DNR Electro Fishing Boat Package ITN.docx

INVITATION TO NEGOTIATE

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIGATE AND CONTRACT WITH A SINGLE PROVIDER

Date: March 28, 2018

The State of Michigan intends to make a purchase for which it believes there is no viable alternative. The purpose of this Notice is to verify there are no possible alternatives.

Requestor: Department of Natural Resources

1. State Contact Information:

The sole point of contact concerning this Invitation to Negotiate is:

Patrick Avendt, Solicitation Manager Tx: (517) 284-5922 avendtp@michigan.gov

2. Description of Purchase: By statute, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is mandated to provide environmentally and ecologically stable wildlife and fisheries habitat. The undertaking has become more demanding and complex over the years. The Department is currently collaborating with neighboring states, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canada on research for invasive Asian Carp species to the Great Lakes Basin. Other partners on the research team are in possession of the newest technology in electro-fishing boats and generators. It is important to have consistent and standardized equipment and technique when developing research parameters.

New electrofishing technology has recently become available that allows more precise control of settings to better target specific species of interest. To efficiently capture the invasive grass carp, the DNR requires an electrofishing system with waveform controls. The new technology can be adjusted in one unit increments and allows more flexibility when adjusting the pulse rate, duty cycle, and voltage range. This is extremely important in targeted sampling of grass carp to allow us to dial-in specific frequency settings allowing for higher capture rates and detection probabilities. We also require a system that is capable of outputting continuous and pulsed DC and AC current. Currently the only system on the market that has both these abilities in a hermetically sealed unit is the Infinity Control Box through Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems. The ability to create unique waveforms is experimental in nature, but may prove to be successful in capturing certain species (e.g., Asian Carp that are invading the Great Lakes). Recently, researchers we have consulted with at Virginia Polytechnic University have had success and increased catch rates using pulsed AC settings. A recent study by the USFWS also showed value for these with greater flexibility in waveform controls (via Infinity Control boxes) specifically related to grass carp. They noted that grass carp are likely to be associated with vegetation, so utilizing different waveforms may lead to more latitude between taxis or inhibited swimming and immobilization. Thus, waveforms such as 30Hz/15%, 40Hz/20% and 300Hz/20% should be tried, especially when conductivity is too high to permit the higher duty cycles of 35 and 40%.

The unique adjustability of the infinity electrofishing system will allow further refinement of electrofishing to specifically capture grass carp in varying environments of Lake Erie proper, connected marshes, tributaries, harbors/power plant discharges, all of which will have different conductivities. The state is investing almost a million dollars in targeted removal of grass carp and we need to have a system that will do this in the most effective and flexible manner possible.

In addition, the goal of eradicating grass carp is not achievable without working with our key partners in this work, including the USFWS – Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Sandusky Fisheries Research Station. Both of these offices have newly purchased Infinity System boats from Midwest Lakes Electrofishing Systems. Based on discussions with these agencies and other manufacturers, there is no other vendor that will meet the specific needs of a system that can be fine-tuned to specifically target grass carp (and other invasive species in the future) and achieve the highest catch rates. We have evaluated other systems available on the market, and this is the only one that will meet the specific requirements of this project. This boat will then also be able to be used in future invasive species responses with the ability to utilize settings to best capture the newest invasive.

MDNR’s purchase of an Infinity electrofishing system will ensure standardization between the various agencies (as mentioned above) when performing grass carp surveys and Rapid Response Efforts in Western Lake Erie. This will allow direct capture comparisons and sharing of ideal settings. MDNR will be working in tandem with the USFWS on an MSU study testing catchability of grass carp. To ensure statistical rigor, the same units should be used in both electrofishing units used in this research. By standardizing the control boxes of our vessels across agencies, we can conduct a survey with multiple vessels and achieve identical electrical out-put parameters. This will allow staff to summarize catch/effort collectively rather than individually, which would be the case, if each vessel is outfitted with a different system.

Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems in the sole manufacturer and supplier of Infinity Control Box Electrofishing Systems and boats specifically designed around this system. They are the only ones who can incorporate the MLES system into the boat. Wiring for these systems are built into the boat during manufacturing periods. This ensures that all electrical connections are water and weather resistant, which is of utmost importance when dealing with electricity on the water. They are also the only ones with a water proof control box. Although the state has purchased electrofishing boats from Oquawka and other manufacturers in the past, they cannot supply and install the Infinity Box. In addition, there is cause for concerns over the quality of Oquawka boats recently. Over the past six years the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has purchased two boats built by Oquawka. The first was an electrofishing pontoon boat built in 2011. This boat had several manufacturing flaws which required additional fabricating after the boat had been purchased; including welding an additional pontoon in the middle of the boat for proper floatation. In 2013, the USFWS Alpena office purchased another boat from Oquawka. Due to manufacturing flaws highlighted by the staff, Oquawka employees had to come to the USFWS office with a mobile trailer and perform welding and grinding on the boat to meet specifications. Furthermore, the boat trailer constructed by Oquawka had major manufacturing flaws which caused brake failure and improper tongue weight capacity, resulting in a safety hazard for the crew. The manufacturing flaws described resulted in safety concerns and additional costs and cause concern about purchasing another boat from this company.

3. Mandatory Minimum Requirement: The Contractor must be the manufacturer or the authorized dealer/distributor for the Infinity Control Electro-Fishing Systems as manufactured by Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems. The State reserves the right to independently verify authorized dealer / distributor or certified repair service provider status.

4. Commodity Code References: 12037 – Fish Locators and Shockers

5. Description of Action: This action is to create a purchase order for a one-time purchase of an electro-fishing boat, electronic generators and controls, outboard boat engine, and trailer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division.

6. Intended Source: Midwest Lake Management, Inc., 7561 SW Prairie Ridge Rd., Polo, MO 64671 in the amount for the full boat package:

· 21 Ft. All welded aluminum plate boat USCG approved

· Hummingbird Helix 10Sonar/BPS Comb

· Infinity Control Box Electro-Fishing Unit**

· Monitors, Displays and Controls

· 7KW Honda Generator with inverter technology

· Two collapsible anode arrays

· Two pivot/swing electrofishing booms

· Twin Mercury 90 HP outboard engines

· Galvanized tandem axle trailer

· All related options and controls for a complete, operational electro-fishing vessel with engines and trailer as per quotation dated January 23, 2018.

** Proprietary technology

7. Questions: Questions concerning the Invitation to Negotiate must be emailed to the Solicitation Manager or posted on www.michigan.gov/sigmavss no later than Monday, April 2, 2018 at 5:00 p.m., eastern time In the interest of transparency, only written questions will be accepted. Answers to questions will be posted on www.michigan.gov/sigmavss.

Responders should submit their questions using the following format:

8. Response Deadline: Any potential bidder who does not agree that this good or service is available only from the intended source, must submit a response to the Solicitation Manger by Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 5:00 p.m., eastern time. The response must be in writing and describe the product or service being offered as an equivalent.