Specifications include, but are not limited to: The State of Maine is seeking proposals for Benthic Ecology Services for the Maine Coastal Program’s Mapping Initiative. The MCMI acquires seafloor and marine habitat information including bathymetry and backscatter data, sediment information, fauna type and abundance, and water column data. The data and resulting habitat models help expand regional knowledge of near- and offshore benthic habitat and ecological regimes. Additionally, data collected by the MCMI hydrographic and benthic sampling program supports regional ocean modeling and planning efforts because they are characterized in a comprehensive habitat classification and benthic community common language, the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). This project contributes to enhancement of regional ocean planning efforts by expanding regional knowledge of marine habitats. The Department seeks proposals for Benthic Ecology Services for the Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative (MCMI). Services include assisting with the set-up and maintenance of benthic grab sampling equipment, collection and field descriptions of benthic fauna samples on a pre-determined vessel under existing contract with the Department, identification of fauna samples to the species level (samples are housed at the Boothbay laboratory), sample archiving, classification of infauna samples using the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification System (CMECS), statistical analysis of fauna assemblages, development of technical reports and scientific publications in collaboration with the project manager, periodic review and revisions of MCMI protocols, and other related analyses and product development as requested by the Department. The awarded Bidder will work with the project manager to evaluate relationships between benthic community types and environmental variables using multivariate statistical analysis methods and develop spatial models that map predicted distributions of benthic communities using ArcGIS. The awarded Bidder will work closely with the project manager and a project team that includes a hydrographer/geologist and two staff benthic ecology scientists. The field survey season is approximately June through November annually, with sample analysis and reporting occurring December through May annually. Benthic grab sampling is performed one (1) to two (2) days per week throughout June through November. The awarded Bidder must provide services including set-up, sampling, and breakdown. Field days are scheduled to begin at 4:00 a.m. with system set-up, field sampling 5:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and gear breakdown and maintenance following until 6:00 p.m. Shorter days may occur but should not be anticipated. Field sample collection is anticipated to occur from waters 0-40 nautical miles (nm) offshore of Kittery, Maine to Lubec, Maine. Annual Area of Interests (AOI) for mapping are determined each year in February based on Department priorities and external partnerships. The AOI for 2023-2025 includes offshore areas 17-40nm, roughly off Kittery to Boothbay, Maine (Figure 1). Port locations for the 2023-2025 survey season are expected to be Kennebunk, Portland, and Boothbay Harbor. The location of port and survey areas may change at any time during the survey season and the awarded Bidder must be prepared for in-season survey plan changes with a week’s warning. It is anticipated that approximately 75-100 grab samples will be taken annually, however, these are estimates and number of grab samples may change during the sampling season.
