Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Smith-Root Tote Barge for Fish Montioring

SPECIAL NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE - US Army Corps of Engingeers, Chicago District is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform industry contractors of the Government s intent to award a sole source contract to Smith-Root. The contract is expected to be awarded IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) and only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements per 41 USC §3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1.

The purpose of this contract is to acquire a Tote barge electrofishing system for the use of fish sampling throughout the Chicago District. The Fisheries Assessment and Monitoring Section has equipment for sampling large bodies of water (electrofishing boats) and small bodies of water (backpack electrofisher) but do not have the equipment to samples those in between bodies of water.

The tote barge allows for efficient sampling in water where boat sampling is not safe due to increased hazards of shallow water that can cause extensive damage to the boat/motor and where the backpack electrofisher is not powerful enough or where water is too deep. The unit will be utilized for several current and future projects such as the Sustainable Rivers Program, Water Quality Fish Sampling Program, EPA IIS sampling, Invasive Carp Sampling in the Des Plaines River, and Ecosystem Restoration projects. This unit is be powered by currently owned USACE Smith Root Apex Control boxes only.