The Department of Commerce, specifically the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is seeking consulting services for chemometric model building, experimental testing, and analytical services related to FT-NIR spectra of fish otoliths. The primary objective is to develop predictive models for fish age and sex from various species' otoliths, as well as to conduct experiments to understand the effectiveness of these models and the impact of damaged otoliths on predictions. This work is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of fish ageing processes, which support stock assessments for fishery management. Interested parties may contact Shawana Randolph at shawana.randolph@noaa.gov, with the contract expected to run from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026. This procurement is intended to be negotiated on a sole-source basis with Eigenvector Research, Inc., due to their unique qualifications and prior investments in training and software compatibility.