Catch Monitoring Analysis and Electronic Video Monitoring Pilot Design

This requirement is for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Title: Catch Monitoring Analysis and Electronic Video Monitoring Pilot Design Introduction Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has a requirement for the services of a contractor to assist with a review of current monitoring practises in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subarea 0 Greenland Halibut fishery. The review will include a comparative analysis of data from 2014 to 2017 including but not limited to all observer data, all fishing log data, hail information, dockside monitoring data, cold storage reports and sales slips. As part of the review, the contractor will use the results of the analysis to inform DFO and stakeholders on the dependability and quality of data used in current monitoring strategies, and will be required to participate as a subject matter expert in the Catch Monitoring Working Group (CMWG). Objectives of the Requirement The overarching objective for this project is to improve the elements of the current catch monitoring program in the GHL Subarea 0 fishery including dependability, quality, timeliness, and accessibility of data. Scope of Work The contractor will begin with a full review and comparative analysis of fishing logbooks, hail information, At Sea Observer (ASO) reports, Dockside Monitoring (DM) reports, Greenlandic dockside landing reports, Danish cold storage reports and sales slips from 2014-2017. Some of this information will have to be gathered from other Regions and then keyed and combined into a consistent format with errors and missing data identified and corrected where possible. The review will also capture reports of lost gear, average gill net soak times, observer coverage levels, and all comments made by the At Sea Observers and Captains that pertain to fishing activities outside of standard practise, variances in catch reporting, and all other recorded observations related to contravention of the fishing licence conditions. The contractor will produce a midterm update report of progress of the analysis to ensure alignment of priorities with DFO staff and CMWG participants.  The contractor will produce a final report summarizing the findings of the analysis with interpretation of trends in variance. A focus of the report will be identifying any gaps in the current catch monitoring program with consideration of dependability and quality of data as defined in the Fisheries Monitoring Policy. This report will be used to inform the CMWG. Within the report the contractor will recommend approaches to increase the data quality and data transcribing accuracy by identifying best practices with regards to data auditing. The contractor will also include recommended changes to the existing information management system which could improve the collection, storage, auditing and sharing of fishery information pertaining to the GHL fishery as well as report types to best fit management needs. Once a review and analysis of the GHL data has been completed and there is a clean data set and report to present to the CMWG, the level of alignment between observer estimates, Captain estimates, landing data and observer coverage levels can be discussed. The contractor will participate as the subject matter expert in these discussions and assist with interpretation of the data and results of analysis. The primary tasks of the CMWG will be to evaluate the historical data for the GHL fishery, assess it for gaps based on the contracted analysis, prioritize the areas of concern, and consider solutions to address the gaps and formulate an action plan to meet new objectives. The contractor will guide these discussions based on their expertise in monitoring strategies, the GHL fishery data and technological solutions. Finally, with the support and collaboration of the CMWG, the contractor will design a small scale Electronic Video Monitoring pilot project for the GHL fishery. The pilot project will be designed for a risk controlled environment and will test the effectiveness of the technology/equipment and answer questions on how EVM could improve monitoring data and/or reduce cost. Issues addressed by the CMWG will inform the initial objectives of the pilot program as well as explore the potential models for application of EVM and familiarize the fleet and educate stakeholders with the technology. Location of Work, Work site and Delivery Point Work will be performed at the Contractor’s premises, DFO premises, and other data collection sites and meeting locations. Travel and Accommodation in accordance with the National Joint Travel Council Travel Directive will be provided. Expected Start and Completion Dates The period of contract will be from date of award to March 31, 2019. Security Requirement At time of bid closing, bidders must have the following valid Security clearances: 1. The Contractor/Offeror must hold a valid Designated Organization Screening (DOS), issued by the Canadian Industrial Security Directorate (CISD), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). 2. The Contractor/Offeror personnel requiring access to PROTECTED information, assets or sensitive work site(s) must EACH hold a valid RELIABILITY STATUS, granted or approved by CISD/PWGSC. Mandatory Requirements M1 The bidder must have a minimum of 10 years of experience in delivering electronic monitoring services to commercial fishing fleets in Canada. M2 The bidder must have a minimum of 10 years experience delivering At-Sea Observer and or Dockside Monitoring programs for commercial fisheries in Canada. M3 The bidder must have knowledge of the evolution of the fishery, current fishing practices including the catch monitoring programs currently in place for the purposes of assessing the potential application of EM in the GHL fishery. M4 The bidder must have a minimum of 10 years experience in delivering fisheries data analysis to support the specific needs of fishery managers. M5 The bidder must have a minimum of 10 years experience in consultations and multi-faceted partnerships with stakeholders in Canadian commercial groundfish fisheries for the purposes of advising on fisheries monitoring solutions and interpretation of fishery data. Trade Agreements The requirement is subject to the provisions of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). Enquiries regarding this RFP requirement are to be submitted in writing to the following: Cathi Harris A/Team Lead – Contracting Services Fisheries and Oceans Canada Procurement Hub - Fredericton 301 Bishop Drive Fredericton, NB E3C 2M6 Tel: 506-238-1317 Fax: 506-452-3676 Email: DFOtenders-soumissionsMPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca