Division of Marine Fisheries Prep, tow and sinking of the Research Vessel Cape Hatteras

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is seeking a qualified contractor to clean, transport, and permanently sink the 135‑foot Research Vessel “Cape Hatteras” to create an artificial reef. The vessel must be fully decontaminated, towed to a designated offshore location, and sunk in compliance with environmental and safety regulations. Work must be completed before 30 June 2027, with bid submissions due 30 September 2026 and a public bid opening on 15 October 2026. A non‑mandatory site visit is scheduled for 18 September 2026. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder that can meet the technical specifications, provide required references, and demonstrate financial and insurance capacity. • Scope: hazardous‑material cleaning, hull preparation, towing operations, sinking (artificial reef placement) • Location: Wilmington, NC (site visit at 405 N Water St) and offshore sinking site (coordinates to be provided) • Schedule: Bid submission by 30 Sep 2026, contract award ~23 Oct 2026, work completion by 30 Jun 2027 • Requirements: North Carolina vendor registration, E‑Verify compliance, insurance, three references, financial certifications, safety plans • Evaluation: Lowest price meeting all specs; technical competence assessed via references and past performance • Deliverables: Cleaned vessel, tow plan, sinking plan, post‑sink monitoring report, all required certifications and documentation.