19--Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Vessel

The National Marine Fisheries Service, through the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, is seeking a small business contractor to provide a commercial vessel, qualified crew, and an integrated remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system to conduct a deep-sea coral survey within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The contract requires the vessel to support up to fourteen continuous operational sea days with an option to extend to twenty days, scheduled for August 2026. The vessel must be capable of berthing and providing meals for six to seven NOAA scientific personnel, equipped with laboratory facilities for biological sample processing, freshwater and saltwater access, and storage for specialized freezers. Technical requirements include a Dynamic Positioning System (DP-1), internet connectivity sufficient for mission operations, and an ROV certified for 6,000-meter depths capable of maintaining precise positioning within one meter of the seabed without disturbing benthic life. The ROV must be accompanied by a launch and recovery system, control van, power source, and sampling devices. The contractor must mobilize from a port in Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts and return to the same port, with all operations confined to the monument’s designated seamounts including Bear, Retriever, Physalia, and Mytilus. The solicitation is a full small business set-aside under NAICS code 483114 and follows commercial item acquisition procedures under FAR 52.212-4 with deviation and Alternate I. Proposals must be submitted electronically in two separate parts: a technical quote not exceeding twenty pages, with no reference to pricing, and a separate business/price quote without page limits. The technical proposal must include detailed information on vessel and ROV characteristics, crew experience, and past performance, supported by required attachments. Evaluation will prioritize vessel and ROV capability, crew and ROV team experience, and past performance, with price considered as a factor but not weighted explicitly. The contractor must comply with strict operational, safety, and administrative requirements, including maintaining a drug-free workplace, securing liability insurance covering vessel collision and protection and indemnity, adhering to hazardous materials documentation, and prohibiting firearms onboard unless secured by the master. Fuel costs are reimbursable up to a ceiling of $155,000 and must be documented with receipts submitted through the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform. Payment will be made within 30 days of approval of the completion invoice, and the Contracting Officer’s Representative will oversee technical acceptance aboard the vessel