Any information submitted in response to this Sources Sought Announcement is strictly voluntary. The Government will neither award a contract solely based on this notice, nor pay for any information submitted by respondents. This notice is a request by the Government to collect information from interested vendors for the purpose of market research. Failing to provide a response to this announcement will not prohibit/exclude an interested vendor from participating in a future solicitation.

The Government is looking for vendors who can perform the following:

1. Quantify and characterize sea turtle, marine mammal, and sea bird interactions with Peruvian small-scale gillnet fisheries using onboard observers and electronic monitoring systems.

2. Conduct sea turtle, marine mammal, and sea bird interactions bycatch mitigation trials with small-scale gillnet fisheries.

3. Assess sea turtle movements and vulnerability to fishery interaction using satellite telemetry.

Tasks to be completed by contractor:

1. Quantify and characterize sea turtle, marine mammal, and sea bird interactions with Peruvian small-scale gillnet fisheries using onboard observers and electronic monitoring devices in Central and North Peruvian fisheries in coordination with NOAA scientists.

2. Testing on bycatch reduction technologies in the small-scale gillnet fisheries using paired designs in coordination with NOAA scientists.

Special Requirements:

1. The contractor must have a proven record of quantifying and developing bycatch reduction technologies aimed at reducing sea turtle, marine mammal, and sea bird for a variety of fisheries such as longline and gillnet small scale artesanal fisheries.

2. The contractor must have experience working in South American small-scale fisheries.

The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 541990 with a size standard of $15.0 million.

Interested vendors are requested to provide the following information in response to this Sources Sought Announcement:

1) A statement that you believe your firm has the capability to meet all above stated requirements.

2) Your firm's DUNS number & CAGE code;

3) Your firm's SBA certified small business concern status. Specifically identify if your firm is HUBZone-certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or in the SBA's 8(a) program, etc. If your firm is not small, please state that it is a large business.

4) A brief description of your firm's past experience (within past 3 years) performing similar services.

The information provided in response to this announcement is limited to five pages or less. All information shall be provided free of charge to the Government. The Government will not return any data provided in response to this announcement.

This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued.

The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Responses shall be provided to Contracting Officer, Stephanie Garnett via email at [email protected] no later than 10:00 AM (Hawaii Time) on Wednesday, August 10, 2016.