RFP AR26-02 - Preparation and Deployment of the vessel Freya as an artificial reef at the designated Windmill Point artificial reef site

The Virginia state government, specifically Mathews County, is seeking sealed proposals through Request for Proposal (RFP) AR26-02 for the comprehensive preparation and deployment of the vessel Freya as an artificial reef. The primary objective of this procurement is to select a qualified contractor capable of acquiring the vessel, preparing it in strict accordance with national reefing guidelines, and successfully deploying it at the designated Windmill Point artificial reef site. Contractors must demonstrate expertise in vessel preparation, marine logistics, and environmental compliance for artificial reef creation. The contractor will be required to relocate the vessel from its current location within 30 days of contract receipt, indicating a time-sensitive operational mandate. The proposal submission deadline is January 5, 2026, with the initial posting date of December 16, 2025, providing potential bidders approximately three weeks to develop and submit comprehensive proposals. While specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation, contractors will likely be assessed on their technical capabilities, marine environmental knowledge, logistical planning, and ability to execute the vessel deployment efficiently and safely.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor types were explicitly mentioned in the contract opportunity description. The procurement appears open to qualified marine contractors with appropriate expertise in vessel preparation and artificial reef deployment. Although no incumbent vendors were identified, the contract suggests a specialized technical requirement that may limit the pool of potential respondents to organizations with specific marine engineering and environmental compliance capabilities. No specific budget range or award value was provided in the original document, which indicates that pricing will likely be a competitive component of the proposal evaluation. The contract's focus on precise vessel preparation and deployment at the Windmill Point artificial reef site implies a niche procurement that requires specialized marine infrastructure and technical understanding of artificial reef construction protocols.