Underwater ROV & USV

This federal solicitation (140G0126Q0290), issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Acquisition Branch, seeks quotations for marine research equipment. The requirement is set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 336612 (size standard of 1,000 employees). The procurement consists of two contract line items (CLINs) to be delivered to the USGS HI CFRU in Hilo, Hawaii, within 60 days of award: 1. One Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) 2. One Underwater Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Quotations are due by September 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. Leah Williams is the designated Contracting Officer. The contract will be awarded to the responsible offeror who submits the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quotation. Technical compliance requires that the offered products meet or exceed all physical, functional, and performance characteristics specified in the solicitation's technical specifications. Key terms include electronic invoice submission via the Department of the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) and a strict 90-day post-performance deadline for invoice submission. The solicitation incorporates standard federal commercial product clauses, including Buy American requirements and unique provisions addressing non-discrimination and supply chain security. Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and submit their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) with their bid.

This Statement of Need outlines the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) requirements to purchase a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) for the Hawaii Cooperative Fishery Research Unit (HCFRU). These platforms will serve as force multipliers to assess fishery resources, benthic habitats, and water quality in Hawaiian state waters. The procurement specifies a "Brand Name or Equal" requirement for a Blue Robotics BlueROV2 and a Blue Robotics BlueBoat. The ROV must feature a minimum 300-meter depth rating, active stabilization, a 200-meter tether, dual-sensor stereo imaging for 3D photogrammetry, a low-latency pilot camera, and compatibility with the HCFRU's existing Cerulean Omniscan 450 SS side-scan sonar. The USV must feature a highly visible, lightweight catamaran design, 18-hour battery endurance, a waterproof surface navigation camera, and compatibility with the same side-scan sonar. To ensure field efficiency and remote-island deployability, both platforms must utilize standardized, field-swappable battery modules and sharing charging infrastructure. They must also use a unified, open-source topside control interface, support high-speed physical data offloading, and comply with Department of the Interior (DOI) IT security guidelines and USGS data standards.