Derelict Shellfish Gear Removal and Education

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) issued Request for Proposals No. 26-00006 on May 8, 2026, seeking proposals to locate, remove, and dispose of derelict shellfish pots (crab and shrimp pots) from marine waters within Puget Sound across five jurisdictions: Franklin County, Grant County, Grays Harbor County, Chelan County, and Yakima County. The procurement addresses ghost fishing caused by derelict gear that continues to capture and kill marine life after becoming abandoned. Bidders must demonstrate capabilities including appropriate vessels and equipment for identifying and removing derelict gear using side-scan sonar, divers, or remotely operated vehicles; qualified and certified commercial divers; specialized knowledge of shellfish pot gear and species identification; data management capabilities; and annual reporting expertise. The scope of work encompasses conducting surveys, removing derelict gear in compliance with WDFW safety guidelines, maintaining detailed field logs, reporting data to a statewide database, submitting annual progress reports with maps and removal statistics, and conducting public outreach events and developing educational materials for recreational crabbers and the general public. Evaluation will occur through a five-step process allocating points for responsiveness, mandatory requirements compliance, non-cost scoring (105 points), cost scoring (20 points), reference checks (15 points), and optional oral interviews (10 points), with a potential workers' rights certification preference of up to 5 points. An optional pre-bid conference is scheduled for May 21, 2026, at 4:00 PM via Microsoft Teams; bidder questions must be submitted by email no later than May 26, 2026, with responses posted by May 29, 2026. Proposals are due June 22, 2026, by 12:00 PM Pacific Time via email to RFP Coordinator Kirsten Taylor, with evaluation scheduled for June 22-24, 2026, and the apparent successful bidder announced on June 25, 2026.

Disadvantaged, minority-owned, and women-owned business enterprises are encouraged to apply, and bidders certifying compliance with Executive Order 18-03 regarding employment practices receive a 3 percent bid preference. All bidders must possess valid business licensing in Washington State and certification that they have not been determined to have willfully violated Washington labor laws within three years prior to the solicitation date. The initial contract period runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with potential renewal or extension for an additional period not to exceed six years at WDFW's sole discretion. The estimated initial contract amount is $502,000 for the three-year contract period, with compensation structured to include monthly invoices during removal work and a 10 percent holdback on all distributed funds until receipt of annual reports. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and marine protection and indemnity insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence with a deductible not exceeding $25,000. Contract negotiations are scheduled between June 25 and July 8, 2026, and the contract is funded through the Puget Sound Shellfish Derelict Gear Removal dedicated account.