State of Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources Lake Superior Patrol Boat

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) issued Request for Proposal #17-065-29 for the manufacture, testing, and delivery of a Lake Superior Law Enforcement Patrol vessel, specifically targeting Ashland County. The procurement sought a completely operational boat between 30-35 feet in centerline length, with a modified V-design, heavy-duty aluminum walk-around cabin, dual 350 HP outboard motors, and comprehensive electronics. The vessel must accommodate a minimum of 16 persons, comply with U.S. Coast Guard and National Marine Manufacturer's Association standards, and maintain a minimum 10-year operational lifespan. Key procurement dates included a vendor meeting on June 27, 2017, written inquiries due by June 30, 2017, and proposal submissions due by July 25, 2017 at 2:00 PM CST. Proposals were evaluated on a 1,000-point scale, with points allocated across categories including purchase price (250 points), company history and qualifications (100 points), references and experience (100 points), quality and compatibility of goods and services (300 points), product/ordering detail (50 points), and additional information including rebates and innovations (200 points).

The procurement included provisions for Certified Minority Business Enterprises and Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses, which could receive up to a 5% price preference. Three vendors submitted proposals: Lake Assault Boats (Superior, WI), Armstrong Marine (Port Angeles, WA), and Moran Iron Works, with Lake Assault Boats ultimately receiving the highest score of 3800.01 points and submitting the lowest bid at $404,650.00. The not-to-exceed budget was established at $380,000, with WDNR emphasizing that cost would not be the primary factor in vendor selection. The contract term was set to extend from August 18, 2017 through full acceptance of the boat, with delivery specified to the Washburn Marina in Washburn, Wisconsin on an FOB destination basis. Vendors were required to provide firm pricing for the contract period, with any price increases necessitating 60 days' notice and full documentation of industry-wide cost increases. The successful vendor must warrant the hull for a minimum of 10 years against defects in materials and workmanship and bear all costs for vessel testing, trials, and potential transportation back to the manufacturing facility if modifications were required following lake trials.