OAC aquarium maintenance contract

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division is issuing a Request for Proposal for aquarium cleaning and maintenance services at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit, Michigan under Wayne County jurisdiction. The primary deliverable is comprehensive maintenance of a 1,200-gallon freshwater aquarium housing bullhead catfish, largemouth bass, and longnose gar, with services including weekly interior and exterior glass cleaning, gravel vacuuming, algae removal, water quality testing and management, and equipment inspection, plus monthly deep cleaning and annual maintenance during the facility's September shutdown. The contractor must provide all materials, chemicals, equipment, and supplies and maintain a dedicated program manager available before 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday to receive service calls with emergency response within 24 hours. Required qualifications include proof of commercial general liability insurance ($2,000,000 aggregate), umbrella coverage ($5,000,000), and automobile liability ($1,000,000); background checks and drug screening for all personnel; and demonstrated experience with public or high-traffic aquarium setups supported by references from similar-sized or commercial accounts. Evaluation will be conducted on a PASS/FAIL basis using a questions worksheet and statement of work, with pricing consideration limited to qualifying proposals. Key deadlines include an optional pre-bid meeting on August 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EST, written questions due by August 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST with answers posted August 6, and proposal submission by August 8, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST, with an anticipated contract start date of August 15, 2025.

The contract terms establish a three-year initial period with two optional one-year renewal options for potential five-year total engagement, with pricing required to remain firm throughout the entire contract period. Contractors must submit separate pricing schedules for weekly service, monthly service, and emergency services calculated on an hourly basis, with invoices due no later than September 20, 2025, and payment processed via Electronic Funds Transfer within 45 days of invoice receipt. Liquidated damages penalties of $500 plus $100 per day apply for late or improper completion of services. The RFP document does not specify set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, incumbent vendor information, or explicit budget ranges, though submission requirements mandate a current certificate of liability insurance, experience documentation, and references as mandatory proposal components in SIGMA VSS. All personnel assigned to the contract must wear uniforms and identification badges while on State property and comply with all State of Michigan safety and environmental guidelines. No specific award value or budget range has been disclosed in the available procurement documentation.