Tatsamenie Lake Enhanced Sockeye Fry Rearing

NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROCUREMENT (NPP)

Solicitation# 30004837

This requirement is for Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Title: Tatsamenie Lake Enhanced Sockeye Fry Rearing

Background:
Tatsamenie Lake is located at the headwaters of Tatsatua Creek, a tributary of the Sheslay River and in turn the Taku River. Tatsamenie Lake is accessible only by air. It is approximately 160 and 110 air km from Atlin and Telegraph Creek respectively, and 100 air km from Snettisham Hatchery in Juneau, Alaska. Sockeye escapements returning to Tatsamenie Lake are variable based on counts since 1990 at the Tatsamenie Lake weir. Tatsamenie Lake Sockeye migrate up the Taku River with peak numbers passing through the Tatsamenie Lake weir approximately August 24 - September 5. Mean travel time is approximately 30 days. Historic return information and reporting is available from the Scientific Authority.

A Tatsamenie Lake Sockeye egg take is conducted annually as part of a joint enhancement program of Transboundary rivers involving Canada and the United States. The Transboundary Rivers Annex of the Pacific Salmon Treaty outlines the enhancement objectives for the Taku River. The Tatsamenie Lake enhancement project has been completed annually since 1990. The enhancement project includes the collection of sockeye salmon brood stock from Tatsamenie Lake for egg takes and transfer of those eggs to Snettisham Hatchery in Alaska for incubation. Resulting fry are released back to Tatsamenie Lake with different strategies for evaluation of success.

Annually, an identifiable component of the released fry is transferred to rearing pens upon being delivered to Tatsamenie Lake for rearing to target sizes before release. Annual smolt enumeration is conducted over the course of the summer to evaluate migration of wild and enhanced released sockeye out of Tatsamenie Lake combined with sampling to identify fry origin through thermal otolith mark evaluation.

Objective:
Beginning in Spring 2024, the Contractor is to receive transported fry and conduct rearing of approximately 200,000 to 400,000 sockeye fry according to directions annually determined by the Transboundary Technical Committee and Enhancement Sub-committee at Tatsamenie Lake, BC. Rearing of fish may encounter risks to disease and predation. Monitoring and prevention is to be maintained for optimal project success.
Simultaneously, a smolt enumeration project is to be completed June 1 through September 1 to accurately enumerate complete salmon smolt migrating out of Tatsamenie Lake with sampling to identify origin of smolts and standard age information.

Scope of Work:
The contractor will coordinate all aspects of mobilizing field equipment for the project and maintaining equipment for the camp.

Tasks, Activities, Deliverables and Milestones:

Fry transported to Tatsamenie Lake - approx. May 25th and June 5th
Fry rearing period - approx. May 25th to June 30th
Fry size delivered for rearing - approx. 0.5 grams target fry size at release post rearing - approx. 1.0 - 2.0 grams (directed annually)
Fyke net installed and fish tight – Approx. May 19th
Continued monitoring and sampling of the smolt mark recapture program

Sampling:

Maintain regular sampling of reared fry for size and body condition to ensure targets are met with appropriate rearing plans in place;
Evaluate reared fry for signs and symptoms of disease with plans in place to sample fry as needed to provide samples for veterinarian analysis if necessary, see Methodology;
Sample smolt captured during enumeration project for length, weight and lethally subsample weighted as necessary to accurately estimate smolt run composition;
Thermal otolith samples collected annually are to be provided to DFO Whitehorse lab for analysis in the Fall post season.

Security Requirement:
There are no security requirements related to this solicitation.

Period of Contract:
The period of the Contract is from date of Contract Award to April 30, 2025, inclusive.

Option to Extend the Contract:
The Contractor grants to Canada the irrevocable option to extend the term of the Contract by up to three (3) additional one (1) year period(s) under the same conditions. The Contractor agrees that, during the extended period of the Contract, it will be paid in accordance with the applicable provisions as set out in the Basis of Payment.
Canada may exercise this option at any time by sending a written notice to the Contractor at least 30 calendar days before the expiry date of the Contract. The option may only be exercised by the Contracting Authority, and will be evidenced for administrative purposes only, through a contract

Trade Agreements:
The requirement is subject to the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement, Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement, and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).

Contract Authority:
Name: Jackie Longmire
Phone Number: 506- 238-5870
Email Address: DFOtenders-soumissionsMPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca / cc: Jackie.Longmire@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Inquiries:
Inquiries regarding this RFP requirement must be submitted to the Contracting Authority named above. BIDDERS ARE ADVISED THAT “BUYANDSELL.GC.CA” IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS. The Crown retains the right to negotiate with any supplier on any procurement. Documents may be submitted in either official language.