BioSonics DT-X Extreme Autonomous Portable Scientific Echosounder

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is seeking to procure a BioSonics DT-X Extreme Autonomous Portable Scientific Echosounder through Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 802-25-60646, specifically targeting a single beam echosounder operating at 120 kilohertz. The procurement is for the Coastal Fisheries Division's Habitat Assessment Team located in Dickinson, Texas, with the primary objective of acquiring a high-resolution bathymetric and habitat mapping instrument for shallow water environments. The solicitation requires a new, unused scientific instrument with precise technical specifications, including compatibility with existing TPWD positioning and navigation equipment. Bidders must submit their proposals by June 13, 2025, at 2:00 pm CST, with delivery to be made directly to the TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division. The contract will commence upon issuance and automatically expire after final acceptance, with a mandatory installation and training component requiring six staff members to be trained within 30 days of equipment delivery. The bid allows for alternative proposals if vendors can demonstrate equivalent or superior capabilities to the specified requirements.

The solicitation includes provisions for preferences toward historically underutilized businesses and Texas-produced goods, suggesting potential set-aside opportunities for disadvantaged enterprises. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the specialized nature of the scientific equipment implies a potentially significant procurement value. The bid requires FOB destination pricing, which includes all shipping and freight charges, and mandates that vendors provide comprehensive technical specifications demonstrating system compatibility, accuracy, power requirements, connections, and software integration capabilities. Alternative proposals are permitted, provided they can meet or exceed the specified technical requirements. The procurement process appears to be open to a wide range of scientific equipment vendors capable of providing a ruggedized, portable echosounder system that meets the precise technical specifications outlined in the IFB. Vendors will likely be evaluated based on their ability to provide a high-performance instrument that seamlessly integrates with existing TPWD technological infrastructure and meets the agency's specific scientific research and mapping needs.