We are looking for someone with the following knowledge and capabilities:

SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified), to perform the following Statement of Work/Specifications.

STATEMENT OF WORK/SPECIFICATION

I. BACKGROUND

The Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984 (Title III of Pub.L. 98-623, 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.) Provides the legislative authority necessary to implement, with respect to the United States, the Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program. The AMLR Program, which is managed by the Antarctic Ecosystem Research Group (AERG) at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), provides information to the U.S. delegation to the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), part of the Antarctic treaty system.

CCAMLR is an international treaty between 23 nations that seeks to manage Antarctic fisheries with the goal of preserving species diversity and stability of the entire Antarctic marine ecosystem. In keeping with this objective, CCAMLR has designated areas of research that member nations are obligated to pursue. The AMLR Program has identified specific data sets that must be collected to respond to CCAMLR's research directives. In doing so, the AMLR Program supports the U.S. Government's commitment to CCAMLR.

In 1996/97, the AMLR Program established a field camp at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Within the vicinity of this study area, the program has specified a large-area survey grid. The field camp and study area were established where reproductive success and feeding ecology of breeding seals and penguins could be monitored. During the 1997/98 field season, research was conducted at Cape Shirreff and the AMLR survey grid was expanded to include waters adjacent to Livingston Island.

II. PURPOSE

A. Overall Program Objectives

The AMLR Program monitors finfish, crab, and krill fisheries, projects sustainable yields where possible, and formulates management advice and options. In addition, the Program conducts field research designed to describe the functional relationships between krill (Euphausia superba), their predators, and key environmental variables.

B. Specific Study Objectives

The objectives of the research covered by this contract include the following:

(1) To participate during logistical operations to transport equipment, supplies and personnel between the chartered research vessel and the field camp at Cape Shirreff;

(2) To initiate the seabird research, train the new seabird assistant and assist the PI with the collection and analyses of standardized data related to penguin reproduction, growth, abundance and distribution, and survival; and,

(3) To assist the senior seal biologist, as appropriate, with collecting information related to Antarctic fur seal reproduction, growth, abundance and distribution, and survival.

III. CONTRACT TASKS

A. TASKS

1. Logistics Plan: The Contractor will provide input, based upon his past experience during the 2008-09 field operations at Cape Shirreff.

2. Seabird Research At Cape Shirreff: The Contractor will direct the collection of penguin reproductive, growth, abundance and distribution, and survival data. Specifically, he will establish the reproductive studies at the beginning of the season and assist in weighing penguin chicks, banding penguins, obtaining stomach samples, placement of radio transmitters, PTTs and TDRs, etc, as required. The Contractor will furnish data summaries of all seabird studies and will provide data files in standard CCAMLR formats for penguin monitoring data.

3. Seal Research At Cape Shirreff: The Contractor will assist the senior seal biologist with the collection of fur seal reproduction, growth, abundance and distribution, and survival data, as required.

B. GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED AND CONTRACTOR-PROVIDED PROPERTY

The Government will provide warm weather clothes such as raingear, parkas, gloves, and boots. The Government will also provide all tools, boats, and scientific equipment needed to complete the specific tasks above.

The Contractor will provide personal clothes, such as pants, shirts, undergarments, socks, etc. The contractor will also provide personal effects that he might desire while aboard the ship or island.

IV. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The Contractor shall complete the compilation of all Seabird data files, CCAMLR data summaries and a Final Report on the Seabird Research for the 2009/10 season. The report shall be less than 25 pages in length (including tables and figures) and include the following sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Protocol Deviations, Disposition of Data, Acknowledgements, and References.

The Government does not provide insurance to the Contractor and under most circumstances is not liable for injuries suffered by the contractor during the performance of duties. This coverage is the responsibility of the Contractor.

Travel shall include all costs associated with getting the Contractor from his home in the U.S. to Chile and return, including airfare, ground transportation, lodging, and food and miscellaneous expenses associated with this travel.

VI. PERIOD OF CONTRACT:

The contract shall begin July 15, 2009 and end March 31, 2010.