1_ RFR DMF-26035 Commercial and For-Hire Fishing Vessel Support.pdf

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Division of Marine Fisheries

(617) 626-1520 | mass.gov/MarineFisheries

Maura T. Healey

Governor

Kimberly Driscoll

Lt. Governor

Rebecca L. Tepper

Secretary

Thomas K. O’Shea

Commissioner

Daniel J. McKiernan

Director

ISSUE DATE: 9/1/2026

Purchasing Department Division of Marine Fisheries

Address 836 S. Rodney French Blvd

City, State Zip Code New Bedford, MA 02744

Procurement Contact Person Brendan Reily

Telephone Number 508-395-9715

E-Mail Address brendan.reilly@mass.gov

RFR Name/Title Commercial and For-Hire Fishing Vessel Support

RFR Number DMF-26035

COMMBUYS Bid Number BD-27-1046-DMF-FW010-132988

1. Description or Purpose of Procurement:

In support of the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) year-round research and monitoring efforts in the coastal waters of the Commonwealth, we require the services of commercial and for-hire fishing vessels.

This contract is for the procurement of commercial and for-hire fishing vessel support as is generally required for field research. Specific services under this contract will be documented with a contract attachment (Attachment A) with scopes of services for individual tasks and rates. We will be awarding contracts to vendors that can provide the best value for the Commonwealth. This will become a list of qualified vendors that can be used to fulfill certain needs as they arise. Placing a bid on this rolling enrollment RFR does not guarantee a contract. Quotes will be solicited from vendors on an as needed basis.

http://www.mass.gov/marinefisheries mailto:brendan.reilly@mass.gov

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE

Commercial & For-Hire Fishing Vessel Support

DMF RFR # 26035

2. Applicable Procurement Law

Check Appropriate

Box (“X”):

Type of Purchase Applicable Laws

Executive Branch Goods and Services

Goods and Services MGL c. 7, § 22; c. 30, § 51, § 52;

801 CMR 21.00

Human and Social Services MGL c. 7, § 22, § 22N; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801 CMR 21.00; 808 CMR

1.00

Legal Services MGL c. 30, § 51, § 52 and § 65; c.

7, § 22; and 801 CMR 21.01(2) (b)

Grants MGL c. 7A, § 7; St. 1986 c. 206, §

17; 815 CMR 2.00

3. Acquisition Method:

Check All Applicable (“X”):

Category

Fee-For-Service

Outright Purchase

Rental (not to exceed 6 months)

Term Lease

License

Other:

4. Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract:

Check One (“X”):

Single Contractor

Multiple Contractors

a. Estimated Number of Awards

The target maximum number of Contractors is no limit; the Purchasing Department may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so.

b. Adding Contractors after initial Contract Award

If, over the life of the contract, the Purchasing Department determines that additional

Contractors may be added, these may be drawn from qualified companies that responded to this Solicitation and not awarded Contracts. If necessary to meet the requirements of the

Commonwealth, the Solicitation may be reopened to obtain additional Bids.

5. Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

Check One (“X”):

Eligible Entities

Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Defined Entities Only. Any Contract(s) resulting from this Bid will be open for use by the issuing Purchasing Department and the following other entities:

Department of Fish and Game

The Purchasing Department reserves the right to add or remove additional authorized users during the contract term.

Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Issuing Entity

Only.

6. Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

Contract Duration

Number of Options

Number of Years/Months

Instructions

Initial Duration 3 Years From the date of execution through September 1, 2029.

Renewal Options

2 Options to Renew

3 Years There will be two options to renew for 3 years.

Total Maximum Contract Duration

9 Years

7. Anticipated Expenditures, Funding, or Compensation:

Estimated Value of Procurement: Variable by contract.

The Department does not guarantee contract work as a result of a vendor being added to this list.

8. Contract Performance and Business Specifications:

Scope of Services: Commercial fishing vessel and captain will be put under contract to help with marine/fisheries research.

Fiscal Terms: The Commonwealth is tax exempt. Prompt payment discounts will be applied, or

45 day pay cycle will resume. Bills are payable in accordance with CTR’s bill payment policy.

Basis for issuing invoices will be when either time and materials or deliverables are received/completed.

Performance Measures: Price, reliability, communication, safety, service, timeliness. This is a Market Basket procurement for commercial and for-hire fishing vessel support as is generally required for field research.

Business Specifications: The vessel will provide a Captain (licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard) and crew (if needed) who will be responsible for operating the vessel and all fishing related equipment (winches, nets, booms, etc.). The safety of the vessel and vessel personnel and research crew will be the responsibility of the Contractor at all times. The vessel crew will maintain and make any repairs necessary to keep the fishing gear in operating condition.

The vessel shall be responsible for acquiring all fuel, lubricants, dockage, and other consumables necessary to maintain and operate the vessel and its gear. The vessel shall also be responsible for providing sleeping space for researchers on multi-day trips. Research and sampling equipment to conduct the experiment will be supplied by the contracting party.

Researchers will provide their own personal survival suits and Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs).

A researcher from the contracting party or an approved researcher from the contracting party must be on the vessel at all times during this fieldwork. The vessel and crew shall comply with the research plan developed by researchers or other approved researchers at all times while operating under this contract. The vessel shall communicate with research personnel as necessary to accomplish the project. The vessel shall accommodate researchers as necessary in the collection of information. Researchers will work, where possible, to minimize impact on fishing operations. The researchers will obtain necessary permits to conduct the research and reduce enforcement risk to the vessel.

Departure dates of trips will be a joint decision between the vessel owner/skipper and the project PIs considering weather and other relevant conditions.

The terms of compensation must be determined prior to trips and may include trip-rates, day-rates, dockside-rates, fuel costs, additional insurance costs, division of catch sales to the vessel and contractors, or other costs associated with the research.

Vessels contracted with DMF shall maintain strict compliance with all relevant state and federal fishery regulations. Fishery violations, or violation of the terms of this contract may result in the termination of this contract.

9. Small Business Purchasing Program

Program Background

The Massachusetts Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) was established pursuant to

Executive Order 523 to increase state contracting opportunities with small businesses having their principal place of business within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pursuant to the

SBPP, it is the intention of the issuing department to award this Small Procurement to one or more SBPP participating business(es) as described below.

SBPP Award Preference https://www.mass.gov/sbpp https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-523-establishing-the-massachusetts-small-business-purchasing-program

While all businesses, no matter the size or principal place of business, may submit responses to this solicitation, should an SBPP participant respond and meet the best value criteria as described in this solicitation, the SBPP participant shall be awarded the contract. The Strategic

Sourcing Services Team (SSST) will not evaluate submissions from non-SBPP participants unless no SBPP Bidder meets the SSST’s best value evaluation criteria.

SBPP Participation Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in this procurement as an SBPP participant, an entity must meet the following criteria, and be marked as an SBPP-registered business in COMMBUYS:

1. Have its principal place of business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

2. Been in business for at least one year;

3. Employ a combined total of 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in all locations, or employees work less than a combined total of 26,000 hours per quarter; and

4. Have gross revenues, as reported on appropriate tax forms, of $15 million or less, based on a three-year average.

Non-profit firms also must be registered as a non-profit or charitable organization with the MA

Attorney General’s Office and be up to date with all filings required by that office and be tax exempt under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

SBPP Compliance Requirements

It is the responsibility of the Bidder to ensure that their SBPP status is current at the time of submitting a response and throughout the life of any resulting contract. Misrepresentation of

SBPP status will result in disqualification from consideration, and may result in debarment, contract termination, and other actions. To learn more about the SBPP, including how to apply, visit the SBPP Webpage.

Program Resources and Assistance

Bidders and Contractors seeking assistance regarding SBPP may visit the SBPP webpage, http://www.mass.gov/sbpp, or contact the SBPP Help Desk at sbpp@mass.gov.

10. Environmentally Preferable Products

Products and services purchased by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order

515, issued October 27, 2009. Under this Executive Order, Executive Departments are required to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring https://www.commbuys.com/bso/ http://www.mass.gov/sbpp http://www.mass.gov/sbpp mailto:sbpp@mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-515-establishing-an-environmental-purchasing-policy?_ga=2.237660352.1741219494.1633353146-758386467.1632336759 https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-515-establishing-an-environmental-purchasing-policy?_ga=2.237660352.1741219494.1633353146-758386467.1632336759 environmentally preferable products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services perform to satisfactory standards and represent best value, consistent with 801 CMR 21.00. In line with this directive, all Contracts, whether departmental or statewide, must comply with the specifications and guidelines established by OSD and the EPP Program. EPPs are products and services that help to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products. Bid responses must identify how a contractor meets these goals.

11. Evaluation Criteria

Contractors must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFR. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes. Please see Appendix A: Required Specifications for more information.

12. Instructions for Submission of Responses:

Only electronic quotes submitted via COMMBUYS will be accepted in response to this RFR.

Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix B. Any submission that fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFR will be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and may be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

13. Estimated Procurement Calendar

Procurement Activity Date Time

Bid Release Date 9/01/2026 4:00 PM

Deadline for Submission of Questions through COMMBUYS “Bid Q&A”

9/01/2029 12:00 PM

Deadline for Quotes/Bid Responses (“Bid

Opening Date/Time” in COMMBUYS)

9/01/2029 12:00 PM

Notification of Apparent Successful Bidder(s)

(Estimated)

Within 2 weeks

Estimated Contract Start Date Variable

Bidders are required to monitor COMMBUYS for changes to the procurement calendar for this

Bid.

a. Online Questions (Bid Q&A)

Written Questions must be entered using the “Bid Q&A” tab for the Bid in COMMBUYS no later than the “Online Questions Due” date and time indicated in the Estimated Procurement

Calendar (above). The issuing department reserves the right to not respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

It is the responsibility of the prospective Bidder and awarded Contractor to maintain an active registration in COMMBUYS and to keep current the email address of the Bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the Purchasing Department, including requests for clarification. The

Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective

Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s computer, network, or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective

Bidder/Awarded contractor and the Purchasing Department to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

Written Responses to Questions will be released on or about the “Responses to Questions

Posted Online” date indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

(Written questions and responses will be posted on the Bid Q&A Tab for this Bid in

COMMBUYS.)

c. Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening Date/Time)

See the Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening) Date and Time indicated in the

Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

d. Estimated Contract Start Date

This is the approximate start date. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

14. Required Forms

Responses to this RFR must contain the following documents

Check if applicable (“X”) Form/Document Notes/Instructions

(If any)

Commonwealth Terms and Conditions Informational only

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number & Certification (Massachusetts Substitute W-9 Form)

Will be required if selected.

Standard Contract Form and Instructions Will be required if

Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Will be required if

Authorization for Electronic Funds Transfer

Will be required if

Prompt Payment Discount Form Will be required if

The above attachments are available as part of the Bid record on COMMBUYS

(WWW.COMMBUYS.COM).

http://www.commbuys.com/

15. RFR Attachments

Appendix A: Required Specifications https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services

Appendix B: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Appendix C: RFR- Commercial Fishing Vessel Bidders Data Sheet

Effective June 15, 2021, for all 1) CTR forms, including the Standard Contract Form, W-9s, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) forms, ISAs, and other CTR-issued documents and forms, or

2) documents related to state finance and within the statutory area of authority or control of CTR (i.e. contracts, payrolls, and related supporting documentation), CTR will accept signatures executed by an authorized signatory in any of the following ways: 1. Traditional

“wet signature” (ink on paper); 2. Electronic signature that is either: a. Hand drawn using a mouse or finger if working from a touch screen device; or Page 2 b. An uploaded picture of the signatory’s hand drawn signature 3. Electronic signatures affixed using a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign. If using an electronic signature, the signature must be visible, include the signatory’s name and title, and must be accompanied by a signature date. Please be advised that typed text of a name not generated by a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or

DocuSign, even in computer-generated cursive script, or an electronic symbol, are not acceptable forms of electronic signature.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Appendix A: Required Specifications

This is a Market Basket procurement for commercial and for-hire fishing vessel support as is generally required for field research.

The vessel will provide a Captain (licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard) and crew (if needed) who will be responsible for operating the vessel and all fishing related equipment (winches, nets, booms, etc.). The safety of the vessel and vessel personnel and research crew will be the responsibility of the Contractor at all times. The vessel crew will maintain and make any repairs necessary to keep the fishing gear in operating condition.

The vessel shall be responsible for acquiring all fuel, lubricants, dockage, and other consumables necessary to maintain and operate the vessel and its gear. The vessel shall also be responsible for providing sleeping space for researchers on multi-day trips. Research and sampling equipment to conduct the experiment will be supplied by the contracting party. Researchers will provide their own personal survival suits and Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs).

A researcher from the contracting party or an approved researcher from the contracting party must be on the vessel at all times during this fieldwork. The vessel and crew shall comply with the research plan developed by researchers or other approved researchers at all times while operating under this contract. The vessel shall communicate with research personnel as necessary to accomplish the project. The vessel shall accommodate researchers as necessary in the collection of information. Researchers will work, where possible, to minimize impact on fishing operations. The researchers will obtain necessary permits to conduct the research and reduce enforcement risk to the vessel.

Departure dates of trips will be a joint decision between the vessel owner/skipper and the project PIs considering weather and other relevant conditions.

The terms of compensation must be determined prior to trips and may include trip-rates, day-rates, dockside-rates, fuel costs, additional insurance costs, division of catch sales to the vessel and contractors, or other costs associated with the research. Vessels contracted with DMF shall maintain strict compliance with all relevant state and federal fishery regulations. Fishery violations, or violation of the terms of this contract may result in the termination of this contract.

Appendix B: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions

Instructions for Vendors Responding to Bids

Introduction

COMMBUYS refers to all solicitations, including but not limited to Requests for

Proposals (RFP), Invitations for Bid (IFB), Requests for Response (RFR), Requests for Quote (RFQ), as “Bids.” All responses to Bids are referred to as “Quotes.”

Steps for Bidders to Submit a Quote

1. Launch the COMMBUYS website by entering the URL (www.COMMBUYS.com) into the browser.

2. Enter Bidder login credentials and click the Login button on the

COMMBUYS homepage. Bidders must be registered in COMMBUYS in order to submit a Quote. Each Vendor has a COMMBUYs Seller

Administrator, who is responsible for maintaining authorized user access to COMMBUYS.

3. Upon successful login, the Vendor home page displays with the

Navigation and Header Bar as well as the Control Center. The Control

Center is where documents assigned to your role are easily accessed and viewed.

4. Click on the Bids tab

5. Clicking on the Bid tab opens four sections:

a. Request for Revision

b. Bids/Bid Amendments

c. Open Bids

d. Closed Bids

6. Click on the blue Open Bid hyperlinks to open and review an open bid

7. A new page opens with a message requesting you acknowledge receipt of the bid. Click Yes to acknowledge receipt of the bid. Bidders should acknowledge receipt to receive any amendments/updates concerning this bid.

8. After acknowledgement, the bid will open.

The top left half of the page contains the following information:

a. Purchaser http://www.commbuys.com/

b. Department

c. Contact for this bid

d. Type of purchase

i. Open Market

ii. Blanket

e. Pre-Bid Conference details (if applicable)

f. Ship-to and Bill-to addresses

g. Any attachments to the bid, which may include essential bid terms, response forms, etc.

The top right half of the bid includes the following information:

h. Bid Date

i. Required Date

j. Bid Opening Date – date the bid closes and no further quotes will be accepted

k. Informal Bid Flag

l. Date goods/services are required

9. The lower half of the page provides information about the specific goods/services the bid is requesting.

10. Click Create Quote to begin.

11. The General tab for a new quote opens. This page is populated with some information from the bid. Fields available to update include:

a. Delivery days

b. Shipping terms

c. Ship via terms

d. Is “no” bid – select if you will not be submitting a quote for this bid

e. Promised Date

f. Info Contact

g. Comments

h. Discount Percent

i. Freight Terms

j. Payment Terms

It is important to note that the bid documents (RFR and attachments) may specify some or all of these terms and may prohibit you from altering these terms in your response. Read the bid documents carefully and fill in only those items that are applicable to the bid to which you are responding.

Update these fields as applicable to the bid and click Save & Continue to save any changes and create a Quote Number.

12. The page refreshes and messages display. Any message in Red is an error and must be resolved before the quote can be submitted. Any message in Yellow is only a warning and will allow processing to continue.

13. Click the Items tab. The Items tab displays information about the items requested in the bid. To view additional details about an item, click the item number (blue hyperlink) to open.

14. The item opens. Input all of your quote information and click Save & Exit.

15. Click on the Attachments Tab. Follow the prompts to upload and name all required attachments and forms and bid response documents in accordance with the instructions contained in the solicitation or bid documents. After uploading each individual file or form, click

Save & Continue. After you have uploaded all required documents click

Save & Exit. Be sure to review your attachments to make sure each required document has been submitted.

16. Click on the Terms & Conditions Tab. This tab refers to the terms and conditions that apply to this bid. The terms and conditions must be accepted before your quote can be submitted. If your acceptance is subject to any exceptions, those exceptions must be identified here.

Exceptions cannot contradict the requirements of the RFR, or required

Commonwealth standard forms and attachments for the bid. For instance, an RFR may specify that exceptions may or will result in disqualification of your bid.

17. Click the Summary tab. Review the information and update/correct, as needed. If the information is correct, click the Submit Quote button at the bottom of the page.

18. A popup window displays asking for verification that you wish to submit your quote. Click OK to submit the quote.

19. The Summary tab redisplays with an updated Status for the quote of Submitted.

20. Your quote submission is confirmed only when you receive a confirmation email from COMMBUYS. If you have submitted a quote and have not received an email confirmation, please contact the COMMBUYS Help Desk at COMMBUYS@state.ma.us.

If you wish to revise or delete a quote after submission, you may do so in

COMMBUYS: (1) for a formal bid, prior to the bid opening date, or (2) for an informal bid (which may be viewed upon receipt), prior to the opening of your quote by the issuing entity or the bid opening date, whichever is earlier.

Bidders may not submit Multiple Quotes in response to a Bid unless the Bid authorizes Multiple Quote submissions. If you submit multiple quotes in response to a bid that does not allow multiple quotes, only the latest submission prior to the bid opening date will be evaluated.

mailto:COMMBUYS@state.ma.us

Attachment C: Commercial Fishing Vessel Bidders Data Sheet

Vessel Name: _______________________Captain’s Name:______________________________

Vessel Owner and Address: ________________________________________________

Usual Port:__________________________ Other Ports:________________________________

Federal Permit Number:___________________MA State Permit ID: __________________

Gear types vessel is rigged for: _____________________________________________________

Vessel Specifications

LOA: ___________________________________

Engine type & horsepower: _________

Number of net reels (Trawlers): ___

Life raft capacity: _____________________

Is 120 VAC power available on your vessel (choose one)? Yes No

Is covered space available to protect scientific equipment? Yes No

Does the vessel have an A-frame? Yes No

Is the A-frame articulating? Yes No

Does the vessel have an up-to-date Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety

Decal?

Yes No

Does the vessel has the ability to support a live well (adequate deck space and a deck hose)?

Yes No

Other vessel characteristics or information or comments:

(For example, does the vessel have acoustic net sensors, fuel usage monitoring devices, etc.?)