Rigid inflatable boat, engine and trailer

The Department of Agriculture's Farm Production and Conservation Business Center is procuring a complete rigid inflatable boat (RIB) package consisting of a 13-foot boat, engine, and trailer for the Natural Resource Conservation Service Rhode Island State Office. The RIB will support Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Oyster Reef Initiative operations, subaqueous soil survey work, and coastal restoration activities in both saltwater and freshwater environments. The technical specifications require a boat length of 12.8 to 13.2 feet with Hypalon tube material, marine-grade hull (fiberglass or aluminum), capacity for four adults with 900-pound minimum payload, and a 20-30 HP electric start engine with center console steering. The government will award a firm-fixed-price purchase order to the lowest-price technically acceptable quoter, with quotes due by July 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Vendors must be registered in SAM.gov, provide technical documentation, list approved service dealers, and comply with Buy American requirements, with all questions directed to chanda.sow@usda.gov referencing solicitation number 12FPC425Q0037.

This procurement is designated as a 100% small business set-aside under NAICS code 336612 (Boat Building), with no incumbents or current contractors identified in the solicitation materials. While no specific award value or budget range is disclosed, the solicitation requires delivery within 45 days of award and no later than September 15, 2025. The package includes mandatory accessories such as stainless steel D-rings, heavy-duty grab handles, bow storage locker, galvanized 1000-pound bunk trailer, owner's manual, warranty documentation, air pump, repair kit, oars/paddles, and certification of conformity to ISO 6185-3 and ABYC standards. The place of performance is Rhode Island, where the NRCS State Office will utilize the equipment for coastal and marine environmental conservation work. Recent clarifications confirm that marine-grade aluminum hulls are acceptable alternatives to the originally specified fiberglass construction, provided all other technical requirements are met.