Vessel and Crew to Support Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Spring 2019 Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is seeking availability of a capable non-Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Oceanographic Research Vessel to conduct its spring 2019 Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program. Specifically, an Oceanographic Research Vessel is required for 27 continuous days within the time period of March 15, 2019 to April 30, 2019 at the latest. The Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program is a time sensitive survey and needs to be conducted during this time period to allow for comparability of data and results with previous annual surveys conducted at this time and location. The Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program has the aim of collecting and analyzing the biological, chemical, and physical field data that are necessary to (1) characterize and understand the causes of oceanic variability at the seasonal, inter-annual, and decadal scales, (2) provide multidisciplinary data sets that can be used to establish relationships among the biological, chemical, and physical variables, and (3) provide adequate data to support the sound development of ocean activities. If agreed by both parties, the contract may be extended to include the fall 2019 Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program consisting in 27 continuous days within the time period of September 15, 2019 to October 31, 2019 at the latest. The fall program will be comparable in scope to the spring program. DFO will exercise its option for a fall program by giving written notice to the contractor within 30 days of contract award. If DFO exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option provision.