[Coral-List] Science Coordinator sought

[Nancy Daschbach]

For more information about this RFP, or the full RFP, write or call:
Nancy Daschbach, Manager
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary
PO Box 3178
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
Phone: (684) 633-7354
Fax: (684) 633-7355
E-mail:  Nancy.Daschbach at noaa.gov

Request For Proposals
RFP-029-2004

Issuance Date: May 21, 2004    Closing Date: June 21, 2004
        No later than 2:00 p.m. local time

To be received at: Office of Procurement
   American Samoa Government
   Tafuna, American Samoa 96799
   Attn:  Pat Tervola, ACPO

The American Samoa Government (ASG), issues a Request For Proposals
(RFP) to provide:

“Science Coordination for Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary.”

This Request For Proposals (RFP) describes the specifications for the
services to be provided in sufficient detail to permit full and open
competition and which will allow the offeror to properly respond to the
RFP.

This RFP is issued under the authority of the American Samoa Procurement
Act of 1983 and the Procurement Rules promulgated therefrom.  Where
there is a discrepancy between the provisions of the Act and the Rules,
the law shall have precedence over the Rules.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
American Samoa is a U.S. Territory located in the South Pacific,
approximately 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii.  It is the southernmost
of all U.S. possessions, and the only U.S. jurisdiction in the South
Pacific.  It comprises of seven islands (five volcanic islands and two
coral atolls).  Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) is
co-managed by the American Samoa Government with the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Sanctuary Program.

Fagatele Bay is located on the island of Tutuila, and offices for the
Sanctuary reside in the village of Utulei/Fagatogo.  The Sanctuary
itself is located approximately 10 miles west of Pago Pago Harbor, and
is accessible only by boat or foot.  Details of the Sanctuary management
can be found at www.fagatelebay.nos.noaa.gov.  Currently there is no
dedicated science or monitoring personnel.  The Sanctuary staff work
closely with other government agencies, and all the agencies with coral
reef concerns or mandates sit on the Governor’s Coral Reef Advisory
Group (CRAG).  Collaboration among these agencies is a vital part of the
island’s environmental management strategy.

American Samoa’s limited coral reefs are threatened by expanding
population growth, overfishing, and coral reef habitat destruction.
National Marine Sanctuary coral ecosystem management deals with
population pressure, land use, overfishing, global climate change, and
monitoring which require the following tasks:

1. Conduct of routine monitoring, research and analysis;
2. The forecast of future trends;
3. Assessment of environmental impacts caused by project proposals;
4. Development of strategies, projects and schedules for the Sanctuary
monitoring and research program;
5. Preparation of documents, studies or plans for the protection of
marine resources, economic and community impacts, and environmental
planning as relates to the Sanctuary;
6. Translation of the science for the understanding of the local
population, to ensure their support and understanding of the Sanctuary’s
management measures;
7. Collaboration with local agencies and their science staff, the Coral
Reef Advisory Group (CRAG), and visiting researchers.


GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED:
The contractor will be expected to complete science coordination
services for the Fagatele National Marine Sanctuary and the American
Samoa Department of Commerce.

Required tasks also include:
* Develop coral reef monitoring plan after consultation with National
Marine Sanctuary Program and CRAG monitoring group;
* At least one year’s physical collection of monitoring data;
* Proper handling and care of any collected samples, and prompt
analysis;
* Develop evaluation criteria for the Sanctuary’s science programs;
* Coordinate monitoring efforts with various agencies or other bodies as
they relate to FBNMS science endeavors;
* Input information gathered into a database for tracking and
interpretation, and eventually into a geographical information system
(GIS experience preferred);
* The Coordinator may manage the Territory’s monitoring database, in
collaboration with CRAG, in addition to the Sanctuary’s database;
* Produce annual status and trends reports on the program;
* Attend CRAG meetings in a supporting capacity to the group;
* Help promote awareness of threats to coral reefs in American Samoa and
the Pacific by working with the Sanctuary’s education and outreach
staff;
* Maintain and operate Sanctuary boat (boat driving experience
preferred);
* Finalize and implement a marine safety plan for the Territory in
collaboration with other agencies;
* Hold routine safety inspections and drills;
* Maintain Sanctuary’s dive locker;
* Supervise staff or interns assigned to assist;
* The successful applicant may conduct research if it: (1) does not
impact other duties, (2) is approved by the Sanctuary Manager, and (3)
will fulfill a research need for the Sanctuary and/or the Territory.
* FBNMS may ask the Science Coordinator to take on other suitable
related tasks as they arise in the future.

Please Note:  A Scope of Work must be developed to address how to
complete each of the items listed above with a time schedule.  Quarterly
reporting is required.  Final report will require an evaluation and
recommendations for the Sanctuary’s science program.
--