NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo Identification Study Support Services

Performance Work Statement National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) Alaska Region (AKR) Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo Identification Study Support Services I. Background The National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NOAA Fisheries) Protected Resources Division (PRD) is responsible for implementing marine mammal conservation and recovery programs under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including programs for Cook Inlet beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). NOAA Fisheries listed Cook Inlet beluga whale distinct population segment (DPS) as endangered under the ESA in 2008 and designated portions of Cook Inlet as beluga critical habitat in 2011. Despite these efforts, the Cook Inlet beluga whale population is still declining. Although monitoring for abundance estimates and distribution has been previously conducted by aerial surveys, satellite tagging, photo-identification studies, and passive acoustics, more information on life history parameters and habitat use is needed to understand this small beluga whale population better. Previous research studies have confirmed that most beluga whales possess distinct natural marks that persist across years, and these marks can be effectively recorded and identified with digital photography. NOAA Fisheries has emphasized the importance of recovering this endangered DPS by publishing a Recovery Plan1 for Cook Inlet beluga whales and identifying Cook Inlet beluga whales as one of the ten species under NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction that are at most risk of extinction by including them as one of the Species in the Spotlight2. Information obtained from photo-identification studies can provide critical insight into individual and population characteristics of the Cook Inlet beluga whales and improve NOAA Fisheries’ conservation and recovery efforts for this population. NOAA Fisheries monitors and manages human activities, which have the potential to take belugas. Given the precarious status of this population, NOAA Fisheries prefers non-invasive methods for obtaining this information when possible, and photo-identification has improved our understanding of many of these population characteristics to inform management actions or research focus. This requirement’s purpose is to obtain professional, scientific services to use non-invasive photo-identification techniques to help fill data gaps regarding individual and population characteristics of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale to provide information to NOAA Fisheries that will aid the agency in the management of Cook Inlet beluga whales. NOAA Fisheries may use the information generated from this requirement to update population models, conduct project effects analyses during ESA section 7 consultations, and inform various recovery actions or scientific analyses. 2 For more information about the Species in the Spotlight go to: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/endangered-species-conservation/species-in-the-spotlight 1 For more information about the Recovery Plan go to: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/recovery-plan-cook-inlet-beluga-whale-delphinapterus-leucas -- 1 of 10 -- NOAA Fisheries PRD also implements a Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, and is responsible for coordinating responses to stranded or injured marine mammals. The Contractor shall develop and implement a communication protocol to report any observations of, or information received about, stranded or injured marine mammals in Cook Inlet to the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Stranding Coordinator(s) as soon as possible. Responses to stranded marine mammals must be authorized by the Project Manager and/or Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Scope The Contractor shall provide professional, scientific, and technical services to conduct a non-invasive photo-identification study of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale (CIBW) DPS. The primary objective of this requirement is to collect and analyze high-quality digital photographic data to fill critical information gaps regarding individual and population characteristics, including demography, reproductive rates, habitat use, and movement patterns. Key components of this scope include: ● Field Data Collection: Performing a minimum of 14 boat- and shore-based photo-identification surveys within Cook Inlet, Alaska, during the designated field season. ● Data Integration & Analysis: Incorporating new imagery and select government-provided stranding/historical photos into the existing CIBW Photo-ID Project catalog (2005–2026) using established, compatible methodology. ● Scientific Reporting: Analyzing longitudinal data to produce peer-review quality reports that summarize survival, mortality, and anthropogenic trauma to inform NOAA Fisheries’ management, recovery actions, and ESA Section 7 consultations. ● Stranding Communication: Implementing a protocol for the immediate reporting of observed stranded or injured marine mammals to the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Stranding Coordinator. II. Period of Performance The base period is two years, from September 30, 2026, to September 29, 2028. The first year is for the field season/data collection and the second year is for documentation, data analysis and report production. III. Place of Performance -- 2 of 10 -- Work will be conducted outside of government facilities (i.e. off-site). Work will primarily be conducted in the field via boat and shore-based surveys in Cook Inlet, Alaska, and at the Contractor’s office location. IV. Operational Hours Operational hours for the work to be performed is at the Contractor’s discretion. For meetings and interactions with government personnel, operational hours are 9:00AM to 5:00PM Alaska Time, Monday through Friday, except when needed with regards to stranded marine mammal response. V. Tasks Using non-invasive photographic identification methods, collect and analyze…