Aquarium Maintenance Services

The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research is seeking aquarium maintenance services for a 125-gallon bowfront saltwater coral reef aquarium located in their Silver Spring, MD facility. The contractor will be responsible for comprehensive maintenance, including biweekly to three-week service visits that encompass livestock health monitoring, water chemistry management, filtration system maintenance, waste removal, and aesthetic cleaning. Contractors must be prepared to provide 40-50 gallons of Reverse Osmosis/Deionized water monthly, undergo background checks, and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). The initial period of performance is scheduled from March 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, with potential for up to four additional option years. Interested vendors must submit proposals that demonstrate capability to manage the complex saltwater ecosystem, provide supplemental water and replacement livestock, and coordinate access to the restricted NOAA facility.

The pre-solicitation notice is designated as a total small business set-aside, targeting small business contractors within the Zoos and Botanical Gardens NAICS category (712130). While no incumbent contractor is identified in the documents, the monthly service requirements will involve invoicing for service visits, with separate billing for components and livestock at market prices. The aquarium maintenance contract will require precise technical capabilities, including managing a multimodal filtration system with custom sump reservoir, temperature control, and programmed water flow. Contractors must be able to deliver 4-5 forty-pound water containers biweekly and provide their own saltwater for exchanges. The facility requires strict adherence to access protocols, with service hours limited to 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and payment will be processed via direct bank deposit. Specific details about the total contract value are not explicitly stated in the pre-solicitation documents.