Lake Michigan Boat and Trailer Des Plaines

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is seeking to procure a specialized boat and trailer for its Lake Michigan Monitoring Program, with the procurement opportunity focused on acquiring a 24-26 foot pilothouse boat designed for water quality monitoring activities. The vessel must be a V-hull configuration constructed of fiberglass, aluminum, or steel, capable of navigating up to 5km offshore and being trailered along Illinois' 63-mile Lake Michigan shoreline. Specific requirements include a full-width enclosed pilothouse, advanced marine electronics such as a Garmin chart plotter with radar, VHF radio with AIS capabilities, GPS antenna, rear working deck, anchor systems, navigation lights, and a rear deck crane. The procurement is being conducted entirely through the BidBuy electronic procurement system, with electronic submissions only, and bids must remain firm for 90 days from opening. The bid due date is May 12, 2025, with a required delivery deadline of September 30, 2025, to the Illinois EPA Des Plaines Regional office. Evaluation criteria appear to focus on the lowest priced bidder meeting the specified technical and compliance requirements.

The procurement opportunity encourages participation from various business enterprises, including potential considerations for minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. Vendors must complete mandatory documentation, including the Illinois Procurement Gateway Active Registered Vendor Disclosure form and a comprehensive Vendor Disclosure form that requires detailed information about business operations, ownership, and compliance with state regulations. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the state emphasizes compliance with anti-discrimination policies and provides potential employment tax credits for hiring qualified veterans. The contract includes standard state procurement terms requiring $1,000,000 in general commercial liability insurance and allows for subcontractors. Though a specific budget range is not disclosed, the procurement suggests a significant investment in specialized marine monitoring equipment. Potential bidders must be registered in the Illinois Procurement Gateway, possess the technical capability to provide a highly specialized marine vessel, and demonstrate compliance with numerous state and federal regulatory requirements.