19--Aluminum boats for electrofishing

The U.S. Geological Survey's Southwest Biological Science Center requires two custom-built aluminum boats specifically designed for research and electrofishing on the Colorado River within the Grand Canyon National Park. These boats are proprietary to Waterman Welding & Machining, the sole manufacturer and developer of these custom vessels. Consequently, the government intends to award this contract noncompetitively under the applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations, recognizing Waterman Welding's unique capability to supply these boats. However, the solicitation allows other interested parties with the ability to provide these specialized boats to submit a capabilities statement for consideration by the closing date, ensuring all responsible sources can potentially compete if deemed suitable. The procurement will be conducted as a Firm-Fixed-Price contract and requires all participating firms to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). The announcement is not a formal Request for Quote but represents the only written notice of the procurement, emphasizing transparency and compliance with acquisition policies. The Department of the Interior, Office of Acquisition Grants-National, overseeing this contract, encourages any questions to be directed in writing via email to the specified Contracting Officer. The solicitation was publicly posted in May 2017 under NAICS code 333992, reflecting the specialized manufacturing sector relevant to this acquisition.