1450-26-R-RFQF-00005

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) is soliciting bids through a Request for Quote-Formal (RFQF) Reverse Auction (Solicitation Number 3140004461) for the furnishing and deployment of approved cultch material into the Western Mississippi Sound. The procurement seeks to establish new oyster reefs across 100 acres, requiring the delivery and deployment of 20,000 cubic yards of cultch material at a unit price per cubic yard basis. Approved cultch materials include course aggregate (#4 stone) conforming to ASTM C33 specifications or oyster shell, with materials required to be clean, free of hazardous substances, and containing no more than 5% fines or fragments smaller than three-quarters to one-and-one-half inches in diameter. Bidders must submit responses electronically through MAGIC or by paper submission to Rick Kinnard, Procurement Director, at MDMR's office (1716 A J Holloway Drive, Biloxi, MS 39532) by March 3, 2026, at 2:00 PM CST, with written questions due by February 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST. The reverse auction is tentatively scheduled for March 11, 2026, at 2:00-3:00 PM CST, with contract award anticipated March 12, 2026. Deployment activities must occur between April 8, 2026, and June 30, 2027, during daylight hours Monday through Friday, with actual deployment dates determined by MDMR. Evaluation criteria prioritize awarding to the responsive, responsible bidder supplying the maximum amount of approved cultch material at the lowest price per cubic yard, not exceeding the $1,000,000.00 contract maximum. Bidders must demonstrate prior experience furnishing and deploying cultch material and provide at least one reference of a comparable completed project.

The solicitation does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting eligible bidders to particular enterprise classifications, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. Contractors must comply with extensive federal environmental, employment, and procurement regulations, as the contract is funded through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA). Insurance requirements include workers' compensation coverage, general liability insurance with a $1,000,000 aggregate limit, and personal injury/bodily injury coverage of $500,000 per occurrence; however, no performance or payment bonds are required. The contract term is fourteen months from execution, with potential extension subject to MDMR discretion and contractor agreement. Payment will be made within 45 days of invoice receipt, contingent on satisfactory completion of work. The maximum contract value is $1,000,000.00, with the award based on the lowest unit price per cubic yard submitted by a qualified bidder. MDMR reserves the right to reject any or all bids and may cancel awards with 30 days' written notice.