SPECS FOR GCRL REEF AUGMENTATION #2.pdf

Bid # 26‐27

RFX 3160007916

University of Southern Mississippi

Lease Area Oyster Reef Plot Augmentation #2

1.0 Introduction

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is seeking to procure a contractor to augment multiple oyster reef plots within one-acre areas (2 per lease area) within four 50-acre sites, using surficial enhancements of #57 limestone gravel to the designated plots at a time TBD in the spring-summer of 2026.

2.0 Specifications

2.1 GENERAL PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Adherence to timing and precision of gravel applications within delineated plots is critical to the success of this project. Prescribed quantities of material must be spread evenly across created reef plots as defined by geolocated maps of the plots to be provided by the project manager. Areas enclosing plots are defined by GPS coordinates within the NAD83 CRS as specified in Tables 1 and 2 below. The contractor must immediately notify USM project manager of any anticipated deviation from the specified times and placements of gravel application, and remediation pursued. A quality control procedure involving side-scan sonar imagery before and after the application period will ensure specifications were followed.

Vendor should quote the lead time required for obtaining the materials and conducting the work for the quoted contract. All required materials for the augmentation should be acquired as a one-time purchase. Required permits have been obtained by the contractee. Sealed bid responses to be received by 2:00 PM CDT on Thursday, March 19, 2026 (see specifications below).

2.2 REQUIREMENTS

The following specifications are to ensure that the contractor performs the tasks necessary to satisfy the project’s objectives. Any deviation from the following specifications must be explained, justified and rectified.

Bidder shall meet or exceed the following specifications:

• four 50-acre site areas o see Figs 1-3, below o two in western MS Sound and two in Eastern MS Sound o Geographic coordinates of site areas specified in table 1 below o Eight one-acre bounded pre-existing plots areas per site

▪ six of which contain established base reefs

• Base reefs for 24 reef plots were created within one-acre bounded areas o Within six one-acre areas at each of the four sites o Base reefs were completed in two phases in spring and summer of 2024

▪ One site was completed within each region of MS Sound during each phase

▪ Each base reef plot was constructed using 800 cubic yards of number 4 limestone gravel

• To fulfill this bid, surficial enhancement of the designated reef plots will be conducted at a time TBD in spring-summer of 2026 (TBD - April-July 2026)

• The first augmentation of two plots per area occurred in late May 2025 o The same two plots (plots 5 & 7) within each of the four sites were augmented during the May 2025 event

• The time window for the second augmentation event will be arranged between contractee and contractor o Surficial enhancement of 2 of the 6 base reef plots

▪ For the same two plots (plots 3 & 4) within each of the four sites (See Figs. 4-5 below)

▪ even dispersion of surficial enhancement material across the reef-plot areas

▪ 100 cubic yards of No. 57 limestone per reef plot

▪ The four other base reef plots at each site did not receive any enhancement during this event

▪ the two control plots lacking base reefs at each site did not receive any enhancement o GPS coordinates for individual plot-area boundaries are predetermined

▪ Geo-referenced side-scan profiles of base reef plots within base-reef plot areas are available from the contractee (e.g., Fig. 5b).

▪ See Tables 1 and 2 below for GPS coordinates for lease areas and reef-plot area boundaries in NAD83 CRS

• Or alternatively, in NAD 83 Mississippi State Plane feet

▪ See Figures 4 and 5 below for layout configurations of reef plot areas and reef plots within 50-acre sites:

• Plot areas (one-acre) arranged near perimeter of 50-acre site areas o Areas of bare substrate interdigitate with reef- plots o Independence of treatments is thereby maintained

• Reef Material for augmentation o #57 LIMESTONE GRAVEL – particle size = 0.5" – 1.0"

▪ Estimated 1 cu yd = 1.2 ton

▪ Total particle size range of 3/16 – 1.5”

▪ Gravel largely consists of 3/8 - 1.0” range o To be applied to two reef plots per one-acre plot area (see Tables 1 and 2, and Figs. 4 and 5 below) o applications of limestone gravel enhancement to be dispersed evenly across existing base reef profiles

▪ i.e., previous base plots of 800 cubic yards of #4 limestone

• deposited within predefined boundaries of 1-acre plot areas

▪ even application of surficial enhancement treatments on existing base reef plots

• 100 cubic yards of #57 limestone gravel per each reef plot

• Plot specifications o Six plot areas per site have existing base reefs o Two of the six reef plots at each site will receive the surficial enhancement

▪ i.e., two reef plots per site area will receive surficial enhancements

▪ four site areas × two reef plots = 8 total reef plots to be enhanced for this bid o Labor and deployment costs:

▪ Surficial enhancement to be deployed in late spring to mid-summer of 2026 (t2)

(see Fig 5)

• Reef plots 3 and 4 to be enhanced at each of the four sites

▪ This application constitutes the second surficial enhancement treatment at designated time, t2

• Performance criteria:

o Prescribed quantities of material should be spread evenly across created base reef plots situated within plot area boundaries

▪ Base reef profiles are roughly doughnut shaped within plot area boundaries

(Fig. 5b)

• Barges were tethered to reef plot center and moved around via small tug while distributing base-reef rocks

• Base reefs provide the targets for this augmentation o Timing of gravel applications should occur within a designated bi-weekly period o Spatial accuracy of applications to within 10 m of designated reef plot edges o Contractor must immediately notify USM project manager of any anticipated deviation from the specified times and placements of gravel application o A quality control procedure will ensue before and following each application period to ensure applications adhered to specifications o Non-compliance with contract specifications subject to nonpayment

Table 1. GPS coordinates (CRS = NAD83), for site boundary corners. Subtidal depth ranges for sites:

UEBN = 3-6 feet; UEBS = 5-8 feet; UEPW = 5-6 feet; UEPE = 4-5 feet.

Zone Lease Site Corner Latitude Longitude

Bay St. Louis Northern UEBN NE 30.3050 -89.2986

Bay St. Louis Northern UEBN SE 30.3009 -89.2986

Bay St. Louis Northern UEBN SW 30.3009 -89.3034

Bay St. Louis Northern UEBN NW 30.3050 -89.3034

Bay St. Louis Southern UEBS NE 30.2626 -89.3041

Bay St. Louis Southern UEBS SE 30.2576 -89.3041

Bay St. Louis Southern UEBS SW 30.2576 -89.3089

Bay St. Louis Southern UEBS NW 30.2626 -89.3089

W Pascagoula R Eastern UEPE NE 30.3331 -88.6470

W Pascagoula R Eastern UEPE SE 30.3289 -88.6490

W Pascagoula R Eastern UEPE SW 30.3304 -88.6533

W Pascagoula R Eastern UEPE NW 30.3348 -88.6512

W Pascagoula R Western UEPW NE 30.3383 -88.6615

W Pascagoula R Western UEPW SE 30.3343 -88.6615

W Pascagoula R Western UEPW SW 30.3343 -88.6664

W Pascagoula R Western UEPW NW 30.3383 -88.6664

Table 2. Specification of coordinates for plot area corner along with their Plot ID numbers and positions within designated site areas (see figures below) – Reef plots are numbered from left to right starting from upper left corner of each site area and going across and down – corners of plot areas: UL – upper left; UR upper right; LL – lower left; LR - lower right. NA – not applicable; Base – base reef 800 cubic yards per acre applied in spring and summer of 2024 (~6” base depth) (i.e., at time 0); Second enhancement = 100 cubic yards/acre application of # 57 limestone gravel (i.e., at time 2) (see diagram below). GPS coordinate reference system (crs) = NAD83. For this bid, plot numbers 3 and 4 (in bold) are designated for surficial enhancement within each of the four sites.

Zone Relative Postn

Site Label

Plot

ID

Enhancement Spring (2025)

UL

Lat

UL

Long

UR

Lat

UR

Long

LL

Lat

LL

Long

LR

Lat

LR

Long

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-1 NA 30.304381 -89.302653 30.304381 -89.301993 30.303810 -89.302653 30.303810 -89. 301993

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-2 NA 30.304381 -89.301333 30.304381 -89.300673 30.303810 -89.301333 30.303810 -89.300673

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-3 NA 30.304381 -89.300013 30.304381 -89.299353 30.303810 -89.300013 30.303810 -89.299353

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-4 NA 30.303238 -89.302653 30.303238 -89.301993 30.302667 -89.302653 30.302667 -89.301993

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-5 YES 30.303238 -89.300013 30.303238 -89.299353 30.302667 -89.300013 30.302667 -89.299353

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-6 NA 30.302095 -89.302653 30.302095 -89.301993 30.301524 -89.302653 30.301524 -89.301993

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-7 YES 30.302095 -89.301333 30.302095 -89.300673 30.301524 -89.301333 30.301524 -89.300673

Bay St SL Northern UEBN BN-8 NA 30.302095 -89.300013 30.302095 -89.299353 30.301524 -89.300013 30.301524 -89.299353

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-1 NA 30.261533 -89.308153 30.261533 -89.307493 30.260961 -89.308153 30.260961 -89.307493

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-2 NA 30.261533 -89.306833 30.261533 -89.306173 30.260961 -89.306833 30.260961 -89.306173

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-3 NA 30.261533 -89.305513 30.261533 -89.304853 30.260961 -89.305513 30.260961 -89.304853

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-4 NA 30.260390 -89.308153 30.260390 -89.307493 30.259818 -89.308153 30.259818 -89.307493

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-5 YES 30.260390 -89.305513 30.260390 -89.304853 30.259818 -89.305513 30.259818 -89.304853

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-6 NA 30.259247 -89.308153 30.259247 -89.307493 30.258675 -89.308153 30.258675 -89.307493

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-7 YES 30.259247 -89.306833 30.259247 -89.306173 30.258675 -89.306833 30.258675 -89.306173

Bay St SL Southern UEBS BS-8 NA 30.259247 -89.305513 30.259247 -89.304853 30.258675 -89.305513 30.258675 -89.304853

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-1 NA 30.337731 -88.665604 30.337731 -88.664944 30.337159 -88.665604 30.337159 -88.664944

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-2 NA 30.337731 -88.664284 30.337731 -88.663624 30.337159 -88.664284 30.337159 -88.663624

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-3 NA 30.337731 -88.662964 30.337731 -88.662304 30.337159 -88.662964 30.337159 -88.662304

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-4 NA 30.336588 -88.665604 30.336588 -88.664944 30.336016 -88.665604 30.336016 -88.664944

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-5 YES 30.336588 -88.662964 30.336588 -88.662304 30.336016 -88.662964 30.336016 -88.662304

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-6 NA 30.335445 -88.665604 30.335445 -88.664944 30.334873 -88.665604 30.334873 -88.664944

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-7 YES 30.335442 -88.664284 30.335445 -88.663624 30.334873 -88.664284 30.334873 -88.663624

Pascagoula Western UEPW PW-8 NA 30.335445 -88.662964 30.335445 -88.662304 30.334873 -88.662964 30.334873 -88.662304

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-1 NA 30.333642 -88.651054 30.333422 -88.650444 30.333112 -88.651314 30.332892 -88.650704

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-2 NA 30.333212 -88.649834 30.332992 -88.649224 30.332672 -88.650084 30.332462 -88.649464

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-3 NA 30.332772 -88.648614 30.332552 -88.648004 30.332242 -88.648864 30.332032 -88.648244

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-4 NA 30.332582 -88.651574 30.332372 -88.650954 30.332052 -88.651824 30.331842 -88.651204

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-5 YES 30.331712 -88.649104 30.331502 -88.648494 30.331182 -88.649344 30.330972 -88.648724

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-6 NA 30.331522 -88.652074 30.331312 -88.651464 30.330992 -88.652324 30.330767 -88.651714

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-7 YES 30.331102 -88.650844 30.330902 -88.650224 30.330572 -88.651104 30.330352 -88.650494

Pascagoula Eastern UEPE PE-8 NA 30.330692 -88.649604 30.330482 -88.648984 30.330162 -88.649854 30.329952 -88.649234

Fig. 1. Four site Locations (yellow boxes) in Mississippi Sound.

Fig. 2. Site Locations (yellow boxes) in Eastern MS Sound

Fig 3. Site Locations (yellow boxes) in Western MS Sound

Figure 4. Study design showing plot areas numbered from left to right starting at upper left and going across and down: top row from left to right: Plot 1, Plot 2, Plot 3; middle row from left to right: Plot 4, Plot 5; bottom row from left to right: Plot 6, Plot 7, Plot 8. For this bid, plot areas 3 and 4 are designated for surficial enhancement within each of the four sites. See table 1 for coordinates of site corners and table 2 for coordinates of plot area corners, site diagrams, and treatment designations.

Figure 5a. Example site area UEPW, showing layout and configuration of plots as well as base and treatment applications. This bid pertains to second augmentation treatment for plot 3 and plot 4 at each of the four sites. Relative spatial positions and plot number designations will remain the same across all four site areas. Figure 5b. Side scan sonar of base reef plots at the southern Bay Saint Louis site area. Reef plots are numbered following the standard scheme.

Note: Reef plots, BS-1 and BS-8 are reference plots (i.e., bare substrate without base reefs).

2.4 CUSTOMER SUPPORT

The vendor should be willing to work with personnel of The University of Southern Mississippi to resolve any technical issues associated with deployment of the material within acceptable tolerances. It is preferred that the vendor can provide technical service through remote access and/or on‐site technical support.

2.5 SAFETY

Prescribed and appropriate safety procedures should be followed while fulfilling the contract.

Emergency stop procedures should be established.

2.6 WARRANTY

Bidder warrants that the work performed shall be free from defects in materials used, accuracy and areal tolerance of the substrate applications. Defective or inaccurate completion of the work shall be rectified to the mutual satisfaction of the and workmanship under normal use and service with obligation to repair or replace any parts, which are proven defective, within one year from delivery.

2.7 WARRANTY

Each bid shall be accompanied by a Certified Check on a solvent bank or a Bidder’s Bond issued by a Surety Company licensed to operate in the State of Mississippi, in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total bid price, payable to the University of Southern Mississippi as bid security. Bidders shall also submit a current financial statement, if requested by the University. The successful bidder will be required to furnish a performance and payment bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract amount. Both bonds shall be signed or counter-signed by a Mississippi Resident Agent.

2.8 DELIVERY

Vendor should quote the lead time required for obtaining the materials and conducting the work for the quoted contract. All required materials for the entire project should be acquired as a one-time purchase. Quoted prices should be F.O.B. Destination Freight Allowed.

3.0 Points of Contact

For questions, contact Millissa Weaver at: millissa.stork@usm.edu or (228) 818-8001 mailto:millissa.stork@usm.edu

4.0 Submission Instructions to Bidders

One (1) signed original, two (2) copies, and one (1) portable virus/malware free electronic version (USB jump drive) of the sealed bid response (if electronic copy is not included, USM reserves the right to request an electronic copy of the exact bid response prior to review of the bid), subject to the conditions made a part hereof, will be received by 2:00 PM CDT on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in the USM/Gulf Coast Research Lab Procurement office, as indicated in the General Terms, Conditions, and Instructions to Bidders described herein. It is the responsibility of the respondent to ensure that the proposal package arrives in the Procurement Office.

Each bid must be submitted in a sealed envelope bearing on the outside the name “Bid # 26-27 University of Southern Mississippi - Lease Area Oyster Reef Plot Augmentation #2,” the name of the Vendor, and the opening date specified on the coversheet.

For US mail, FedEx, UPS, or other express couriers the proposal should be addressed as follows:

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab Attn: Millissa Weaver 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Bid #26-27

Hand‐carried responses should be brought to:

USM/Gulf Coast Research Lab Attn: Millissa Weaver Oceanography Building, Room 148 Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Bid #26-27

As an alternative to traditional sealed proposals in envelopes, the University of Southern Mississippi can receive electronic bid responses. While this option is available, it is not required, and we ask that all potential respondents keep in mind that with any electronic system there could be delays or glitches with the submission process; therefore, the University highly encourages traditional sealed responses which are either mailed or submitted in person. Additionally, the University will not be responsible for issues with attempted submissions of bids using the electronic method.

Please note that emailed bids will not be accepted.

Should a vendor choose to submit their response electronically, please follow the instructions below using the following website:

https://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Home/Sell http://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Home/Sell http://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Home/Sell

On this site you will find helpful links to procurement opportunities, as well as a link to supplier registration. If not already registered in this system, potential bidders will first need to click on ‘Supplier Registration’ and follow the steps outlined (a one‐time process). Once registered, suppliers can return to the original website and click on ‘Procurement Opportunities’ where they can either search by keyword for the bid they desire to respond to or leave the search box blank and click ‘Search’ for a listing of all current bids and proposals for the various State of Mississippi offices.

When submitting an electronic bid, the bid must be submitted in “pdf” format and shall contain the same information and forms as required for the paper bids. Electronic bids must be secured with a bid bond. When submitting a bid electronically, the authorized signature shall be an electronic signature or handwritten in blue-ink signature. If an electronically submitted bid has a corrupted attachment, the bid will be considered null and void. When bids are submitted electronically, the requirement for including a certificate of responsibility, or a statement that the bid enclosed does not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), on the exterior of the bid envelope shall be deemed in compliance by including the same information as an attachment with the electronic bid submittal.

Any bid may be withdrawn prior to scheduled time for the opening of bids or authorized postponement thereof. Any bid received after the time and date specified will not be considered.

The University of Southern Mississippi reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive any formalities.

The University of Southern Mississippi reserves the right to accept or reject optional line items included in the bid response.

Vendors are responsible for examining all specifications, terms, conditions, and instructions of this request. Failure to do so will be at Vendor’s risk.

To ensure all interested bidders receive any addenda that may be issued, proposers must email their intent to propose using the Intent to Bid link on the USM Bid Calendar under Bid 26-27 prior to the deadline to submit:

https://www.usm.edu/procurement‐contract‐services/current‐bids‐and‐sole‐source‐ notices.php https://www.usm.edu/procurement‐contract‐services/current‐bids‐and‐sole‐source‐notices.php https://www.usm.edu/procurement‐contract‐services/current‐bids‐and‐sole‐source‐notices.php