DOI - BOEM - Synthesis of the Physical Oceanography - MRAS

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), on behalf of the Department of the Interior (DOI), is conducting market research to support the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in its efforts to synthesize physical oceanographic data from the U.S. Arctic region. This initiative aims to consolidate and analyze a wealth of observational data collected over two decades, from 2005 to 2025, across key areas such as the northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. The overarching goal is to enhance understanding of physical processes and boundary influences in these regions, which are critical for informing environmental impact assessments and guiding future research endeavors.

The project seeks a comprehensive synthesis that can be incorporated into National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, providing vital context for evaluating environmental impacts in a rapidly changing Arctic environment. This synthesis will aid BOEM and other federal agencies by outlining current knowledge gaps and offering recommendations for addressing emerging information needs. Additionally, it will evaluate existing regional ocean models used in oil spill modeling efforts, particularly their representation of sea ice dynamics, and identify additional datasets required for improving these models.

The scope of work includes several key tasks such as project management and tracking, preparation of a detailed Project Management Plan (PMP), and coordination with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of high-quality outputs. The contractor will be responsible for managing resources effectively, coordinating technical work related to data synthesis and analysis, and ensuring compliance with BOEM's report formatting specifications. Furthermore, all digital deliverables must be accessible per Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.