INTENT TO AWARD - USGS ELECTROFISHER RAFT

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 s existing MLES electrofishing equipment and boats. The NCCFWRU fleet already has the following MLES electrofishing equipment: two control-boxes, one MLES 18 custom eletrofishing boat, one MLES 14 custom electrofishing boat. Therefore, Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems must provide this electrofishing raft/trailer to ensure both control-boxes can be exchanged with all electrofishing vessels to maximize efficiency and ensure data standardization. Otherwise, the NCCFWRU would need to purchase at least one separate control-box from whichever non-MLES company manufactured this raft. Further, there would be no back-up control-boxes in case the primary control-box failed. This would jeopardize project workflow thereby compromising the ability of the NCCFWRU and USGS to complete these organizations contractually required deliverables.
Having MLES manufacture this raft will ensure wiring and fabrications will match those required for using MLES control-boxes. For example, having the raft customized by MLES will allow specialized hardwire connections among the generator, MLES electrofishing anodes, and MLES control-box without any unnecessary junctions or adaptors, which are vulnerable points prone to electrical shock or short-circuits in wet field conditions. Further, MLES raft have a fabricated stand that is customized for dimensions of an MLES control-box (16 x 12 ) allowing the control-box to sit security and safely in front of the raft operator while electrofishing. The control-box has an emergency shutoff switch that needs to be accessible and within view of the raft operator, so the control box cannot be placed anywhere else on the raft.
The NCCFRU often must collect data over different time periods and locations using identical sampling methods. To ensure standardization, it is important to sample using the same control box (our existing MLES control boxes) in case different control boxes output different electrical fields. Havin MLES manufacture this raft will ensure the raft is compatible with the NCCFWRU s two existing control-boxes, therefore, ensuring standardized procedures for collecting data.
Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including Market Research. Based on extensive market research conducted online, by speaking with colleagues, and by speaking with sales consultants, Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems is the only company that can build, customize, and equip a raft that is able to meet all required specifications. Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems is uniquely positioned to custom manufacture the raft, electrofishing equipment, and trailer in tandem allowing the vessel to be fully integrated with electrofishing components. Moreover, modifications or repairs do not need to be coordinated among different companies because Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems manufactures both raft, trailer, electrofishing equipment conduits/connections, and control box. Finally, Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems is the only company that can manufacture a boat compatible with the NCCFWRU s existing MLES equipment and boats (2 control boxes, 2 electrofishing boats).
Future Plans to Permit Competition: Future requirements for same/similar items will be competed to the maximum extent practical.