THIS SPECIAL NOTICE IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) is seeking public comment on a DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS) attached to this notice. Responses received will be considered as NOAA/NMFS/AFSC further refines its requirements for Fishery Observer Support Services for the North Pacific Observer Program (NPOP).

Responses to this RFI shall be submitted via email to Kayla Johnson (kayla.johnson@noaa.gov) no later than February 17, 2023, 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

This notice is not a solicitation, Request for Quote (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), nor an announcement of a solicitation.

The purpose of this notice is solely to gather information and comments from interested parties and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or awarded. Respondents are not entitled to compensation by the Government for any direct or indirect costs incurred as a result of responding to this RFI. All information considered proprietary shall be marked accordingly. The Government shall not be liable for nor suffer any consequential damages for improperly identified proprietary information. Properly identified proprietary information will be handled in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

Any responses received will not be considered an offer, nor returned to the respondents. Telephone and/or faxed responses to this RFI shall not be accepted.