20--Bottom Trawls for Alaskan Surveys

This contract awards the design, fabrication, and potential modification of specialized bottom trawl nets for use in NOAA’s Alaska fishery surveys under a total small business set-aside. The solicitation, numbered 1305M326Q0232 and posted on July 17, 2026, requires a qualified small business concern under NAICS code 314999 to deliver two RACE prototype trawls with interchangeable EBS and GOA footropes, one modified PNE prototype trawl, three cod ends meeting specific mesh and reinforcement standards, and one GOA 1 footrope, all constructed with a 4.5-inch mesh size and capable of operating at depths from 10 to 1,000 meters. The vendor must be based in Washington State and will conduct design meetings at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, while fabrication occurs at the contractor’s facility. Delivery is FOB destination to the same Seattle address, with testing scheduled for three evaluation periods under standard survey conditions in Alaska, during which the contractor must provide real-time technical support to NOAA personnel. The award is firm-fixed-price, with evaluation based primarily on technical approach and capability, followed by past performance and price reasonableness, with the most advantageous offer selected. The contractor must comply with federal acquisition regulations including whistleblower protections, prohibitions on influencing federal transactions, electronic funds transfer payments, and reporting requirements, and must maintain active SAM registration with a UEI. All payments must be submitted electronically via the Treasury’s IPP system with the vendor invoice attached, and the Department of Commerce will administer the contract through FedConnect. Compliance with specific construction standards, including double twin web bottom wings, bolsh lines, fishing chains, and reinforced cod ends with 10-metric-ton dumping straps, is mandatory. Offerors must submit completed past performance questionnaires and certify small business status, socio-economic classifications, and adherence to all solicitation terms, with proposals due by July 7, 2026, and prices held firm for 60 days.