2026 VESSEL FOR CAPE PERPETUA MARINE RESERVE: HOOK-and-LINE SURVEYS

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing an Intermediate Request for Proposals (RFP #S-63500-00016172) to procure vessel charter services to conduct hook-and-line fishing surveys at Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve during 2026. The primary deliverable is an at-sea research platform (vessel) capable of performing hook-and-line fishing operations at various sites near Cape Perpetua in depths ranging from approximately 30 to 120 feet, with Newport, Oregon designated as the departure and return port. The project requires ten vessel days of operation, each approximately eight hours in duration (dock-to-dock), divided into five days of fishing effort during spring (April through early June) and five days during fall (late August through October), compressed into as short a timeframe as possible to accommodate weather and logistics constraints. The contract term extends from April 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Proposals will be evaluated on a total of 150 possible points based on vessel master qualifications (40 points), project team and vessel master evaluation (25 points), project approach and vessel information (40 points), references (25 points), and price (45 points). The RFP was issued on March 3, 2026, with questions and requests for clarification due by March 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT, and completed proposals due by March 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT, with a Notice of Award anticipated on approximately March 24, 2026. Key qualifications require the vessel master to demonstrate a minimum of three years of professional experience in comparable goods or services, along with local knowledge of Cape Perpetua fishing areas and charter fishing operations. The contractor assumes full responsibility for vessel operation, repair, maintenance, fuel, and operating supplies, and must maintain Marine Protection and Indemnity insurance with a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and Workers' Compensation insurance with Employers' Liability limits of not less than $500,000 per occurrence.

The State of Oregon offers a 10% cost preference for all goods fabricated or services performed entirely in Oregon and actively encourages participation of certified small businesses, disadvantaged businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and emerging small businesses in this procurement. Contractors must be independent contractors and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including Oregon tax laws and pay equity requirements, and must provide three professional references from different firms and clients to demonstrate capability. No incumbent contractor information or existing infrastructure integration requirements are specified in the procurement documents. The award value or budget range has not been publicly disclosed, as the maximum not-to-exceed compensation amount is listed as "Pending Award," indicating that the contract value will be determined following evaluation of submitted proposals. The Agency anticipates awarding one contract resulting from this RFP.