The NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research has a requirement for support activities specific to the operations and staffing of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in a telepresence-enabled operating environment on the NOAA Ship OKEANOS EXPLORER (EX). The contractor shall be able to provide ROV support services and maintenance as follows: (1) Provide ROV staff for each EX cruise as appropriate to the cruise plan. To include selecting, assigning and managing the team members and coordinating their work with the ship's force. Primary ROV staff required from the contractor will be ROV pilots, co-pilots and engineers/technicians. The EX anticipates providing ROV navigators. Each cruise plan will identify the required number of staff depending upon anticipated tempo (16 or 24 hour operations). A minimum ROV team includes one pilot, one co-pilot one navigator and one video technician. (2) Perform ROV maintenance to include specification, recommended ordering of and installing spare/replacement parts, consumables, and similar service items. Contractor staff will perform these maintenance services as required during periods of ROV operations or between ROV cruise legs as the field season schedule allows. (3) In collaboration with NOAA, contractor shall specify and provide support for the development/procurement of ROV sensors, samplers and major subcomponents such as cameras/lights as new scientific requirements emerge during the field season. Contractor may be required to assist NOAA in development of estimates, negotiation of pricing and review of technical design details for such items. (4) In collaboration with EX crew, development and updating as required of ROV standard operating procedures (SOPs) for ROV operations and maintenance and ROV and related systems electronic drawings (e.g., CAD). Contractor will regularly update and adapt these SOPs and drawings as each field season proceeds and as each ROV related system or component changes. (5) Contractor shall develop and execute a training plan for both contractor and NOAA staff engaged in the operations and maintenance of the ROV. This plan shall be regularly updated to account for developments in the ROV, the vessel or NOAA ocean exploration and research objectives.

The solicitation is due to be issued to the fedbizopps website on or about May 28, 2008. Contractor's engagement is expected to begin immediately after contract award (expected late August/early September, 2008). The period of performance is expected have a base period of six months from the date of award followed by two, one year option periods. The contract is expected to be an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Task Order type contract. Task Orders are expected to be issued on a firm fixed price basis depending on specific cruise requirements.

This requirement will be set aside 100% for small business concerns based on NAICS 541712 (small business size standard 500 employees). See numbered note 1. For further information, contact Contracting Officer Paul Reed at Paul.J.Reed@noaa.gov. It is requested that all submittals and inquiries be submitted via email to the stated address. Telephone inquiries may not be honored.