The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) intends to award a sole-source contract to Terra Mar Applied Sciences, LLC for a study titled "Establishing a Baseline Offshore Monitoring Program of Birds, Cetaceans, and Turtles in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands." This five-year study aims to improve understanding of seabird, marine mammal, and sea turtle distribution in the Caribbean via digital aerial surveys and image processing techniques. The unique ecological context and complexity of the project necessitate Terra Mar's specialized skills and established relationships with organizations like the Fish and Wildlife Service. The study will generate essential environmental data for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to support national and regional environmental assessments. Interested parties may submit capability statements, but competitive quotes are not being solicited at this time. Responses are due by January 17, 2025, to the designated contracting officer.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) seeks to award a sole-source purchase order to Terra Mar Applied Sciences, LLC for a study titled "Establishing a Baseline Offshore Monitoring Program of Birds, Cetaceans, and Turtles in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands." This five-year project, developed in collaboration with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, aims to enhance the understanding of seabird, marine mammal, and sea turtle distributions in the Caribbean through advanced digital aerial survey methods.
Terra Mar's extensive experience in seabird ecology, particularly in the U.S. Caribbean region, positions them uniquely to deliver the required environmental data for national assessments. BSEE performed market research, which revealed a lack of other vendors with sufficient expertise to meet the study requirements. Based on discussions with vendors and reviews of their capabilities, Terra Mar was found to have exceptional qualifications, including a solid network of collaboration and prior related project experience. Thus, the acquisition is justified as a sole source to ensure high-quality data collection and analysis, with no other sources expressing interest in this acquisition to date. Future competitive procurement opportunities will be evaluated after the project concludes.