Program to Respond to Dead and Distressed Marine Animals in the Pacific Waters

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 Ocean Wise Conservation Association, P.O. Box 3232, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3X8. 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 purpose of the Program to Respond to Dead and Distressed Marine Animals in the Pacific Waters is to support the Pacific Marine Mammal Response Program in Canadian Pacific waters by coordinating marine animal response efforts; responding, where possible and safe, to marine animals incident; providing response guidance to other authorized partners; and maintaining marine animal incident data and sharing with DFO. It aims to ensure all dead and distressed marine animal incidents in Pacific Canadian waters are reported, particularly those involving species currently listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), entangled pinnipeds and other live and distressed marine animals, as well as rehabilitating injured marine mammals. The program has the added benefit of both improving communications with commercial fishers and the general public regarding marine animal conservation and providing an opportunity to collect scientific data safely to improve our understanding of these species. Ocean Wise is a program dedicated to marine mammal (whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions seals, sea otters and sea turtles) conservation in the Pacific through response, research and education. The rescue program is through the Vancouver Aquarium which is also one of the largest rescue facilities in the world - rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing over 150 marine mammals each year. The contractor is required to deliver the project in accordance with the Statement of Work ONLY in situations and conditions considered safe for such delivery. Under no circumstances should the contractor attempt a rescue of a marine animal if environmental/weather conditions, or the logistical circumstances are not reasonable and safe given the circumstances of the response activity proposed. The Contractor shall monitor the environmental/weather conditions for changes that render the response operation no longer safe. The contractor must adhere to the Fisheries (General) Regulations Section 52 license issued, Marine Mammal Regulations Section 38 permit issued, SARA permit issued, the Protocol for Liaison with DFO and any other relevant and/or appropriate protocols that may be provided by the DFO.