Division of Marine Fisheries Prep, tow and sinking of the Research Vessel Cape Hatteras

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Marine Fisheries, is requesting bids for the preparation, towing, and sinking of the RV Cape Hatteras, a 135-foot research vessel, with bids due October 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET. A non-mandatory pre-bid site visit is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The scope requires a single contractor to accept the vessel at a shipyard, strip and clean it in accordance with USCG and EPA requirements, remove approximately 10 feet of superstructure for navigational clearance, tow it to artificial reef site AR-386 (coordinates 3357.517'N, 7733.400'W), and sink it by flooding compartments per USACE and NCDMF specifications. The vessel (built 1981, 134 feet length overall, 32-foot beam, 640 long tons displacement, 10-foot draft, 53-foot air draft) must cease operations by October 24, 2026, with all cleanup and sinking activities completed by June 30, 2027. Work is performed at an unspecified shipyard and at the reef site off North Carolina.

The vendor must carry a minimum of $1 million in marine general liability insurance and accept liability for the vessel throughout shipyard acceptance, transit, and until it settles at the designated bottom location. Bid pricing constitutes the total cost to the State and is exclusive of any pending or temporary tariff surcharges, which may be negotiated separately. The vessel has a fair market value of $350,000.

Vendors must be registered in good standing as North Carolina vendors through the Electronic Vendor Portal and must complete NC Secretary of State registration within 10 business days of award notification. Each bidder must provide at least three customer references for similar services and submit a cover letter, title page, signed execution pages, pricing table, customer reference forms, location-of-workers certification, and financial condition certification. Written questions are due September 25, 2026, with state responses by September 30. Award is anticipated October 23, 2026. Contract term runs from execution until full completion and formal acceptance of all work.