Snow Crab Survey Vessel Charter

The contract, identified as solicitation number 30008260, is for the charter of a vessel to support Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s annual snow crab survey on the Scotian Shelf, encompassing Crab Fishing Areas N-ENS, 23, 24, and 4X. This survey is critical for the scientifically informed management of one of Atlantic Canada’s most valuable fisheries, requiring the vessel to complete up to 400 survey stations between August 1 and January 15 each year, with exact dates determined by the DFO scientist-in-charge and communicated with at least two weeks’ notice. The vessel must maintain a minimum crew of a captain and three additional members alongside three scientific personnel, be equipped with specific scientific instrumentation including DGPS, radar, OLEX, and a Marport trawl monitoring system with dual hydrophones, and comply with Transport Canada safety standards, including a valid Safety Inspection Certificate. The contractor is responsible for constructing and maintaining up to three trawl nets annually at a fixed cost of $8,000 per net, providing three nutritionally balanced meals per day in accordance with the Canada Food Guide, ensuring adequate living conditions including clean accommodations and multiple toilets, and adhering to strict onboard conduct rules prohibiting alcohol, drugs, and smoking. The initial contract term runs until July 31, 2027, with up to four one-year optional extensions, and performance is evaluated using a trade-off method combining technical merit (70%) and price (30%), requiring a minimum technical score of 81 out of 115 for vessel capability and 91 out of 130 for crew qualifications, including demonstrated experience in trawl fishing, survey participation, and a fixed crew structure. Invoices must be submitted electronically to a designated DFO email, with payments processed through Canada’s Receiver General, and no specific Treasury Account Symbols or accounting codes are provided. Offerors must certify compliance with ethics standards, including the absence of conflicts of interest, contingency fees, bribes, and forced labor, and must meet eligibility criteria under the Federal Contractors Program for Employment Equity, with no security clearances required. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Government Electronic Tendering Service by July 27, 2026, and include required annexes and financial schedules, with no physical submission permitted. An earlier solicitation dated May 28, 2026, is canceled and superseded, and feedback sessions will be offered