Skeena and Nass Sockeye Escapement Goals Review – Database Support and Science

ACAN: The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for these services to LGL Limited 9768 Second Street, Sidney BC, V8L 3Y8. 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. INTRODUCTION: The goal of this project is to develop and provide scientifically sound and defensible advice on Conservation Unit (CU) and aggregate-level biological benchmarks for Skeena and Nass sockeye salmon that will inform the development of biologically based aggregate escapement goals for these stocks. The Contractor will advise project leads and a Technical Working Group (TWG) in developing and evaluating candidate CU- and aggregate-level biological benchmarks for Skeena and Nass sockeye salmon that will be used to inform aggregate escapement goals for both populations, consistent with bilaterally-agreed objectives for the escapement goal analysis. BACKGROUND: The aggregate escapement goal for Skeena and Nass sockeye is used to set Annual Allowable Harvests (AAH) for U.S. and Canadian fisheries targeting both stocks. In addition to renewed PST provisions, biologically based escapement goals for Skeena and Nass River sockeye are used for Canadian fishery management including the Nisga’a Final Agreement (British Columbia et al. 1999), First Nations and other fisheries in the Skeena and Nass Rivers. OBJECTIVES: Canada is seeking to maintain the future productivity of Skeena and Nass sockeye returns by maintaining the genetically unique wild sockeye populations that contribute to overall returns consistent with Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy (Fisheries and Oceans Canada 2005). The contractor will be responsible for supplying and interpreting data and providing technical advice to support the project objectives of 1) Summarizing and evaluating relevant biological information to inform the development of aggregate escapement goals for Skeena and Nass sockeye including an assessment of key uncertainties and gaps in the data for sockeye populations in these watersheds, and 2) Evaluating alternative aggregate escapement goals for Nass and Skeena River sockeye, including an evaluation of stock status, production and implications of key uncertainties. WORK REQUIREMENT: A detailed operational plan will be provided by DFO for all components of the contract. Operational plans will specify standards for enumerating, collecting, sampling, and data management. DFO may modify to some extent some operations to deal with unforeseen circumstances such as, but not limited to; change in labor requirements, changes in technology, additional requests for information from internal and external reviewers. TASKS AND DELIVERABLES: Tasks The specific tasks to be conducted by the Contractor includes:

Supply and interpret data from North-Central Coast database on request; Participate and contribute technical data/analyses for Technical Working Group meetings including calls from July 2020 to March 2022; Review and contribute to technical support and analyses for documents as they are prepared, including a data review compilation CSAS manuscript; Prepare, participate and lead components of a 2-day modeling workshop in fall 2020. Prepare, participate and lead components of a 2-day engagement meeting in winter 2020-21. Review and contribute to CSAS science document for setting aggregate escapement goals for Nass and Skeena River sockeye; and Participate in technical working group and engagement workshops (dates TBA) in fall and winter March 2022.

Deliverables

Provide and analyze NCC datasets on request. Attendance at monthly TWG meetings (via conference call) Attendance at TWG and engagement process meetings as described in Sect. 3.2 (Tasks) Contribute to development of technical data report in coordination with project leads Contribute to development CSAS working paperMANDATORY CRITERIA: - The Contractor must have successfully provided services similar to those identified in this Advance Contract Award Notification (ACAN). - The Contractor must have significant experience (20 or more years) in assessing stock status for Skeena River sockeye - The Contractor must have significant experience (20 or more years) in assessing stock status for Nass River sockeye - The Contractor must be able to demonstrate significant knowledge of all salmon assessment programs and models used to estimate the abundance of Skeena and Nass sockeye salmon, including the Northern Boundary Run Reconstruction Model, Skeena Sockeye in-river model, and associated tagging and mark and recapture estimation programs. - The Contractor must possess doctorate-level training in salmon stock assessment with recent and significant experience (10 or more years and multiple publications) publishing scientific peer-reviewed publications and technical reports relevant to developing escapement goals. - The Contractor must have significant experience (20 or more years) in database management and possess the ability to access, extract and interpret datasets from the BC North and Central Coast Salmon database.