Taxonomic Identification and sediments analysis – Canadian Beaufort Sea Marine Ecosystem Assessment (CBS-MEA)

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for these services to Laval University, 2325 Rue de l'Université, Québec. Before awarding a contract, however, the government would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the ACAN posting period. If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during this ACAN posting period that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either GETS or through traditional means, in order to award the contract. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier. BACKGROUND: The Arctic Aquatic Research Division of Fisheries and Ocean’s Canada (DFO), Central and Arctic Region, conducted a baseline survey of biological communities and habitat parameters in the offshore Canadian Beaufort Sea between 2012 and 2014, as part of the federal government’s Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment – Marine Fishes Project (BREA-MFP). The BREA-MFP was the first comprehensive baseline study of marine fish diversity and associated habitats in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. New knowledge gained during the BREA-MFP will support regulatory processes pertaining to offshore development and Oceans Management in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and will provide baseline context for studies of climate variability and change. The Canadian Beaufort Sea – Marine Ecosystem Assessment (CBS-MEA, 2017-2019) is building on biological baselines established during the BREA-MFP to develop a comprehensive monitoring approach for the offshore Canadian Beaufort Sea, including trophic linkages. The CBS-MEA includes focused research on physical and biological couplings while expanding baseline coverage of species diversity, abundances, and habitat associations to areas of the Canadian Archipelago that are previously unstudied in this context. This contract involves taxonomic identification of benthic invertebrates collected during the 2013/2014 BREA-MFP and upcoming CBS-MEA field seasons (2017-2019). The contract also includes analysis of sediment organic matter using loss on ignition (LOI), benthic chla (fluorimeter), and grain size (coulter counter), associated with sites where benthic invertebrates were collected. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this contract is to accurately identify benthic invertebrates (infauna and epifauna) collected during the BREA-MFP and CBS-MEA programs, to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Fundamental to the success of this work is to ensure accuracy and continuity of identifications which will be achieved by employing internationally recognized experts in taxonomy and ensuring that identifications are conducted by those same experts during each year of collection. The Supplier will receive station samples of sediments and benthic invertebrates from the 2014 BREA-MFP field year, and from each of the CBS-MEA field years. In most cases, preliminary identifications will already have been assigned to voucher specimens during field work. In these cases, the Supplier will provide expert confirmation of taxonomic identifications. In some cases, taxonomic identifications will not have been previously assigned due to the rare nature or rough condition of the specimens. In these cases, the Supplier will use their expertise and resources to provide taxonomic identifications. Sediment samples taken from invertebrate collection sites will be characterized through analysis of sediment organic matter using loss on ignition (LOI), benthic chla (fluorimeter), and grain size (coulter counter) to define benthic habitats. WORK REQUIREMENT: Supplier shall provide taxonomic identifications, abundance and weight of all specimens supplied by DFO (approximately n = 58 stations from 2013/2014. Number of stations/samples from CBS-MEA 2017 is being determined). Number of stations in options years will be determined following associated field seasons. Unique or specific identification features When unique or unusual specimens are encountered the Supplier will document the process followed for further identification, and provide documentation used to determine and identify the species (e.g. high-resolution images). The Supplier will provide the documentation, including digital files, to DFO. The images/files will be named according to the specimen’s unique identification number (assigned by DFO prior to shipment), and provided using a clear and consistent filing method. Retention of subset of collection for Supplier archives The Supplier will retain a subset of specimens for their internal collection and will provide a reference collection to DFO. The remainder of specimens may be discarded after processing. List of catalogue IDs for benthic invertebrates remaining in Supplier collection The Supplier will provide DFO with the associated catalogue ID number for each specimen it retains for its collection. Sediment processing and analyses The supplier will analyze sediment samples from the CBS-MEA program for the following parameters:

sediment organic matter using LOI technique benthic chla using a fluorimeter grain size using a coulter counterAll instruments and techniques will be calibrated and standardized to match previous processing and analyses of samples from the BREA-MFP program. Data/Information summary Upon completion of work, the contactor will provide taxonomic identification information of specimens collected at each station in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, along with any notes or remarks, via email or flash drive. In addition to taxonomy, the spreadsheet summary will include the unique sample identification number, and collection information (i.e., date, location, deployment ID), for each specimen. It is critical that the identification information in the spreadsheet matches the unique identification number assigned to the specimen and any associated data sheet(s). Similarly, sediment data will be provided via Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and, in addition to organic matter, chla, and grain size data, will include the unique sample identification number and collection information (i.e., date, location, deployment ID) for each sample. The Supplier will retain a copy of these spreadsheets for a minimum of two years after its submission to DFO.

Constraints Data generated during this contract is the property of DFO and cannot be shared or published without written consent of the Project Authority. An agreement will be put in place that will outline the specifics associated with sample transfer, ownership, responsibilities and publications. If the Supplier needs to sub-contract expertise of external scientists/taxonomists, Sub-Suppliers are held to the same constraints as the Supplier regarding publication and sharing of material and data stipulated in this contract and the Material Transfer Agreement.