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Observer removing the ear bone, or otolith, which will be used to estimate the age of this Atlantic cod to be used for stock assessments

Observer removing the ear bone, termed "otolith", which will be used to estimate the age of this Atlantic cod to be used for stock assessments. Credit: NE Observer Program, NEFSC / NOAA

Northeast Fisheries Observer Program

On this page you'll find detailed information about the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) such as providers, schedules, and regulations.

For training information, click here >>

Approved Observer Providers

The Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) is a multi-year (usually five years) contract currently awarded to a single provider:

MRAG Americas

The At-Sea Monitoring Program (ASM) is a multi-year (usually two years) contract currently awarded to multiple providers:

The Industry Funded Scallop Observer Program (IFS) has providers that are approved by NMFS if they meet certain standards, and include:

Northeast Fisheries Observer Program Contract Information

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) partners with private contractors to supply NEFOP observer support services. The contractor provides a valuable service to assist NOAA in its fisheries mission and stewardship of our fisheries resources. In an effort to release publicly available information regarding these contracted services, NOAA has obtained releasable redacted copies of the NEFOP contract for public viewing. Company proprietary information protected by the Trade Secrets Act has been redacted from the contract documents pursuant to the exemption from public release of such information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). NEFOP services are provided by one contractor under an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, where the contractor is tasked to provide NEFOP services through IDIQ Task Orders. During the transition from the last IDIQ contract period to the current IDIQ period (April 2012 - April 2013), the NEFOP program has been operating under a transition or "bridge" contract, where services are tasked through a base period and subsequent monthly option periods as needed.

For more information on the IDIQ statement of work (contract objectives, scope, and outcomes) for the NEFOP observer support services contract please see the Request for Proposals (RFP) that was used to solicit and award the IDIQ contract.

Publicly releasable redacted copies of the IDIQ and bridge contract awards for NEFOP observer support services are provided at the following links: