Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification. The State of Oregon, acting by and through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, hereby provides public notice of the approval of Sole Source # S-63500-00015848 for Smith Root Electrofishing Vessel under the authority of ORS 279B.075. Brief Description of Goods or Services to be procured: The agency requires procurement of a specialized electrofishing vessel to replace an existing vessel that is more than 20 years old and no longer serviceable due to a cracked and irreparable hull. The vessel is a critical asset within a fleet of five electrofishing boats used to conduct long-term biological monitoring and evaluation activities in support of the Northern Pikeminnow Management Program throughout the Columbia River Basin. Program operations require a vessel specifically designed and engineered for electrofishing in large, high-flow river systems, including the Columbia and Snake rivers. The vessel must safely support electrofishing operations under variable river conditions while accommodating specialized electrical equipment, crew, and sampling gear. Required capabilities include, but are not limited to: • An approximately 18-foot, extra-heavy-duty aluminum hull designed for electrofishing applications and rated for operation on large river systems • Marine-grade aluminum construction and reinforced hull suitable for repeated shallow-water and debris-prone environments • Integration with an electrofishing system that is engineered to function safely with the vessel’s hull design, electrical grounding, and operator controls • Redundant propulsion capability, including a primary outboard engine and a secondary backup engine, to ensure crew safety and mission continuity in remote locations • Standard and mission-specific vessel safety equipment, including navigation lighting, bilge pumps, and appropriate electrical isolation • A compatible trailer designed to safely transport the vessel between multiple launch sites across the basin; The vessel must be fully outfitted and configured as a complete electrofishing platform upon delivery to minimize operational downtime and ensure compatibility with existing program methods, training, and safety protocols. This procurement is necessary to maintain uninterrupted monitoring operations that support federally and regionally mandated fisheries management objectives.
