FPB wholesale seafood dealers

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is soliciting Fixed Price Bid proposals from Wholesale Seafood Dealers to participate in a comprehensive data collection initiative focused on shrimp trawling efforts in South Carolina waters. The primary objective is to collect 2,500 days of observation annually by attaching low-profile data loggers to trawl doors, which will remotely record time, depth, and water temperature during fishing operations. Eligible wholesale dealers must identify and verify that their subcontractor trawlers are in good standing with Natural Resources regulations and hold valid licenses. Key deliverables include coordinating with licensed commercial trawlers, facilitating data logger deployment, and submitting completed SCDNR trip tickets. The solicitation timeline included pre-bid conferences in Charleston, McClellanville, and Eastover during April 2021, with a solicitation opening date of May 4, 2021 at 10:00 AM EST. Prospective bidders were required to submit questions by April 27, 2021 at 12:00 Noon EST, and must provide at least three professional references, identification of subcontractors, and evidence of organizational responsibility.

The contract will have an initial term of one year with four automatic annual renewals, creating a maximum contract duration of five years concluding on May 3, 2026. Compensation is structured at a fixed rate of $25 per daily sea day fished, contingent upon a completed SCDNR trip ticket, with payments made to Wholesale Seafood Dealers following data retrieval and invoicing at least quarterly. No specific set-aside designations or preferences were mentioned in the solicitation. The SCDNR will provide all necessary data logger supplies and reserves the right to have designated personnel inspect loggers and related facilities to ensure compliance. The procurement is federally funded through grants aimed at characterizing shrimp trawling efforts in the Southeast United States. Wholesale dealers are expected to redistribute most of the compensation to their subcontractor trawlers, making this a collaborative data collection initiative that supports marine resource research and management.