Vessel services Ventless Lobster Trap Survey Gulf of Maine Zone E

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is procuring vessel services to conduct a ventless lobster trap survey in Gulf of Maine Zone E (LCMA 1, NMFS Area 514) located in Cape Cod Bay. The procurement seeks one commercial lobster fisher and vessel to bait, set, haul, and maintain state-owned lobster traps for lobster population monitoring purposes over a four-month operational period (June through September 2026). The contractor must complete a minimum of 12 sea-days and maximum of 14 sea-days per month in no more than an eight-day continuous period, plus one additional day at the beginning to set gear and one at the end to retrieve gear. The vessel must be 28-48 feet in length with a minimum cruising speed of 10 knots and equipped with compass, depth recorder, plotter, radar, GPS, VHF radio, hydraulic pot hauler, and davit. Contractor qualifications include possession of a valid Massachusetts commercial lobster license, current U.S. Coast Guard certification, and required safety equipment. Bid responses are due March 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via COMMBUYS, with anticipated notification of the successful bidder on April 12, 2026, and contract commencement targeted for May 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria include bid amount (per-sea-day rate), contractor qualifications and experience, vessel appropriateness and proximity to zone, past performance history, and Supplier Diversity Plan commitments, with the lowest cost bid not necessarily being selected and MADMF reserving the right to interview respondents prior to final award.

A Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) award preference applies to this procurement, with qualified SBPP-registered businesses meeting best-value criteria selected over non-SBPP bidders. All bidders must complete a Supplier Diversity Plan (SDP) committing to spend a minimum of 1 percent of contract sales with certified diverse business enterprises or non-profit organizations, with higher commitments receiving additional evaluation points. The contractor bears all costs for fuel, lubricants, dockage, bait, buoys, vertical line rigging, and marking, while the DMF will provide traps, groundlines, and weak-rope for vertical lines. The initial contract duration extends from execution through June 30, 2027, with three optional one-year renewal periods available for a maximum contract term of four years, structured as a rate contract with no maximum obligation amount. The estimated total procurement value is $150,000 based on the submitted per-sea-day rate structure. Compensation will be provided through the Commonwealth's standard Electronic Funds Transfer payment process with a 45-day payment cycle from invoice receipt, and contractors may request prompt payment discounts for earlier payment within 10, 15, 20, or 30 days.