DOIGFBO250050_Electrofishing_Boat_RFI_1.pdf

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT FOR ELECTROFISHING

BOAT

General Information

Solicitation Number: DOIGFBO250050

Release of RFI Date: 7/11/2025 Required Responses Due Date: 7/18/2025

Set Aside: TBD

NAICS Code: 336612 – Boat Building

This is a Request for Information (RFI) (Sources Sought) only and is not a solicitation for a contract or grant award. This RFI notice is for information purposes only, is not a request for proposals, and does not obligate the Government in any way. A request for proposals may or may not result from this request. The Government will not reimburse the respondents for any costs associated with the information submitted in response to this request. The Government will treat each submission in confidence.

SOURCES SOUGHT: Responses from large and small businesses are encouraged, however, in accordance with FAR 19.5, set asides for small business; the government will review the information in this announcement to determine the type of set aside (if any) for this requirement.

Provide the size status and socioeconomic designation (e.g. hubzone, 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB) of your company based on NAICS 336612. Please identify your socioeconomic business status and if you are on the GSA schedule.

All questions about the RFI shall be directed by email to the point of contact listed below.

Responses shall be sent via electronic mail (email) to:

Brian Baker Contracting Officer bfbaker@usgs.gov

Background

The USGS, Cooperative Research Units in Reston, VA requests the purchase of a custom electrofishing boat. The primary use is to support the field program of the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (NCCFWRU) for sampling fishes in small freshwater waterbodies. This boat will be customized to have hardwired electrical components and attachments necessary for electrofishing to immobilize and nonlethally sample fishes for research objectives associated with fisheries management, aquatic sciences, and resource conservation. The immediate use of the boat is to support research in small, upland rivers in the NC Piedmont and Appalachian Mountains, which requires a small boat electrofishing boat with a modularized design where weight can be rapidly decreased to portage through shallow shoals. Further, the NCCFWRU undertakes a diversity of research projects on behalf of our state and federal sponsoring agencies, so a modularized design capable of removing the front cage, and electrofishing equipment is necessary depending on the project. Finally, this boat is part of a fleet at the NCCFWRU where specialized electrofishing equipment needs to be compatible and interchangeable with existing equipment (control-boxes, specialized electrofishing equipment) at the NCCFWRU to maximize efficiency and data standardization.

Purpose and Objectives

The USGS is seeking information from companies with boat building and electrofishing expertise to determine if there is interchangeability between brands of electrofishing control boxes and electrofishing boats without the need for extra adapters or wiring harnesses. Is there an industry standard for types of connectors, size requirements, safety features, capabilities, or does each manufacture use a proprietary design.

Information Requested

Interested parties should submit a written response which addresses the following topics:

1. Organization information: Organization name and address, point of contact, email address, phone number, size of organization.

2. Capabilities: Provide a brief description of your capabilities and prior experience relevant to this RFI to provide the required technical requirements.

3. Price Estimate: Provide a rough estimate of the time required, and subsequent cost, to build a boat in accordance with the technical specifications.

Technical Specifications

The boat must have the following specifications

Must meet USCG guidelines Custom 14ft long, with 60-inch bottom Approx. 36-inch front deck Cross brace forms rear lip; weep holes; Cross brace forms rear lip;

weep holes; Open storage underneath All welded, 0.125” – 0.190” marine grade aluminum Aluminum tread plate floor All stainless-steel hardware Hull must be flat front and flat bottom design to traverse shallow water Longitudinal bracing on bottom and sides; with single cross rib brace at bow 24-inch sides; 20-inch transom Rear sponsons with flotation Stern must be rated for 60 HP outboard motor 1 ½” drain hole

Transducer mounting bracket 6 gang fuse panel Navigation lights, horn and fire extinguisher 750gph bilge pump and switch One group 24 marine battery; tray Storage:

o Side console steer with shock box tray Seat on storage box o Rear storage at stern

Custom modularized design for reducing weight and maximizing versatility allowing the boat to be converted from electrofishing boat to regular work boat.

o Removable bow safety rail (shocking cage) OSHA approved maximum 42” height from front deck

1” inside aluminum pipe, 0.133” wall, 1.315” nominal OD o Two push out electrofishing booms 2” outside diameter, ¼” wall

Crafted from combination fiberglass and thermosetting polyester resin with UV inhibitors all non-conductive for added safety

No aluminum conduit used for maximum safety Boom tip connection - socket design to prevent electrocution hazard Heavy jacketed 10 ga conductor wires adjustable j-hook boom hangers on bow safety rail corner uprights Removable o Two snagless anode arrays 3/4” sold rod aluminum fingers; 24” span 3/16” stainless steel cables twelve 1” stainless steel anode dropper tubes; removable o 5”x7” foot pedal safety switch For compatibility purposes with existing electrofishing fleet and equipment, must be compatible with Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems high-voltage electrofishing equipment and control boxes (models Infinity, HC-80 Infinity) without any unnecessary adaptations, loss of function, or risk of damaging the control boxes.

o High voltage wiring system crafted from high density polyamide o waterproof connections, UV resistant, and rated for 32 A o nitrile o-rings and silicone rubber sealing gaskets o machined solid brass, nickel plated contacts o positive locating keyways only terminate into correct receptacles o UL (Underwriters Laboratories), CSA (Canadian Standard Association), VDE Verband der

Elektrotechnik) approved 4kw powered / generator o Moored to floor o Fueled, oiled, tested with electrofishing system

Custom trailer

Trailer must be compatible with electrofishing vessel Single axle Aluminum I beam construction Single 3500lb axle 2-inch coupler; 4 flat light connector Safety chains; swivel jack stand and wheel Winch with strap

LED lights Synthetic side bunks Roller bottom bunks Transom straps Trailer wheels and tires; mounted spare and tire to match