Medium Range Vessel Support Services   2

Background
The NOAA Fisheries, Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is responsible for protecting the nation's living marine resources. The Northeast Division prioritizes fishing gear compliance under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act to ensure a sustainable lobster fishery.

Additionally, identifying gear violations related to the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act is crucial, particularly to mitigate large whale entanglements. The enforcement of regulations is vital for sustainability and directly impacts the number of vertical and ground lines in the water, which correlates with the injury and mortality rates of large whale species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Data collected during operations will be used for identifying violations, collecting evidence, and conducting follow-up investigations.

Work Details
The Contractor shall provide one or more Downeast lobster style vessel(s) designed to efficiently haul and reset commercial lobster gear in New England waters, not exceeding 80 nautical miles from shore. The vessels must have clear deck space to accommodate an entire trawl and be equipped with professional electronic navigation displays and commercial-grade marine radar systems.

Operations will include:
- conducting up to five missions in designated Lobster Management Areas (LMAs),
- assisting law enforcement personnel with inspections of suspected non-compliant gear,
- deploying compliant gear back into the ocean,
- providing shoreside transportation for seized lobster trap trawls,
- ensuring all equipment is in good working order prior to operations,
- maintaining a safe working environment throughout all activities. The contractor must also provide experienced crew members capable of handling offshore lobster gear.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed over a flexible schedule determined by operational windows agreed upon with OLE, accommodating weather conditions and other factors.

Place of Performance
Operations will take place in New England waters from various commercial ports.