Attachment_Specifications_Amend_0001_0001.pdf

Statement of Need

HCFRU – ROV and USV

1. General overview

The USGS, Cooperative Research Units in Reston, VA, supporting the Ecosystems Mission Area requests the purchase of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and an unmanned surface vessel (USV). The primary use of this equipment is to support the field science program of the Hawaii Cooperative Fishery Research Unit (HCFRU) for assessing fishery resources in state waters. The ROV will be primarily deployed to conduct underwater visual surveys of fishes and habitat on photic (<40 m deep) and mesophotic (40-150 m deep) reefs around the state. The USV will be used to conduct habitat and water quality surveys; act as a mobile acoustic telemetry receiver station; conduct acoustic surveys of fish populations; and deploy light traps in coastal and nearshore environments to survey larval fishes. This equipment will serve as force multipliers for the HCFRU, allowing more surveys to be conducted with smaller numbers of personnel and increasing the spatial and temporal scope of surveys that previously were constrained by the physical limitations of divers and boat operators.

2. ROV Technical Requirements

Brand Name or Equal (BNE): Blue Robotics BlueROV2

The ROV must meet or exceed the following operational and performance standards:

• Operating Depth and Payload: Pressure-rated enclosure with a minimum depth rating of 300 m and a net payload capacity of at least 2.0 lbs at depth.

• Propulsion and Speed: Multi-thruster configuration offering full 6-degree-of-freedom maneuvering (vectored horizontal and dedicated vertical thrust) with active pitch and roll stabilization capable of maintaining a forward speed of at least 2.5 knots in coastal currents.

• Tether and Control Interface: Minimum 200-m umbilical with integrated reel/spool and top-side interface equipment for real-time control and telemetry pass-through.

• Lighting: Integrated adjustable/dimmable LED lighting capable of producing a minimum total output of 6,000 lumens, depth-rated to at least 300 m, and positioned to provide wide-angle illumination for visual transects.

• Imaging: Underwater stereo camera system rated to a minimum operating depth of 300 m, featuring dual sensors with a minimum resolution of 1080p (or ≥12 MP for static imaging), global shutter sensors, and an integrated network interface, e.g., Gigabit

Ethernet. The system must provide calibrated baseline separation sufficient for 3D photogrammetry, habitat classification, and non-invasive fish length measurement at distances ≤ 5 m. This system is intended for scientific data capture and off-line/local processing, operating independently of the primary pilot navigation stream.

• Pilot Navigation Camera: In addition to the stereo camera system, the ROV must feature a dedicated, low-latency forward-facing navigation camera and associated mounting hardware (if necessary). The camera must feature an integrated USB interface (e.g., USB 2.0/3.0 with onboard H.264/MJPEG hardware encoding), a wide diagonal field of view (≥ 110° in water), low-light sensitivity (≤ 0.1 lux), and a pressure rating equal to or exceeding the ROV’s maximum depth rating (300 m). The video stream must route through the primary topside interface to provide real-time pilot feedback independent of the stereo camera system.

• Portability: Highly portable form factor with a total dry weight (including frame, ballast, and standard internal battery/power system) not exceeding 35 lbs.

• Sonar Compatibility: Mechanically and electrically capable of integrating commercial 3D/side-scan sonar units for seabed mapping. Specifically, the ROV must allow for the integration of the HCFRU’s existing Cerulean Omniscan 450 SS side scan sonar.

• Software and Architecture: Open-source or fully customizable control software/operating systems allowing user integration of custom sensors.

3. USV Technical Requirements

Brand Name or Equal (BNE): Blue Robotics BlueBoat Uncrewed Surface Vessel

The USV must meet or exceed the following operational and performance standards:

• Hull Design and Deployability: Stable multi-hull or catamaran design optimized for single-person handling and launch from small craft or shore. Must be compact or modular/foldable for transport and have a dry weight (excluding mission payload and main power) not exceeding 35 lbs.

• Visibility: Painted or constructed in a high-visibility, safety-standard color (e.g., high-visibility orange or fluorescent yellow-green) suitable for coastal surface navigation.

Must include an integrated 360° low-power LED all-around/warning light and provide external power/penetrator ports to support user-installed port/starboard navigation lights.

• Payload and Power: Minimum instrument and battery payload capacity of 30 lbs, with an operational battery endurance of at least 18 hours at nominal survey speed.

• Communications and Telemetry: Multi-mode communication system supporting short/medium-range line-of-sight wireless control (minimum 200 m omnidirectional, 800 m directional) with backup cellular or satellite telemetry capability.

• Integration Interfaces: Onboard control computing hardware providing standard industrial/scientific I/O interfaces (including multiple UART/Serial, Ethernet, USB, and Analog-to-Digital conversion channels) to interface third-party environmental sensors.

• Surface Navigation Camera: The USV must be equipped with a low-latency, forward-facing surface navigation camera featuring a direct USB interface (with onboard H.264/MJPEG hardware encoding), wide diagonal Field of View (≥ 120° in air), and a fully waterproof enclosure (minimum of an IP68 rating). The video stream must integrate seamlessly into the primary topside ground control software over the primary wireless telemetry link for real-time remote piloting and obstacle avoidance.

• Payload Compatibility: Capable of mounting surface video monitoring cameras, side-scan/3D sonar units, and environmental monitoring payloads. Specifically, the USV must allow for the integration of the HCFRU’s existing Cerulean Omniscan 450 SS side scan sonar.

• Software: Open-source or customizable mission-planning software for autonomous path planning, waypointing, and sensor data logging.

4. System Interoperability, Logistics, and Data Standardization:

• Power Infrastructure Standardization: To ensure operational efficiency during remote island deployments, the ROV and USV platforms must utilize identical, field-swappable battery module formats and shared battery charging infrastructure.

• IT and Security: The ROV and USV platforms must utilize a unified topside control interface (hardware and software) capable of monitoring and controlling both vehicles using open-source or non-proprietary control software, eliminating the need for separate proprietary software suites. Systems must comply with Department of the Interior (DOI) IT security guidelines and satisfy data requirements for field offloading, processing, and long-term archiving. Specifically, the system shall be capable of incorporating at least 1 TB of removable onboard storage (e.g., high-endurance NVMe SSD or microSD) to enable direct physical offloading at high speeds (USB 3.2 Gen 2 or equivalent).

Additionally, the system must deliver real-time HD video streaming (minimum 720p @ 30 fps) via wireless/tether telemetry and record all spatial, positioning, and environmental sensor data in open, non-proprietary formats compliant with USGS Fundamental Science Practices (SM 502.6).

• Assembly and Payload Integration Requirements: The contractor shall be solely responsible for the complete physical assembly, wiring, and software configuration of both the ROV and USV platforms. This includes the custom mechanical mounting, electrical integration, and software calibration of the specialized 1080p dual-sensor stereo imaging system and the Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) Cerulean Omniscan 450 SS side-scan sonar. The contractor must perform a documented vacuum/pressure test or hydrostatic test on all watertight enclosures to verify structural integrity to the specified depth ratings before delivery. The government will reject any partial or disassembled component kits.