B--MRG RGSM SPAWNING AND EGG MONITORING

The contract pertains to seasonal monitoring of reproductive activity for the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) in the Middle Rio Grande of New Mexico, with the primary objective of collecting and analyzing spawning data and eggs to support species conservation under the 2016 Final Biological Opinion and the RGSM Genetics Management and Propagation Plan. The work involves daily electronic reporting of egg capture data to the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, characterizing spawning timing, duration, and spatial patterns, and transporting collected eggs to federal rearing facilities including the Albuquerque BioPark, Dexter National Fish Hatchery, and Los Lunas Silvery Minnow Refugium, with a target of 500,000 eggs annually. The performance period spans five years, structured as a one-year base period with four one-year option periods exercisable at the government’s discretion, and may include the optional use of a Moore Egg Collector boat contingent on environmental conditions and government approval. The solicitation is strictly set aside for small businesses under NAICS 541620, with a size standard of $15 million in average annual receipts, and requires all offerors to be current and active registrants in the System for Award Management. Proposals must include a capabilities statement demonstrating relevant experience, resumes of key personnel with direct project involvement in the past three years, and documentation of owned or controlled equipment. Submissions are to be delivered electronically by the March 23, 2026 deadline, though the formal solicitation will remain open until August 20, 2026. Compliance with prescribed biological protocols, data distribution requirements, and federal environmental standards is mandatory, and failure to maintain SAM registration will disqualify an offeror. No contract pricing is specified in the pre-solicitation phase, and the award methodology remains undisclosed, though the emphasis on technical experience and past performance suggests a trade-off evaluation process rather than a lowest-price approach. The contracting office is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with Mary Maestas serving as the primary point of contact.