HI-PMNM-SMALL VESSEL CHARTER-April

The Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting quotations for small vessel charter services to support fieldwork and invasive species removal operations on Nihoa Island within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The vessel must transport up to 12 passengers from Oahu, Hawaii to Nihoa Island, land personnel and equipment for field camps lasting 1 to 16 days, provide accommodations and meals throughout the charter period, and safely extract all personnel and equipment for return to Oahu. The contracting vessel must demonstrate extensive experience operating in open ocean and adverse sea conditions, possess a minimum 8-knot cruising speed, carry soft-hulled inflatable boats with trained operators, and maintain comprehensive accommodations including separate male and female berths, potable water capacity of at least 4,000 gallons, and dual heads and showers. Evaluation will prioritize technical acceptability, with past performance as the primary factor, followed by price evaluation for reasonableness, and award will be made to the responsible offeror with the lowest evaluated price meeting acceptable technical standards without discussions or tradeoffs. The quotation deadline is April 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT, with questions due three days prior, and all responses must be submitted electronically to Robert_Sung@fws.gov with solicitation number 140F0S26Q0024 in the subject line.

This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside with NAICS code 483111 (Deep Sea Freight Transportation) and a size standard of 500 employees, though women-owned small business and economically disadvantaged women-owned small business vendors may also qualify. The contract period of performance is April 25, 2026 through May 5, 2026, representing a single trip to Nihoa Island with a firm fixed price structure. The vessel must comply with all Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument biosecurity protocols, including visual inspections for invasive species, rodent and ant detector dog inspections within 48 hours of departure, and hull inspections within 14 days of the voyage. Insurance requirements include wreck removal and pollution coverage of at least $500,000 for each person, occurrence, and property damage, and the vessel must demonstrate full compliance with MARPOL waste management standards. The place of performance is Oahu, Hawaii, serving as the departure and return port for all operations.