FD26-284 NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center c

The contract solicitation 1333MF26Q0024 is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 483112 for vessel charter services to support the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center. The performance period spans from May 22 to December 31, 2026, with operations conducted aboard contracted vessels primarily in the Florida Keys, from Key West to Key Biscayne. The contractor must ensure daily vessel availability with at least 90% on-time readiness, provide experienced dive support personnel, serve 90% of meals on schedule, supply 50 square feet of secured deck space for NOAA equipment, install and maintain a vessel-wide wireless network, and carry sufficient oxygen, an Automated External Defibrillator, and medical supplies for diving emergencies. Vessels must comply with U.S. Coast Guard regulations, be operated by a licensed USCG captain with at least two years of live boating experience, and include a certified dive master. No anchoring is permitted during dives except in designated areas, and all data collected must be stored exclusively on government-furnished equipment with no personal storage devices allowed. Data confidentiality is strictly enforced, and personnel may be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, though federal security clearances are not required. The contract is awarded on a single firm-fixed-price, all-or-none basis with payment terms of Net 30 through the Invoice Processing Platform, and the Government may extend the contract by up to six months under FAR 52.217-8. Offerors must be certified small businesses with a SAM.gov Unique Entity ID and CAGE code, and must represent their size status as small under the 550-employee threshold. Proposals must be submitted electronically by May 8, 2026, to Amy Gilliland at NOAA via email in PDF or Microsoft Word format, accompanied by signed SF-18 and SF-30 documents. Evaluation is based first on technical approach and capability, including past performance and detailed operational plans that exceed mere restatement of the Statement of Work, followed by experience and risk assessment, with price considered only if technical proposals are equal. The award is subject to a trade-off determination to achieve best value, not lowest price. Special contract clauses mandate compliance with labor protections, anti-trafficking policies, whistleblower rights, procurement regulations, and organizational conflict of interest guidelines, including flow-down to subcontract