Deep-Sea ROV System Supply and Operation

The contract entails the supply and operation of a fully certified 6,000-meter remotely operated vehicle system designed for deep-sea coral surveys, equipped with high-definition and 4K video capabilities, real-time underwater annotation tools, a manipulator arm for sample collection, and a suction sampler for delicate biological specimens. The system must support up to 20 dives with precise seafloor positioning to ensure accurate data collection and minimal environmental disturbance. Comprehensive maintenance services are included to guarantee operational readiness throughout the mission profile, with all equipment meeting stringent certification standards for performance and safety in extreme deep-sea environments. The vessel and crew must be capable of sustained operations in challenging offshore conditions, ensuring continuous data flow and sample integrity. This is a small business set-aside subcontract under the SBA program, classified under NAICS code 334510, and is issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Department of Commerce. The solicitation was posted on June 29, 2026, with responses due by July 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The performance location is not specified, indicating flexibility in deployment areas, likely targeting federally managed marine sanctuaries or research zones. The effort supports critical oceanographic research aimed at understanding and preserving deep-sea coral ecosystems, requiring a contractor with proven experience in deep-ocean robotics and marine biological survey protocols.