The Virginia Institute of Marine Science advances coastal and marine science through research, education, and stewardship of Virginia’s aquatic ecosystems. Its core mission centers on sustaining healthy marine environments through applied science, infrastructure modernization, and public engagement....
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science advances coastal and marine science through research, education, and stewardship of Virginia’s aquatic ecosystems. Its core mission centers on sustaining healthy marine environments through applied science, infrastructure modernization, and public engagement. Strategic priorities include expanding research facilities to support vessel operations and shoreline resilience, enhancing visitor and educational infrastructure, and ensuring operational readiness of coastal field stations. Key programs focus on living shorelines, marine habitat restoration, and science-based policy support for coastal communities, reflected in its emphasis on engineering design, site preparation, and facility upgrades.
The agency procures a broad range of professional and support services to enable its scientific and operational missions. Engineering design, temporary staffing, and construction-related services dominate its procurement activity, with frequent use of design-build and A/E contracts to deliver complex infrastructure projects. Temporary help services support dynamic research and administrative needs, while catering and personal services facilitate public outreach and event-based engagement.
Primary procurement targets include engineering services for marine infrastructure, temporary staffing for research support, and specialized construction contractors for plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and site preparation. The agency consistently uses open, non-set-aside solicitations, indicating a preference for competitive, qualifications-based selection over socioeconomic set-asides. Vendor relationships are built around technical expertise in coastal engineering, marine operations, and environmental construction, with recurring engagement with firms experienced in sensitive coastal environments.
Located at 3601 Timberneck Farm Rd in Hayes, Virginia, the institute operates as a component of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, serving as the state’s premier marine research entity. It utilizes standard federal and state procurement vehicles, including competitive sealed bids and request for proposals, to acquire professional, technical, and facility support services essential to its coastal science mission.
