Massachusetts Large Whale and Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Background
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) is seeking a contractor to assist in the operation of the Massachusetts Large Whale and Sea Turtle Conservation Program. The program aims to document, protect, and recover large whale and turtle species found in state waters and adjacent areas. Federal and state funding will provide support for surveillance research and monitoring of North Atlantic right whales and for entanglement response for all large whale species and sea turtles.

Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for year-round on-call entanglement readiness and response for whales and sea turtles in Massachusetts and adjacent waters using their own vessel, equipment, trained personnel, and authorization from NOAA to conduct disentanglements. They will also be required to report confirmed entanglement sightings to MA DMF and National Marine Fisheries Service in near real-time, conduct large whale habitat monitoring cruises, aerial surveillance surveys, document the distribution and abundance of marine mammals, fishing gear, shipping activity, changes in the Cape Cod Bay ecosystem, submit semi-annual performance reports to MA DMF detailing program activities, among other tasks.
The contractor must have expertise in disentangling large whales and sea turtles, sampling zooplankton in water columns, knowledge of state and federal regulations protecting endangered large whales, ability to track expenditures and invoice monthly as work is completed.

Period of Performance
The contract duration is approximately 1 year with 3 renewal options of 1 year each based on federal funding. The total maximum contract duration is 4 years.

Place of Performance
The geographic scope of the efforts will include the Cape Cod area, a portion of the federally designated Critical Habitat for the endangered North Atlantic right whale, as well as several other habitats within the Gulf of Maine Right Whale Critical Habitat.