Lower Fraser Area Patrol Services

1.0	Title
Lower Fraser Area Patrol Services

1.2	Introduction
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is broadly mandated to understand, protect, and conserve the aquatic resources of Canada. In support of this DFO implements contracts with service providers to conduct fisheries patrol activities in the Lower Fraser Area. Contractors are required to conduct patrols of the fishing areas to assess fishing activity, liaise with fishers and to collect and report data to DFO. 

The work is broken into two operational areas for which 2 contracts will be awarded:
1.	Fraser River and tributaries downstream of Mission to Sandheads
2.	Fraser River and tributaries upstream of Mission to Sawmill Creek.

The Contractor is required to have resources which will include a minimum of 2 vessels and 2 skippers for each operational area.  

1.3	Contract Period
June 1, 2015 through to April 30, 2016, with options to renew for 3 additional 1 year periods at the sole discretion of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Option periods if exercised will be May 1, 2016 through to April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2017 through to April 30, 2018 and May 1, 2018 through to April 30, 2019.

For the purposes of this contract, DFO has identified a range of expected patrol days for the 2015 season. Note that this is merely an estimate of the expected work and the number of actual days will depend on fishing patterns and funding available to deliver the project. 

1.4	Schedule and Estimated Level of Effort (Work Breakdown Structure)

The Contractor is required to have resources which will include a minimum of 2 vessels and 2 skippers capable of performing this requirement for each operational area.  If the primary vessel is not available the secondary vessel will be used.

The estimated level of potential patrol days for each of the operational areas will be 25-42 days. Given recent fishing patterns, this work will likely be distributed as follows:  
Month	Patrol days
May	2
June	2
July	3-5
August	10-22
September	1-2
October	4-10
November	3-6
Total : 	25-42
Note:  The majority of the patrol days often will occur on weekends due to the nature of the fisheries being monitored but will be determined by the project authority.

1.5	Objectives of the Requirement
	
The contractor will be required to complete patrols of the operational area by vessel.  A number of fisheries related activities will be required such as: collecting data on fisheries catch and effort, disseminating information from DFO on key programs and policies, developing relationships with members of the public encountered while on patrol, transporting and assisting DFO sampling teams and reporting back to DFO on patrol activities in the form of activity reports and catch and effort datasheets.  These activities support effective management of the fisheries in the area.

1.6	Background, Assumptions and Specific Scope of the Requirement

As identified above, there is a need for the collection of fisheries information by a contractor to support the accurate assessment of catch and effort arising from recreational, commercial and First Nations food, social and ceremonial fisheries in the Lower Fraser Area. 

The work to be undertaken focuses on salmon fisheries in-river and, as such, will require the contractor to be available to conduct patrols during the peak seasons for these fisheries; typically from May through November. Further to this requirement, due to the nature of the fisheries being monitored, patrols are typically focused on weekends with one or two patrols required per weekend during August and October and one or two patrols required every two weekends during May, June, July and November.

This work occurs in river sections where access to a jet boat will be a benefit to the contractor and, but for the Fraser River and tributaries upstream on Mission to the Hope area, a jet boat will be required. Contractors will be expected to have significant knowledge of the river sections in question to ensure safe operation during patrols.

On occasion (0-5 times per year) there will be a requirement for DFO employees to participate in patrols with the Contractor.  Any participation will be coordinated by the project authority and will be discussed and planned in concert with the Contractor.