BD26-70 BioSonics DTX-XT Autonomous Echosounder Surface Unit

The State of Utah, specifically the Division of Wildlife Resources under the Department of Government Operations, is procuring a BioSonics DTX-XT Autonomous Echosounder Surface Unit through a sole-source procurement process without competitive bidding. The equipment being procured is a specialized hydroacoustic fish survey system that includes ruggedized surface units capable of operating up to four transducers simultaneously at standard frequencies of 420 kHz, 200 kHz, 120 kHz, 70 kHz, and 38 kHz. Key deliverables include a fully operational system featuring integrated DGPS for geo-referenced data collection, optional orientation sensors, and proprietary analysis software including VisAcq AutoTrack, Visual Analyzer, and Visual Aquatic for fish population assessment and aquatic vegetation mapping. The system will support non-lethal fish population assessments through transect surveys, fish target detection, population density estimation, and spatial distribution analysis to enhance data-driven fisheries management decisions. The procurement timeline specifies a purchase order issuance in April 2026, with a delivery deadline of June 1, 2026, and system deployment scheduled for summer 2026. The Notice of Intent to Award was posted on April 21, 2026, with a due date of April 28, 2026, for any interested vendors to challenge the sole-source determination through the Division of Purchasing by submitting detailed documentation demonstrating comparable or equivalent products that meet or exceed stated specifications. The State asserts that no competitive procurement process is necessary because the current equipment supplier, HTI, is exiting the United States market, leaving BioSonics as the only domestic manufacturer capable of providing compatible equipment that maintains data integrity and historical trend analysis continuity with existing monitoring programs.

There are no set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions mentioned in the procurement documents. All vendors responding to this notice must certify compliance with Utah Code 63G-27 et seq. regarding economic boycotts and boycotts of the State of Israel, and must agree not to engage in such boycotts during the contract term. Additionally, vendors seeking to protect proprietary or sensitive business information must submit both redacted and non-redacted versions of their proposals, as the Division of Purchasing will not perform redactions on behalf of vendors who fail to provide a redacted copy. The estimated contract value is $75,000, which includes equipment costs, shipping, and setup expenses, with the contract structured as F.O.B. Destination with freight prepaid and no additional freight costs to the state. The sole-source justification is based on the need for data continuity with existing hydroacoustic monitoring programs and the assertion that no other manufacturer provides compatible equipment meeting the exact technical specifications and system requirements required for fish population assessment operations.