DNR Larval Recirculating Culture System

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking a contractor to design, procure, and support a specialized Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for larval muskellunge culture at the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. The project requires a comprehensive proposal with three primary tasks: system design (due by 12/30/2022), equipment procurement and delivery (due by 01/31/2023), and training/technical support. The RAS must include specific components such as dechlorination of source water, drum screen, moving media biofiltration, carbon dioxide removal, ultraviolet disinfection, oxygenation, and temperature manipulation. The system will initially operate with two 3-foot diameter circular tanks and scale up to three 3-foot circular culture tanks, supporting fish biomass from 2.3 pounds to approximately 45-50 pounds over an 80-100 day production cycle. Key deliverables include a detailed design schematic, equipment list, electronic PDF operational manuals, and ongoing technical support via phone and email from February through August 2023. The bid was opened on 12/9/2022 and closed on 12/22/2022, with an installation deadline of March 15, 2023, and the state intends to award a single purchase order to one bidder.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor types were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents. The cost proposal must be all-inclusive in U.S. Dollars, covering all travel and expenses, with pricing set as FOB Destination and based on Net 60 Days Payment Terms. The state prefers to use its Purchasing Card Program (Pcard) for payments and will have 60 days to process invoices. While a specific budget range was not provided, the commodity code 90610 for Buildings and Architectural Design Services suggests a specialized and potentially complex procurement. The system requires precise environmental parameters, including water temperature ranges of 45-60F, maintained between 62-72F, and supporting fish feeding rates of 12-7% of biomass using feed with 48-52% protein and 11-14% fat. The total equipment space is specified as 5' x 11', with the potential for future expansion of the aquaculture system. Bidders will not be on-site during construction, as agency staff will assemble the equipment based on the contractor's instructions.