2026 Lower Columbia Estuary White Sturgeon Research Test Fishing

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to contract with up to four independent contractors to provide gillnet fishing vessels and related services for white sturgeon research test fishing in the lower Columbia River estuary below Wauna power lines (RM 40) during 2026. Contractors must furnish approved vessels with adequate deck space for two ODFW staff members, a 7 to 9-inch mesh gillnet in good condition with a minimum length of 150 fathoms, labor, operating supplies, and all necessary equipment including hydraulic gillnet reels, VHF radio communications, depth sounders, radar, and GPS navigation systems meeting U.S. Coast Guard safety standards. The primary objective is to capture and tag white sturgeon with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags to support population estimates for managing recreational and commercial sturgeon fisheries, with operations consisting of 15 to 20 fishing days (minimum three sets per day or equivalent soak time) between mid-May and June 30, 2026. Vessel operators must demonstrate a minimum of three years of commercial fishing experience in lower Columbia River commercial fisheries, substantiated by landings documentation, and must possess either a valid Oregon Boater Safety Card or current commercial fishing license. Contractors must provide three professional references, with at least two being current sources, to verify capability and work quality. Proposals are due February 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM, with a deadline for questions and clarifications on February 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM, and award notification anticipated by approximately March 3, 2026. Evaluation criteria include vessel operator qualifications (40 points), understanding of requested services (10 points), references (15 points), vessel and gear specifications (25 points), and price (25 points), for a total of 115 possible points; equipment breakdowns must be remedied within 48 hours or the contractor faces liquidated damages of $500 per day, and unsatisfactory operator performance may result in grounding and required replacement within 48 hours.

ODFW encourages participation from small businesses certified by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID), including disadvantaged, minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses, though no specific set-asides or restrictions on responding organizations have been designated. Contractors must obtain and maintain Marine Protection and Indemnity coverage with combined single limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 for multiple claimants, commercial general liability insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, workers' compensation insurance, and additional insured endorsements naming the State of Oregon. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the procurement documentation, and integration with existing infrastructure is not applicable as this is a discrete research fishing operation. All proposed costs must be submitted as a price per day for an estimated 15 days of operation plus separate pricing for additional days (up to 5 additional days maximum), with all costs including labor, equipment, supplies, maintenance, and profit incorporated into the daily rate and no additional reimbursable expenses permitted. Payment will be made within 45 days of invoice approval for completed and accepted deliverables. The maximum not-to-exceed compensation is pending award, and the contract term extends from the notice to proceed through June 30, 2026.