Misty Barge towing, Tongass National Forest

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service seeks towing services for the Misty Barge from Winstanley Island in Behm Canal to Shelter Cove remote dock in Carroll Inlet near Ketchikan, Alaska, with proposals due June 18, 2026 at 1200 Alaska Standard Time. The procurement is a Total Small Business set-aside.

Place of performance is Ketchikan, Alaska. The primary scope requires towing a 61-foot steel-hulled vessel weighing approximately 90 tons with an attached two-story wood-framed barracks structure and four associated floats. The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, and transportation. Secondary requirements include providing 100 gallons of diesel fuel for on-board generators and cleaning deck debris upon arrival. The contract includes an option to tow the barge from Shelter Cove to Wrangell Harbor, with performance extending through November 30, 2026 if exercised. Period of performance for the primary scope runs from award through July 2, 2026, with earlier performance preferred.

Key contractor responsibilities include coordinating the tow schedule with the Contracting Officer's Representative 48 hours prior to transportation, disconnecting and securing all lines anchors floats and deck items, closing all hatches and vents, and ensuring proper moorage per the attached site development plan. The captain must hold an active endorsed license; the towing vessel must have current USCG registration with certified documentation submitted 21 days prior to assigning any captain other than the one initially proposed. NAICS code is 483113, Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation; PSC code is V125.

Evaluation criteria are (1) Technical Capabilities—captain licensing and vessel/equipment identification including Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection; (2) Past Performance—quality, timeliness, and customer satisfaction on relevant efforts within the past three years; and (3) Price as the primary factor for award. The contract is Firm-Fixed Price, Requirements, Non-Personal Services. Delivery is FOB Destination, Ketchikan, Alaska. Amendment 0001 (effective June 12, 2026) extended the offer due date from June 12 to June 18 and changed the option description from Shoal Cove to Wrangell Harbor.