New Oxygen Generator or Repair Old Oxygen Generator at Wahwheap Fish Hatchery

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) numbered JH20-135 for the Wahwheap Fish Hatchery, seeking either a rebuild/update of the existing oxygen generator or a complete replacement with a comparable unit. The procurement focuses on addressing an aging oxygen generator that is over 20 years old and was originally obtained from the Fisheries Experimental Station. The solicitation provides two distinct options: Option A involves rebuilding and updating the current oxygen generator, while Option B entails completely replacing the unit with a comparable alternative. The bid was opened on 4/27/2020 at 3:30 PM MDT and closed on 5/11/2020 at 2:00 PM MDT, with a requirement that the successful bidder deliver and invoice the equipment by June 15th, 2020. The procurement process adhered to the State of Utah Procurement Code and Utah Administrative Code, which established strict guidelines for bidder communications, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria.

The IFB did not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations, indicating the procurement was open to qualified vendors. The original manufacturer, SeQual, had changed hands multiple times, rendering the exact same unit unavailable, which created flexibility in potential vendor responses. NORCO INC. was ultimately awarded the contract as the responsive and responsible bidder. While specific budget ranges were not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation, the procurement was structured as a one-time purchase order for equipment critical to the fish hatchery's operations. The solicitation emphasized the need for a solution that could effectively maintain oxygen generation capabilities for the hatchery's aquatic environments, suggesting the procurement was driven by operational necessity rather than purely cost considerations.