirements will be opened to electronic or traditional bidding processes.

3. Proposed Contractor

Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association
General Delivery
Sanikiluaq, Nunavut X0A 0W0
Ph: 867-266-8709
Fax: 867-266-8131
Secretary Manager: Lucaissie Arragutainaq
E-mail: sanihta@polarland.com

4. Definition of Requirements or Expected Results

The live capture and tagging of ringed seals from Sanikiluaq is an important of ongoing research (2006 to present) aimed at understanding movements of ringed seals in Hudson Bay. Ringed seals are a major component of northern culture, and this study will provide basic knowledge of the areas that are important for ringed seal foraging. This project also contributes to, and is linked to, other research on ringed seal reproduction, survival, health, food habits, genetics, movement, contaminants, and disease. We are also interested in the ecology of bearded seals and how these seals may respond to changes in the climate.
Thus, there is a requirement to continue our research program in Sanikiluaq in 2008 to capture and tag (n=10) live ringed seals. We will be capturing and placing satellite tags on 10 ringed seals in August 2008, as was done in September 2006 (n=10) and September 2007 (n=8). Satellite tags will record positions of the animal and provide information about the water temperature and the depth of dives made by seals while feeding. The satellite tags will tell us where the seals are going and how they feed for up to 10 months.

Challenges involve setting up and maintaining a camp at in a remote location of the belcher islands for approximately 20 days. The location is remote and there are no support services.

To accomplish this work we require two local guides, two local assistant guides, boat(s), and ATV(s). See deliverables section (5.0) for further information.

5. Minimum Requirements

Because of the remote location of the field camp and the challenges of performing the tasks in such a manner as to maintain the quality of field work to the standards required, it is critical that we employ a reliable, experienced Contractor, who is able to carry out the work from the start date.

Thus, any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following minimum requirements:
a)    The contractor and guides must a minimum of two years of experience with seal capture and tagging projects, as well as ringed seal biological subsampling projects. Their experience must include working independently on scientific projects, experience navigating inland and on waters in and around the Belcher Island, local Inuit traditional knowledge (ITK) on net deployment location that will have a high probability of resulting in successful captures of seals, deployment and retrieval of the nets to capture seals, monitoring nets for seals, handling and tagging live seals, biological sample collection, tissue identification and morphometric data collection, in remote field camps north of 55o latitude which are inaccessible by road.
b)    Because the data and samples are virtually irreplaceable, and the data must be comparable with data collected in earlier studies, the guides must have demonstrated their ability to tag live seals, record accurate morphometric data in the field, subsample, preserve, and deliver perishable marine mammal tissues, while adhering to practices that maintain sample integrity and quality to a level that is relevant for chemical analyses at the Freshwater Institute.
c)    The main guides must have a total of at least two boats and one ATV available to transport researchers to and from the field camp, and aid in field research at the field camp.
d)    Since the sample collection in northern communities depends on cooperation with other local hunters, the contractor and guides must have rapport in Sanikiluaq and/or with the hunters that are involved in marine mammal subsistence harvests in the community.
e)    Main guides must be able to be on-site for the fieldwork, be able to maintain the camp for approximately 20 days, take down the camp and conduct the work with respect to the environmental sensitivity of the area.

6. Reason for Non-Competitive Award

Government Contracting Policy, Section 10.2.1 (d)
"only one person or firm is capable of performing the contract"

The Hunter and Trappers Association and two respective main guides named herein have all the required aspects which collectively ensure that the field work and data gathered from this study will be interpretable, meaningful and reproducible and devoid of artefacts related to improper deployment and retrieval of the nets, handing of the seals, collection of field data and subsamples, contamination in the field, inaccurate morphometric data or lack of preservation.

The Sanikiluaq Hunter and Trappers Association (HTA), as well Johnassie Ippak and Lucassie Ippak (local hunters and main guides), have worked for and with numerous northern organizations and individuals and has gained considerable knowledge and skills as a result of his involvement with a variety of northern projects, including past work with DFO on beluga and ringed seal biological sampling projects, and seal tagging projects.

The Sanikiluaq Hunter and Trappers Association (HTA), as well Johnassie Ippak and Lucassie Ippak, are able to provide expertise that will ensure that the required interactions with the hunters in order to tag and sample the seals will be conducted in a manner which is respectful of the traditional values of the hunters. This expertise also includes many years of on-the-land experience, knowledge of the area and local resources and an established rapport with the hunters that will ensure that the work is conducted in a safe, efficient and effective manner. Lucassie and Johnassie Ippak have the ability to maintain a field camp, navigation local terrain and waters, capture and tag seals, as well as collect, label, maintain records of data and samples in the manner which is required. They are familiar with this work and similar work ensures that the deliverables will be received before the end of the contract period. They have established record of helping with the successful capture and tagging of more than 15 ringed seals, as well as collecting clean, uncontaminated samples with accurate data recordings. They both have five years of experience collecting biological samples from ringed seal and beluga whales, and tagging of live ringed seals.

As the sample collection and the associated data sheets are the first step in this study, Lucassie Ippak and Johnassie abilities, reliability, and track record are critical for the project.

7. Aboriginal Set Aside

This requirement is set aside in accordance with the government's Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business. Only statements of capabilities from Aboriginal suppliers will be considered.

8. Period of the Proposed Contract

August 26, 2008 to September 15, 2008.

9. Estimated Value of the Proposed Contract

The estimated value of the proposed contract is $17,550 CAD, exclusive of GST.

10. Closing Date and Time

The closing date and time for accepting Statements of Capabilities is July 10, 2008, 1700hrs (5:00pm) CST.

11. Contract Authority

All inquiries with regard to this Notice must be addressed by e-mail to:

Jeff Hutchison
Materiel Management Officer
Jeff.Hutchison@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Estimated value: $10,001 to $25,000
Original notice

Provision of Guides to Catch & Tag Ringed Seals in the Belcher Islands Area - ACAN

Request For Proposals

General Information

Contact Information

Goods, Works and Services

Original Text

dgMarket - Tenders and consulting opportunities worldwide