NOS CO-OPS Vessel

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration intends to procure one commercial-duty fiberglass Downeast utility vessel to replace an aging response vessel used by the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), with responses to the sources sought notice due by July 9, 2026. This is not a set-aside procurement.

The vessel will support installation, maintenance, inspection, repair, and recovery of water level stations, current meter stations, meteorological sensors, and oceanographic instrumentation throughout the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Coast, Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, and nearshore coastal waters for the National Water Level Observation Network, Physical Oceanographic Real Time System, and National Current Observation Program. Delivery is FOB Destination to the NOAA Chesapeake Field Office in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The specifications require a 26-30 foot Downeast-style semi-displacement hull with hand-laid fiberglass construction and solid fiberglass bottom (cored bottoms prohibited), 9'5" minimum beam, and 30-inch maximum draft with engines raised. Twin outboard engines (Mercury, Yamaha, or Suzuki) must deliver minimum 200 HP each with stainless steel counter-rotating propellers and 140-gallon fuel capacity. Required electronics include twin Lowrance HDS PRO 16 displays, Lowrance Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 sonar, HALO24 radar, and Link-9 VHF communications. Additional systems include Seakeeper 1 gyroscopic stabilizer, 500-pound davit with capstan winch on port side, hydraulic or electric trim tabs, bow thruster, electric windlass with 22-25 lb stainless anchor, and raw water washdown system. Delivery includes a 13,000-pound tri-axle aluminum trailer with electric disc brakes and LED lighting. A one-year warranty covering hull, structural components, installed equipment, and workmanship is required, with manufacturer warranties transferred to NOAA.

Testing includes a minimum four-hour sea trial and full-load davit testing at 500 pounds. NAICS 336612 (Boat Building) applies with a 1,000-employee small business size standard. Interested sources must submit PDF responses not exceeding 5 pages, including capability demonstration, small business certifications (if applicable), and rough order of magnitude pricing to Heather L. Coleman at Heather.L.Coleman@noaa.gov by 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on July 9, 2026.