NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo Identification Study Support Services

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing pricing schedule information for the opportunity. It includes two sheets: 'TAB A' for Total Quoted Price and 'TAB B' for Proposed Labor Category and Hourly Rate.

• TAB A: Contains fields for CLIN (Contract Line Item Number) and associated Total Extended Price and Monthly Unit Price. It also includes a 'Total Quoted Price' field.
• TAB B: Contains fields for 'Proposed Labor Category' and 'Hourly Rate'.

Bidders are expected to use this document to provide their pricing details. This includes entering the total quoted price for CLINs and specifying proposed labor categories and their corresponding hourly rates. This information is critical for proposal evaluation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) for Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo Identification Study Support Services for the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office. The acquisition is set-aside for woman-owned small business concerns.

• The core service involves a "Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo Identification Study Support Services".

• The work is divided into two 12-month periods:

  • First 12-month period: Field season and data collection.
  • Second 12-month period: Documentation, data analysis, and report production.

• Services are to be performed in accordance with Attachment 1 PWS.

• Anticipated Award Type: Firm-fixed-price.

• Base Period of Performance: September 30, 2026 to September 29, 2028.

• Option Period 1: September 30, 2027 to September 29, 2029.

• Option Period 2: September 30, 2028 to September 29, 2030.

• Option Period 3: September 30, 2029 to September 29, 2031.

• Monthly invoice amounts will be provided at the time of award.

• Quote Submission Deadline: June 26, 2026, 02:00 PM ET.

• Questions Deadline: June 16, 2026, 2:00 PM ET.

• Quotes must be submitted electronically via email to Hillary Whitehurst at hillary.whitehurst@noaa.gov.

• The quote shall be submitted in three separate files/volumes: Business Volume, Technical Quote, and Price Quote.

• Evaluation will be based on non-price factors (Corporate Experience, Technical Approach, Past Performance) and price. Non-price factors are considered significantly more important than price.

• This acquisition is set-aside for Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) concerns.

• NAICS Code: 541620.

• The government will utilize the FedConnect® web portal for contract administration.

• The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference, accessible at www.acquisition.gov.

• Offerors are encouraged to minimize clarifications or assumptions in their quotes.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To obtain professional, scientific services to conduct a non-invasive photo-identification study of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale (CIBW) Distinct Population Segment (DPS). The goal is to collect and analyze digital photographic data to fill critical information gaps regarding individual and population characteristics, including demography, reproductive rates, habitat use, and movement patterns.

• Conduct a minimum of 14 boat- and shore-based photo-identification surveys in Cook Inlet, Alaska, during the 2026 field season.

• Incorporate new imagery and select government-provided stranding/historical photos into the existing CIBW Photo-ID Project catalog (2005–2025).

• Analyze longitudinal data to produce peer-review quality reports on survival, mortality, and anthropogenic trauma to inform NOAA Fisheries' management and recovery efforts.

• Develop and implement a communication protocol for reporting stranded or injured marine mammals to the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Stranding Coordinator.

• Base period: Two years, September 30, 2026, to September 29, 2028.

• Year 1: Field season/data collection.

• Year 2: Documentation, data analysis, and report production.

• Work will be conducted off-site, primarily in the field in Cook Inlet, Alaska, and at the Contractor's office location.

• Contractor must obtain a research permit from NOAA Fisheries for activities that may harass marine mammals.

• Contractor must develop and articulate a data sharing plan consistent with NOAA's Data Sharing Directive.

• Photo-identification imagery collection and analysis methods must be compatible with the existing CIBW Photo-ID Project catalog.

• Contractor must maintain confidentiality of all subjects and materials and may require a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

• All deliverables are the property of the U.S. Government.

• Principal Investigator must have a graduate degree in a relevant field and extensive experience in leading long-term photographic identification studies of beluga whales.

• Post-Award Meeting

• Quarterly Progress Reports

• Draft Report(s)

• Final Report(s) (analyzing spatial/temporal habitat use, survival/mortality, reproduction, human interactions, and survey effort)

• Key performance areas include Project Planning, Field Work, Photo Processing and Data Analysis, and Project Reporting.

• Performance will be evaluated against specific standards, with an Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) and methods of surveillance outlined.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) intended to gather feedback from client references regarding a contractor's performance on previous contracts. It is designed to help the government evaluate a bidder's past performance risk.

• Contractor Information: Fields for the firm's name, CAGE code, UEI, address, contact details, and information about the work performed (prime, subcontractor, etc.).
• Contract Information: Details about the specific contract being referenced, including contract number, type, title, location, agency, award and completion dates, and pricing.
• Project Description: A section for the contractor to explain the relevance of the referenced project to the current opportunity.
• Client Reference Information: Fields for the client reference's name, title, contact details, and a description of their role.
• Performance Ratings: A structured rating system (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory, Not Applicable) for various aspects of performance, including Quality, Schedule, Cost Control (if applicable), Management, and Regulatory Compliance.
• Narrative Comments: Space for the client reference to provide detailed remarks on strengths, weaknesses, deficiencies, or other relevant comments.

Bidders must provide this questionnaire to their past clients (references) to complete. The completed questionnaire will be used by the government to assess the bidder's past performance. Bidders should ensure their references are aware of the opportunity and can provide accurate and favorable feedback. The ratings and comments from client references directly impact the evaluation of past performance, which is a critical factor in contract award decisions.