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www.seadiscovery.com Marine Technology Reporter 5 Global Marine Systems Limited, in part- nership with The University of Victoria, in November 2005 launched the Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea (VENUS) project. VENUS is intended to pioneer the use of fiber-optic cabling tech- nology to provide a real-time data feed of images, sound and scientific measurements from the sea floor. The project is based in the waters around Southern Vancouver Island, starting with the Saanich Inlet and will then move onto the Strait of Georgia. VENUS is intended to provide a breadth of real-time data that will cover areas including ocean physics, sediment studies, the biological distribution and interaction between marine life, bioacoustics, fish migratory patterns and plankton distribu- tions. The scientific node, which enables the seafloor observatory to process this diverse range of data, was provided by the Canadian firm OceanWorks, who special- ize in manned and unmanned subsea work systems. "The VENUS project represents a step change for the world of marine science and oceanography, which will help improve the way marine scientists observe oceans in the future," said Dr. Phil Hart, Director of Engineering at Global Marine. "Current news RFQ for IOOS: Sources Sought for Engineering Services Attached is a just released RFQ seeking firms to bid on two $1M contracts to propose designs for the Integrated Ocean Observing System. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) for Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) products and services (attached). IOOS as defined in an interagency development plan as a coordinated national and international network of observations and data transmission, data management and communications (DMAC), data analysis and modeling that systematically and efficiently acquires and disseminates data and information on past, present and future states of the oceans and U.S. coastal waters to the head of tide. The IOOS products and services will be procured through the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) entitled "Professional Engineering Services," and Special Item Number 871-3 entitled "System Design, Engineering and Integration," RFQ Number 123298. The posting is available on www.ebuy.gsa.gov, accessible through company or agency Procurement offices. Award of two Delivery Orders is contemplated. For questions or further information about any aspects of this procurement, contact Pauline Jaffe at Pauline.jaffe@noaa.gov, or (301) 713-8023x207. Seafloor Observatory launches in British Columbia MTR#1 (1-16).qxd 1/9/2006 2:06 PM Page 7
