Technical Support Services for remotely operated sub-marine vehicles for offshore research

1.0 Introduction The purpose of this Contract is to support Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) offshore research using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) gather and store high definition video and still photographs and environmental data from depths of 100 to 2500m. The camera system is used primarily to collect quantitative data on the distribution and abundance patterns of mid-water and benthic organisms (e.g., fishes, corals, sponges, and other invertebrates), environmental conditions at or near the seafloor (including oxygen concentration, salinity, temperature), substrate type (e.g., mud, sand, cobble, boulder, bedrock), and positional data (including altitude above seafloor, latitude, longitude, and depth).

2.0 Objective The Objective of this requirement is to acquire the services of two (2) technical consultants to assist DFO in the deployment, operation, software support and troubleshooting of the DFO owned remotely operated vehicle aboard DFO’s survey vessel or remotely from shore during planned survey periods.

3.0 Requirements 3.1 Tasks, Activities, Deliverables, and Milestones The Contractor’s resources are responsible for the completion of services including, but not limited to the following. Not all services listed below will be required for every survey: • Testing and troubleshooting remotely operated vehicles and associated peripherals in the DFO’s workshop space at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, prior to deployment aboard the Coast Guard vessel; • Carrying out tether terminations, testing communications, and calibrating sensors; • Mobilizing and installing the remotely operated vehicles systems onto the Coast Guard vessel from Nanaimo or Victoria; • Conducting on deck testing to ensure the remotely operated vehicle and the readouts are working properly before the first deployment; • Operating complex deep-sea equipment including deep-sea imaging equipment (video and still camera), CTD’s, altimeters and acoustic doppler current profiler that sends real-time imaging and navigation data through fiber optic equipped tethers; • Monitoring and maintaining a written log of the remotely operated vehicle’s voltage, current draw and ground fault monitoring systems, and pressure compensation systems while the camera is operating; • Working in a marine environment (at sea for an extended period of time) including working in close quarters aboard a vessel; • Completing up to 12-hour shifts to deploy, pilot, and retrieve the remotely operated vehicle; • Assisting with all mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and repairs on the remotely operated vehicle during the Survey; • Providing shore-based troubleshooting instruction to the DFO crew operating the remotely operated vehicle for up to 12 hours per day; and • Providing a final report following completion of the Survey on the current state of the remotely operated vehicle with a section outlining any future repairs needed for the system. • May be asked to assist with shore side procurement or expediting of necessary parts and equipment required for troubleshooting.