KA'ULA ISLET SURVEY RESEARCH VESSEL
| Location: | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Aug 21, 2026 |
| Due: | Sep 3, 2026 |
| Agency: | State Government of Hawaii |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Solicitation No: | B27000268 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
General Information
B27000268Status
ReleasedDepartmentLand & Natural ResourcesDivisionForestry and WildlifeIslands (where the work/delivery is to be performed)
KauaiCategoryServicesRelease Date 08/20/2026Offer Due Date & Time09/03/2026 02:00 PMDescriptionThis solicitation is to contract a research vessel for at minimum two (2) separate trips to Ka'ula Islet in late 2026 to Summer 2027 to conduct UAV-based research including visual and mapping surveys, scientific equipment deployment and retrieval, and invertebrate collection. Bids should be inclusive of total days of work - including staging, standby, loading of DOFAW personnel and equipment, operations, and return - as well as estimated costs for fuel, necessary crew, and food, over both research trip periods.Contact PersonWells, BenjaminEmail benjamin.a.wells@hawaii.gov Phone808-631-5013General CommentsProcurement OfficerLau, RickAttachments Kaula Survey Research Vessel IFB Scope of Work.docx
AG-008 103D General Conditions (1.10.23).pdf
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Direct all questions regarding this Solicitation, and any questions or Issues relating to the accessibility
of this Solicitation (Including the appendices and exhibits to this Document, and any other document related
to this Solicitation), to:
Wells, Benjamin.
| Commodity Code | Description |
| 483114 | Passenger transportation, deep sea, to and from domestic ports (including Puerto Rico) |
| 483114 | Deep sea passenger transportation to and from domestic ports (including Puerto Rico) |
Direct all questions regarding this Solicitation, and any questions or Issues relating to the accessibility
of this Solicitation (Including the appendices and exhibits to this Document, and any other document related
to this Solicitation), to:
Wells, Benjamin.
- HAWAII GENERAL EXCISE TAX (GET): Unless otherwise stated in this solicitation, vendors shall include all applicable taxes in the price submitted. The Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) shall not exceed 4.712% for the islands of Oahu, Kauai , Hawaii, and Maui.
- ADDITIONAL FEES AND CHARGES: Vendors shall include all applicable fees, charges, surcharges, shipping/handling, delivery, or any other charges associated with this solicitation in the price submitted.
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COMPLIANCE AND DOCUMENTATION: Vendors are required to be compliant with all appropriate state and federal statutes. Proof of compliance is required through HCE or via paper documentation.
- VENDOR REGISTRATION IN HAWAII COMPLIANCE EXPRESS (HCE) : Vendors can register at https://vendors.ehawaii.gov/hce via an annual subscription fee and should subscribe prior to responding to a solicitation. For more information visit the HCE Section of the FAQs at http://spo.hawaii.gov/faqs/#tabs-4.
- VENDOR COMPLIANCE – PAPER DOCUMENTS : Vendors not utilizing HCE shall provide paper certificates that must be valid at the time of award. All applications for applicable clearances are the responsibility of the vendor, who must be compliant pursuant to HRS§103D-310(c) with the chapters 1) Chapter 237, General Excise Tax Laws; 2) Chapter 382, Hawaii Employment Security Law; 3)Chapter 386, Worker’s Compensation Law; 4) Chapter 392, Temporary Disability Insurance; 5)Chapter 393, Prepaid Health Care Act; and 6) §103D-310(c), Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) for entities doing business in the State. Upon receipt of compliance paper documents (A-6, LIR#27, COGS), the purchasing agency reserves the right to verify their validity with the respective issuing agency.
- VENDOR NON-COMPLIANCE : NON-COMPLIANCE may result in a vendor not receiving an award, delay of payment, or cancellation of award. If the vendor does not maintain timely compliance, which is the vendor’s responsibility, an offer otherwise deemed responsive and responsible may not be awarded. State agencies may check for compliance at any time.
- RESPONSE TO THIS SOLICITATION: Only responses submitted through HIePRO shall be considered for award.
- QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS SOLICITATION: Unless otherwise indicated, questions regarding this solicitation must be directed to the Buyer listed.
- TRANSACTION FEES: The awarded vendor shall pay a transaction fee of 0.75% (.0075) of the award, not to exceed $5,000 for each award. This transaction fee shall be based on the original award amount and the awarded vendor shall be responsible for payment of the fee to Tyler Hawaii, the vendor administering the HIePRO. Payment must be made to Tyler Hawaii within thirty (30) days of receipt of invoice. The invoice is generated based on the date the award is posted.
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OFFER DEEMED FIRM/AUTHORITY TO SUBMIT OFFER: Submission of an electronic response to the State of Hawaii constitutes and shall be deemed an offer to sell the specified goods and/or services to the State of Hawaii at the price shown in the response and under the State's Terms and Conditions.
The electronic response submitter certifies that he/she is authorized to sign the response for the submitting vendor and that the response is made without connection with any person, firm, or corporation making a response for the same goods and/or services and is in all respects fair and without collusion or fraud.
Attachment Preview
State of Hawaii, Division of Forestry and Wildlife Kauai Branch
INVITATION FOR BIDS
OFFERS
FOR
Solicitation #:
KAULA ISLET SURVEY RESEARCH VESSEL
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURAL RESOURCES
WILL BE RECEIVED UP TO 2:00 PM (HST) ON
Tuesday, September 1st 2026
ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH THE STATE OF HAWAII ELECTRONIC
PROCUREMENT SYSTEM (HIePRO)
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
1151 PUNCHBOWL STREET, ROOM 325
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813
NOTICE TO OFFERORS
Specifications for Solicitation No. "KA'ULA ISLET SURVEY RESEARCH VESSEL" are available for download on the State of Hawaii Electronic Procurement System (HIePRO). All offers are due through electronic submittal on HIePRO by: 9/1/2026
Time: 2:00 PM (HST)
At the time of the Award, Offeror shall be compliant with the State Rules and Regulations through Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE), if not compliant, award shall not be issued. Offeror shall submit the original signed OFFER FORMS for KA'ULA ISLET SURVEY RESEARCH VESSEL uploaded to HIePRO.
The award, if awarded, shall be subject to the availability of funds.
Contact: Benjamin Wells, DOFAW Kauai, (808) 631-5013
Scope of Work
The Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), Kauai Branch has received a Federal grant to execute research at one of Hawaii's offshore islands, Kaula Islet (or Kaula Rock). Due to the sensitive nature of the site all research will be conducted remotely by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone from a suitable research vessel, over a period of several (estimated 3 to 4) working research days. The work involves the delivery and recovery of scientific monitoring equipment, utilizing UAVs, from the deck of the research vessel. This work also entails a comprehensive floristic and faunal survey of the islet, requiring the participation of 6-7 research staff for the duration of the trip. Close cooperation between field team and research vessel captain and crew will be essential to successful operations.
Dates (prospective) At minimum two (2) trips consisting of 3-4 on-site working days plus transit time. Prospective times include December 2026, March-May 2027, and June-September 2027. These dates are not final and may be changed in consultation with vendor.
Services Requested 1. Round-trip transportation of cargo and field staff from Kauai, delivery to site, continued operations at site for 3-4 days, and return (prospective route below). Vendor Requirements Due to the approach and number of personnel involved in the research study, vessel stability and space aboard are of high importance. The demands of the research study are reflected in the requirements below. Previous experience conducting scientific research operations is strongly encouraged.
Requirements:
The vessel must be able to operate minimum 12-hour working days on-site for 4 consecutive days, with reliable transit to and from site and night moorings.
Vessel must be able to load and unload research team and equipment from a Kauai port.
Stabilizing elements (fins, bridge wing control station, etc.) to allow for less roll and fine maneuvering during precise UAV operations.
Bunk, bathroom and dining space for 6-7 individual passengers.
Sufficient deck space for the simultaneous operating of two UAV platforms, including landing and storage and attachment of monitoring equipment, with deck dimensions of at least 10x15ft.
Sufficient power generation with outlets and charging capacity to 120/240v (preferably near to UAV launch deck space) and a loading crane arm to deliver UAV units and equipment to tender if needed.
An area of high visibility (preferably elevated) for UAV spotting operations and visual monitoring of seabirds.
Vessel must have up to date hull inspections; ballast water inspection; rat inspection; Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) installed as well as long-range onboard communications equipment able to contact facilities on Oahu and Kauai from site.
Due to Federal requirements for safety and compliance, vendors must have up-to-date U.S. Coast Guard safety inspections and be equipped with safety equipment including firefighting equipment, ventilation and backfire flame control.
Vessel must be able to acquire all necessary permits for marine operations in the research area and for transportation of equipment including lithium batteries.
Ideal bidder: Depending on vessel size and draft, as well as conditions, additional work may need to be performed from nearer to shore, and the ideal vessel also has a large (15-20'), stable tender (Zodiac or equivalent), with crew qualified to operate it in nearshore areas.
Having crew who meet OSHA 30hr General Industry standards aboard is preferred for operational compliance. Internet access via Starlink or similar is preferred.
Availability
Vessel should be made available for research periods for exclusive use by DOFAW during 1-week windows to be set in consultation with research team.
Biosecurity Due to the ecologically sensitive nature of the study site, biosecurity procedures (rat line-guards on moorings, rat and insect trap deployment, etc.) will be implemented before departure to DOFAW standards. Vessel and crew will conduct required pre-trip cleaning, trapping and reporting for biosecurity measures.
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