OpportunityTitle: Request for Capability Statements for Environmental Monitoring for Post Hurricane Sandy Beach Re-nourishment Projects
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: In accordance with the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), (43 USC 1457(b)), applicants must be State agencies or State-controlled institutions of higher education only.  Also, applicants must be State agencies or State-controlled institutions of higher education within the Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) only (http://www.cesu.psu.edu/unit_portals/PSAC_portal.htm).
Description: This is a request for capability statements only. No applications will be accepted at this time. The Division of Environmental Assessment (DEA) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement through the Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast CESU network only to conduct research in topics that serve the public interest in safe and environmentally sound marine mineral development on the nation&#146;s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). BOEM, through its Marine Minerals Program (MMP), conveys the rights to OCS sand, gravel, or shell resources for in shore protection projects. BOEM must analyze and minimize to the extent practicable the effects of these activities under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental laws, such as the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Section 1346 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by mineral development. [The following sentence has been modified]: Following Hurricane Sandy, storm damage assessments indicated there were several critically-eroded areas in Virginia, Florida and other areas that would need access to BOEM managed OCS sand resources for beach nourishment and coastal restoration. Environmental monitoring of benthic and demersal fish habitat, resident biological communities, geomorphology, and other sensitive resources in the vicinity of the borrow area is necessary to ensure environmental risks from the use of these sources are well documented and, if needed, adaptively managed through subsequent stewardship actions, without causing undue delay in the start of dredging and construction. The source of the project funding is the post-Hurricane Sandy Authorization. Study Objectives: E-Mail Kathleen.Craig@bsee.gov for further details. Other Needs: The applicant needs to demonstrate the ability to respond quickly and begin work prior to the expected dredge operations, which will likely occur October, 2013 to January, 2014. Submissions to this Request for Capability Statements should be no more than 5 pages. A full Notice of Funding Availability will be posted on or about June 7, 2013. Selectees from this Request for Capability Statements will submit a full proposal at that time. Interested members of the Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast CESU shall submit their capability statements no later than May 31, 2013 via email to: Dominique Bruce, Contract Specialist, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, E-Mail: Dominique.Bruce@bsee.gov, phone (703) 787-1342.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: For Questions and Further Details
GrantorContactText: Dominique Bruce &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 703-787-1342