Planting Oyster Substrate Mult Locations

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is seeking bids for a specialized marine habitat restoration project involving planting oyster substrate across multiple locations in coastal counties. The procurement specifically requires a contractor to transport and plant approximately 60,000 U.S. bushels of shucked oyster shells and limestone on state intertidal shorelines, including sites at The Sands Landing in Port Royal (30,000 bushels), Broad River Boat Landing (7,500 bushels), Edgar Glenn Boat Landing (7,500 bushels), B&B Seafood in Green Pond (5,000 bushels), Steamboat Creek Landing in Edisto Island (5,000 bushels), and Garris Landing in Awendaw (5,000 bushels). Contractor qualifications include providing vessels capable of carrying a minimum of 900 U.S. bushels of shell, having a ramp with 10,000 lb load capacity, and possessing offloading pumps that can complete unloading within one hour per load. The solicitation requires contractors to provide all necessary labor, vessels, and equipment for transportation and planting, with SCDNR supplying the cultch material and loading equipment/operators. Bid submissions are due by March 4, 2025, at 10:00 am EST, with contractor questions required by February 21, 2025, and the contract term running from March 5, 2025, to August 31, 2025.

The procurement includes preferences for South Carolina and U.S. end products, as well as resident contractors and subcontractors. Award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with the contractor required to maintain appropriate liability and workers' compensation insurance. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned in the documentation, the solicitation suggests a competitive bidding process open to qualified marine contractors with appropriate maritime capabilities. The project appears focused on marine habitat restoration and does not indicate an incumbent vendor or require integration with existing technological infrastructure. Though a specific budget range is not provided, the comprehensive nature of the project involving 60,000 bushels of substrate across multiple coastal locations suggests a significant investment in marine ecosystem enhancement. The procurement is specific to Barnwell County but involves multiple coastal locations in South Carolina, indicating a broader regional environmental restoration initiative.