Development of Habitat Suitability Models in Pacific Canada

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) DFO’s Ecosystem and Science Division (ESD), Science Branch, Pacific Region, is developing spatial data products including representations of bottom type, habitat suitability, productivity, resource distribution, and vulnerability to support a variety of federal programs including the Ocean Protection Program, the Protected Areas Strategy, and Stock Assessment. The analyses underlying these products will draw on a variety of input data, in a variety of formats, and apply a variety of conceptual and statistical methods. A core objective of these efforts is to advance the department’s understanding of valued species distributions which, given the absence (and unfeasibility) of comprehensive surveys, will rely on the development and validation of Habitat Suitability Models (HSMs). A total of one (1) Standing Offer Agreement will be awarded to one (1) supplier. The purpose of this Standing Offer is to provide professional services related to the design, implementation, review, and maintenance of habitat suitability models (HSMs) for Pacific Canada. Using the Contractor’s comprehensive knowledge of the physical and biological data sets available for Pacific Canadian waters, and demonstrated expertise developing, evaluating, and documenting HSMs, the Contractor will support a variety of end goals within Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) related to habitat suitability, species vulnerability, and ocean protection. Specific goals will include (but may not be limited to) HSM development, preparation and scaling of independent data, and documentation of data sources and data products. DFO will benefit from this service by having the data and analyses required for the Ocean Protection Program appropriately and efficiently collected, processed, and documented. The Contractor will support a variety of end goals within Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) related to habitat suitability, species vulnerability, and ocean protection. Specific goals will include (but may not be limited to) HSM development, preparation and scaling of independent data, training of staff on the application of the developed HSM methodology, and documentation of data sources and data products according to Federal Geospatial Data Committee metadata standards. The period of the Standing Offer will take place from November 1, 2018 until October 31, 2021 with two additional one-year option periods.