F--MT-BOZEMAN FTC-URCHIN FEED DEVELOPMENT

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for a 100% Total Small Business set-aside, firm-fixed-price contract to procure professional scientific consulting services. The services will support a 12-month research and development project for formulated feeds for urchin (uni) aquaculture at the Bozeman Fish Technology Center in Bozeman, Montana. The overall goal is to improve growth, gonad quality, nutritional efficiency, and sustainability.

• Technical expertise in aquaculture nutrition.

• Expertise in experimental design.

• Expertise in data analysis.

• Development of formulated feeds for urchin aquaculture.

• Support for improving growth, gonad quality, nutritional efficiency, and sustainability.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed-price.

• Period of Performance: Approximately 12 months, from 02/16/2026 to 02/15/2027.

• Estimated Value: Not specified.

• Quotes must be submitted on company letterhead.

• Required information includes:

  • One-page technical capability statement.
  • Proposed technical approach.
  • Relevant experience (past 5 years) in feed formulation or marine invertebrates.
  • Key personnel qualifications.

• Quotes and questions must be emailed to khalilah_brown@fws.gov by February 11, 2026, at 5:00 pm EST.

• Evaluation Criteria: Best Value. Evaluation will be based on technical experience, technical approach, management plan, and past performance, which are considered more important than price.

• This acquisition is a 100% Total Small Business set-aside.

• The solicitation references Wage Determination 2015-6027, revision 3, for Gallatin County, MT.

• Offerors must certify compliance with applicable FAR provisions and active SAM.gov registration.

• Contact information for the Contract Specialist (Khalilah Brown), Contracting Officer (Caleb Kindsvater), and Technical POC (Sharri Lunde) is provided.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, "REGISTER OF WAGE DETERMINATIONS UNDER THE SERVICE CONTRACT ACT." It provides the minimum wage and fringe benefit rates that must be paid to various occupations when performing contract work covered by the Service Contract Act in Gallatin County, Montana.

• Lists numerous occupational codes and titles.
• Specifies the minimum hourly wage rate for each occupation.
• Indicates that fringe benefits are required and follow the occupational listing.
• Includes notes on Executive Orders related to paid sick leave and minimum wage adjustments.
• Details health and welfare benefits, vacation time, and paid holidays.
• Outlines procedures for requesting additional classifications and wage rates (conformance process).

Bidders responding to solicitations that fall under the Service Contract Act must use this document to determine the minimum wage and benefit costs for their employees. This information is crucial for accurately calculating labor costs and developing competitive proposals. It ensures compliance with federal labor laws for covered contracts.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

The Bozeman Fish Technology Center requires assistance with multiple aquaculture nutrition project areas, focusing on feed formulation and research.

Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Development of feeds to enhance sustainability and product quality of urchin uni.

• Continued development of trout diets for improved ingredient utilization and digestibility.

• Assessment of alternative ingredients for use as bait.

• Data entry, statistical analysis, and report/manuscript writing for alternative ingredient evaluation projects.

• Publishing data in the online nutrient digestibility database maintained by the USFWS.

• General consulting on feed formulations and specifications.

• Assistance with manufacturing small batches of research or production feeds.

• Conducting laboratory assays and calculations for biological parameter responses.

• Managing, analyzing, and interpreting data from feeding and digestibility trials.

• Communicating research and technical guidance through presentations, reports, and peer-reviewed publications.

• Conducting fish feeding trials.

• Formulating and manufacturing diets.

• Performing laboratory analyses.

• Data management and analysis.

• Presentation/report/manuscript preparation.