R--Vessel charter services

Amendment / Modification

This amendment addresses contractor questions regarding the solicitation. No additional questions will be accepted.

• Q1. Station-Keeping Requirement: Clarifies that dynamic positioning (DP) equipment is not required; manual station-keeping by the captain is acceptable to meet the SOW requirement of holding position within 10 meters for up to 10 minutes while the sampler is deployed.

• Q2. Transit Compensation: States that all costs for the proposed work, including transit costs to and from Eureka, should be included in the contractor's bid. Transit days will not be compensated separately.

• The period of performance is confirmed as 04/01/2026 to 12/31/2026.

• Quotes are due 03/23/2026 at 1700 Pacific Daylight Time.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) requires vessel charter services and fuel for sediment sampling operations within coastal waters adjacent to the Humboldt Bay entrance in Eureka, CA. The proposed action will be awarded in accordance with FAR 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services) and FAR 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures).

• Vessel Charter: Lease or rental of a vessel suitable for marine and scientific operations.

• Fuel: Provision of fuel for the chartered vessel.

• Sediment Sampling: Collection of 120 grab samples in water depths between 45 and 70 feet in spring 2026, and 80 grab samples in fall 2026.

• Water Property Casts: Several water property casts are required within the study area.

• Vessel Specifications: The vessel must be U.S. Coast Guard licensed, seaworthy, at least 40 feet overall length, with a cruising speed of at least 7 knots. It must accommodate up to 4 USGS personnel, have an A-frame or davit with 6ft clearance, a winch with SWL of 1000lbs and 200ft wire, and be capable of holding position within 10 meters of waypoints for up to 10 minutes.

• Captain Experience: Proof of U.S. Coast Guard license and description of captain's experience.

• Insurance: Marine and general public liability insurance with specified minimum limits.

• Period of Performance: Approximately April 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but the NAICS code (488330) has a size standard of $47M.

• Submission Deadline: Quotes must be submitted by 03/23/2026 at 1700 PD via email to thuot@usgs.gov.

• Questions Deadline: Questions must be submitted by email to thuot@usgs.gov no later than 03/17/2026 at 1700 PD.

• Evaluation Factors: Offers will be evaluated based on capability, corporate experience, key personnel experience (minimum 3 years), past performance, and price. Technical capability and past performance are considered more important than price.

• This solicitation is set aside for small businesses only.

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• The applicable NAICS code is 488330 (Navigational Services to Shipping).

• Offerors must submit firm, fixed-price quotes in U.S. dollars.

• Offerors must complete and return FAR 52.204-24 and FAR 52.204-26.

• Amendments to the solicitation will be posted periodically; offerors are responsible for checking for updates.

• Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number must be submitted with the quote.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document contains two Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions: FAR 52.204-24 and FAR 52.204-26. These provisions require offerors to represent whether they provide or use "covered telecommunications equipment or services" as defined in FAR 52.204-25. This is a critical compliance requirement for certain government contracts.

• FAR 52.204-24: Requires offerors to represent if they will provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to the Government. If an offeror responds "will," they must provide specific disclosures about the equipment/services, including the producer, description, and proposed use.
• FAR 52.204-26: Requires offerors to represent if they provide covered telecommunications equipment or services as part of their offered products/services, and if they use such equipment/services in their own operations. If an offeror responds "does" to using such equipment/services, they must provide specific disclosures.
• Prohibitions: Both provisions relate to prohibitions under Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, which restricts the procurement and use of certain telecommunications equipment and services.
• Definitions: Key terms like "covered telecommunications equipment or services," "backhaul," and "critical technology" are defined.
• Procedures: Offerors are instructed to check the System for Award Management (SAM) for excluded parties.

Bidders must carefully review these provisions and accurately complete the required representations and disclosures. Failure to comply or provide accurate information may impact their ability to be considered for the contract. The specific requirements for disclosure depend on the offeror's responses to the "will" or "does" representations.