Intent to Award - Usgs Electrofisher Raftview on SAM.gov

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Cooperative Research Units in Reston, VA, requires a custom electrofishing raft. The primary use is to support the field program of the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (NCCFWRU) for sampling fish in rocky, upland rivers found along North Carolina¿s Fall-line, Piedmont, and mountain regions. This raft will be customized to have hardwired electrical components and attachments necessary for electrofishing to immobilize and nonlethally sample fishes for research objectives associated with fisheries management, aquatic invasive species prevention, and resource conservation. This raft is part of a fleet at the NCCFWRU where specialized electrofishing equipment needs to be compatible and interchangeable without modification with existing equipment (control-boxes, specialized electrofishing equipment) at the NCCFWRU to maximize efficiency, maximize standardization for data-quality, and maximize safety by ensuring student trainees are familiar with the electrofishing equipment. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to vendor Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they have similar technical expertise and can provide the same product(s). Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Miranda Blankenship, via email at Miranda_blankenship@ios.doi.gov no later than 1:00 PM EDT, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, with an affirmative answer. Sole Source Justification States the Following Parts: Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (USGS), North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (NCCFWRU). Nature of Action Being Approved. Firm fixed price award to Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems for custom-built raft with customized electrical components (anodes, waterproof hardwired circuits), custom-welded safety rail, custom trailer that fits the raft, and compatible generator. Description of Supplies or Services. Procurement of customized 18¿ electrofishing raft with hard-wired waterproof electrical circuits, custom-welded electrofishing attachments, customized safety rail to meet sponsor research needs, custom trailer tailored for the raft, and an inverter generator compatible with electrofishing equipment and control-boxes from Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems (MLES). Includes fully detachable safety rail, molded floatable floor, hardwired electrical circuits, custom-welded electrofishing attachments and helm; compatible generator; custom electrofishing components (anodes, booms, safety pedal); custom trailer that Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR RFO 12.102(a) ¿ Only one source reasonable available. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. This customized raft needs to be manufactured by MLES to ensure compatibility with the NCCFWRU¿…