Lease of vessel

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants is conducting market research to lease a vessel for two marine scientific missions in the southern Cascadia subduction zone during summer 2025. The agency seeks a vessel at least 90 feet long, U.S. Coast Guard licensed, and capable of accommodating 8 personnel for 24-hour operations with specific technical requirements including a 15-foot vertical clearance A-frame, 3,500 lbs safe working load winch, and 400 sq ft working deck. The primary objectives involve deploying seafloor geodetic stations, transponders, and a waveglider to measure strain accumulation along the subduction megathrust interface. Responses must be submitted electronically to Vnuno@usgs.gov no later than March 31, 2025 at 12:00 Eastern Time, with submissions restricted to electronic mail only. Qualified businesses within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 488390 with annual revenues less than $47 million are invited to submit technical specifications and brochures demonstrating capability to meet the Statement of Work requirements.

The procurement is not set aside for any specific business category and will be open to all responsible sources. The vessel lease involves two primary mission components: first, deploying scientific equipment between July 21-25, 2025, and second, retrieving a waveglider near Humboldt Bay approximately 4-6 weeks after initial deployment. The missions will be conducted collaboratively with the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and University of Stuttgart. While no specific award value is mentioned, the contract will require the vessel to provide comprehensive operational support including three daily meals, advanced navigation equipment like radar and GPS, and necessary safety provisions. The scientific scope involves precise seafloor geodetic measurements, making the vessel's technical capabilities and operational readiness crucial to mission success.