HI PAC REEFS NWR COMPLX - Small Vessel Charter Ser

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a small vessel charter service to support research and monitoring activities at Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Marine National Monument, located approximately 160 miles east of Pago Pago. The contract requires a vessel capable of transporting up to six researchers, managers, and their equipment, with specific technical capabilities including a minimum 8-knot cruising speed, 10-day fuel capacity, and appropriate storage and communication equipment. The vessel must be operated by a captain and crew experienced in navigating Samoan waters and challenging lagoon channels. Proposals will be evaluated using a lowest price technically acceptable methodology, with quotes originally due on March 25, 2025, but subsequently extended to April 4, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. The solicitation requires the vessel to support fieldwork involving monitoring of various species including plants, seabirds, sea turtles, fish, coral, and insects.

The contract is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 483112 (Deep Sea Passenger Transportation), with a small business size standard of 1,500 employees. The contract period spans five years, consisting of a base year from April 14, 2025, to April 13, 2026, with four additional option years extending potentially to April 13, 2030. The place of performance is Honolulu, Hawaii, with vessel operations primarily conducted around Rose Atoll and potential stops at Ofu and Tau Islands. The contractor will be expected to conduct up to eight trips annually, with trip durations ranging from two to eight days. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the contract involves providing marine transportation services for scientific research and conservation efforts in a remote and environmentally sensitive marine ecosystem.