Amendment Two to Autonomous Surface Vehicle Procurement

This is the second amendment to a firm fixed-price procurement by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for one Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) and associated components for the Maryland Geological Survey. The USV must be a monohull vessel not exceeding two meters in length and one meter in width, capable of autonomous navigation and remote control operation in water depths of one to six feet, with capability in enclosed basins up to 100 feet. The system requires integrated components including an industrial operating system, Wi-Fi communications, forward-looking camera, dual battery sets with charger, motors, automatic deploy SVP/CTD winch with logging system, portable 3D side scan imaging and swath bathymetry system with through-hull mounting, dual GNSS receivers with RTK/PPK capability, sonar-control and bathymetry-display software, and shipping crate. The system will be delivered to the Maryland Geological Survey in Baltimore. Bids are due January 16, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time via the eMMA electronic procurement platform. A virtual pre-bid conference was held on November 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., with questions due by December 2, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. This is a single-award, one-time purchase with no renewal options.

Bidders must demonstrate three years of experience designing, integrating, or delivering autonomous or remotely operated marine systems and at least two successful deliveries of similar USV or hydrographic survey systems to government or commercial customers within the past five years. Bidders must provide profit and loss statements and balance sheets for the past two years and carry comprehensive insurance including $1 million commercial general liability with $3 million annual aggregate, worker's compensation, inland marine/cargo insurance at 110% of contract value, $1 million water liability, and automobile/truck insurance, with all policies issued by Maryland-authorized carriers and the State listed as additional insured. The scope includes post-customization, system integration, calibration, field testing, manufacturer-provided on-site training, and manufacturer's warranty. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. No MBE or VSBE subcontracting goals apply, and the contract contains no federal funding. Bidders must register with eMMA and the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation before submission, and all three amendments issued must be acknowledged per COMAR 21.05.02.01(C).