Ocean Zone News Blog

Solicitation Number:
FC133C09R0625 Notice Type:
Special Notice Synopsis:
Added: Jun 25, 2009 8:28 am
The Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Coastal Services Center, Charleston South Carolina, is issuing notice of intent to negotiate a sole source procurement with Third Sector New England Inc, located in Boston, MA to provide support for the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) 2009 work plan for the Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem Health Standing Committee. Third Sector New England Inc is the proprietary author of necessary products and knowledge to be used in the workshop design and execution, and is the only known source of these products and expertise tailored for MA and for the New England region. The statutory authority is 41 U.S.C.253(c)(1), Only One Responsible Source. The applicable NAICS code is 541611 with a size standard of $7 million. Interested parties may identify their interest and must provide evidence of their capability to respond to this requirement by July 5, 2009. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination to this notice is solely with the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Note 22 applies.

A group of 70 people, including environmentalists, seaweed harvesters, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, abalone divers, and Native Americans, gathered at the city hall in Point Arena on Saturday, June 13 to begin the “Seaweed Rebellion” to halt or at least slow down the corrupt fast-track Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process being pushed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and “Big Green” environmental groups.

http://www.ebmtools.org/forum/listserver-forum/tools-marine-spatial-planning-tool-faq-2.html

So the second Tool Frequently-Asked Question that we would like your participation in answering is a big one:

Tool Frequently-Asked Question #2: Are there tools that can help with marine spatial planning?

The EBM Tools Network has already started compiling a Marine Spatial Planning Toolbox, and we will add your input and insight to it. And since this is such a big question, I wanted to provide some guidance in answering:

1) We are running with the definition “Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and objectives” from the UNESCO-IOC website www.unesco-ioc-marinesp.be. So MSP includes ocean zoning.

By Richard Gaines
Staff Writer

Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration yesterday released a draft zoning plan for the management of the inshore state ocean waters — one that bars development off the outside of Cape Cod while allowing regulated use of the waters around Cape Ann.

The plan also designates two areas off the south coast — one off Cuttyhunk, the other southwest of Martha’s Vineyard — as the only locations for possible commercial-sized wind turbines.

Florida Ocean Alliance

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Florida’s economic future depends on healthy oceans and coasts. It is imperative that the State move to protect and sustain these resources. Florida must address important issues arising from the mix of potentially conflicting ocean uses, such as offshore drilling, liquefied natural gas terminals, alternative energy facilities, beach nourishment, and fisheries. Our growing use of the sea must be balanced with stewardship for future generations.