TITLE: Deployment of archival tags for acoustic and behavioural data on St. Lawrence Estuary beluga

ADVANCED CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE TITLE: Deployment of archival tags for acoustic and behavioural data on St. Lawrence Estuary beluga 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 Groupe de Recherche et d’Éducation sur les mammifères marins 108, de la Cale Sèche, Tadoussac, QC G0T 2A0. 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 St. Lawrence Estuary population of beluga is a species at risk, which is exposed to chronic vessel noise. DFO, in the context of the Oceans Protection Plan, needs to better understand the degree of exposure of beluga to noise, and its impacts on beluga and their health. The current project aims at fulfilling these needs. WORK REQUIREMENT: Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a requirement for the provision of the following services: This project requires that the sampling procedure be approved by an Animal Care committee (ACC). Granting of this approval greatly depends on the qualifications and expertise of the people conducting the work, as a highly specific expertise is required to avoid wounding animals and insure a high probability of success on a daily basis. These requirements will allow meeting the project objectives in the short timeline available for conducting this work (8 weeks per year over three years). This project requires to approach within 7 m from beluga using a small vessel to attach to their back a data logger using a suction cup system. Data on the surface behaviour of the tagged beluga, and of the herd within which the animal is evolving are also required to document potential behavioural reactions. Expected results and deliverables: Deploying the largest number of data loggers possible over a period of 8 weeks of fieldwork, between June and October, at a pace of 5 days a week (weather conditions permitting). All of the data acquired in the field will have to be transferred to the DFO project authority at the latest at the end of each field season, so that DFO experts can proceed with data analysis. CONSTRAINTS Language: Services are to be provided in French. DEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT Fisheries and Oceans Canada will offer guidance as to how to program the D-tags to make data useful. MINIMUM MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS The minimum mandatory requirements are:

Have a boat driver with at least 5 years experience approaching St. Lawrence beluga whales Have a D-tagger that has at least performed deployment of archival tags (any type) on St. Lawrence beluga whale Have availability to proceed with deployments over a period of 8 weeks between June and October of each year, at a pace of at least 5 days a week Availability of a vessel adequate for approaching within 6-7 m from beluga while avoiding or minimizing behavioural responses of the whales Have access to archival acoustic tags of the type ‘D-tags’.

WORK ENVIRONMENT Fieldwork will be conducted in the St. Lawrence Estuary USE OF ASSETS No assets will be supplied by Fisheries and Oceans Canada DELIVERABLES & TIME SCHEDULE

Data collected by the data loggers, as well as behavioural data of the tracked individual and herd and associated search effort. Fieldwork needs to span over a period of 8 weeks between June and October over each of the three years (2018, 2019, 2020) The data should be provided to DFO at the latest at the end of each field seasonTRADE AGREEMENTS APPLICABILITY OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS: The requirement is subject to the provisions of the following trade agreements: Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

Canada- Chili Free Trade Agreement Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) World Trade Organization-Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP) Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS REGULATIONS EXCEPTION AND LIMITED TENDERING REASONS: The following policy requirements are applicable to this ACAN process: Applicable Exceptions to Soliciting Bids under the Government Contracting Regulations (GCRs) (Section 6): Section 10.2.1 Section 6 (d) only one person or firm is capable of performing the work applies to this ACAN for the following reasons: There are no known alternative sources of supply.

The Group of Research and Education on Marine Mammals is the sole organization conducting field research with St. Lawrence Estuary beluga apart from the DFO experts. The proposed work requires approval of field protocols and procedures by an Animal Care Committee recognized by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: Fisheries and Oceans Canada has determined that any resulting contract will not involve any intellectual property. CONTRACT PERIOD: The contract period is estimated to be from the date of contract award to March 31, 2019. Project Work Fieldwork planification will start as soon as possible with deployments in the field planned for the summers of 2018, 2019, 2020. Ending date for this contract is planned for 31 March 2021. ESTIMATED VALUE: The total estimated value of the contract shall not exceed $270,000.00 excluding all applicable taxes. INSURANCE The Contractor is responsible for deciding if insurance coverage is necessary to fulfill its obligation under the Contract and to ensure compliance with any applicable law. Any insurance acquired or maintained by the Contractor is at its own expense and for its own benefit and protection. It does not release the Contractor from or reduce its liability under the Contract. SUPPLIER’S RIGHT TO SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES: Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the services described herein, may submit a Statement of Capabilities in writing to the Contracting Officer identified in this Notice on or before closing date. The Statement of Capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements. CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING STATEMENT OF CAPABILITIES: Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. (Atlantic Time) Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to: Nancy Paquette Senior Contracting Officer Procurement Hub – Fredericton Email: DFOtenders-soumissionsMPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca