66--INTENT TO AWARD - USGS ELECTROFISHER RAFT

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS NC Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit – Custom Electrofishing raft The USGS, Cooperative Research Units in Reston, VA, requires a custom electrofishing raft. The primary use is to support the field program of the North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (NCCFWRU) for sampling fish in rocky, upland rivers found along North Carolina’s Fall-line, Piedmont, and mountain regions. This raft will be customized to have hardwired electrical components and attachments necessary for electrofishing to immobilize and nonlethally sample fishes for research objectives associated with fisheries management, aquatic invasive species prevention, and resource conservation. This raft is part of a fleet at the NCCFWRU where specialized electrofishing equipment needs to be compatible and interchangeable without modification with existing equipment (control- boxes, specialized electrofishing equipment) at the NCCFWRU to maximize efficiency, maximize standardization for data-quality, and maximize safety by ensuring student trainees are familiar with the electrofishing equipment. Without this raft, the NCCFWRU cannot efficiently or effectively conduct research in North Carolina’s rocky rivers, which support many of North Carolina’s most recreationally, economically, and culturally important fish species including Striped and White Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Brown and Rainbow trouts. The raft must have the following specifications • Must meet USCG guidelines • 14ft custom hybrid raft for electrofishing • Complete contiguous design with molded floatable floor that is drainable and does not have separate pontoons • Heavy duty cast aluminum oar locks; 2 oars • Motor mount between pontoons at rear • Removable bow electrofishing shock rail and standing platform with a padded front section • Racks and trays to secure equipment • Bow cathode curtain that is removable and replaceable • Treadplate captains floor that is removable • Portable livewell fish cooler • All stainless steel hardware • For compatibility purposes with existing electrofishing fleet and equipment at the NCCFWRU, the raft must be compatible with Midwest Lake Electrofishing Systems high-voltage electrofishing equipment and control box without any unnecessary adaptations or modifications. • Multipurpose design that may be used as a stream mini-boat for wadable streams or typical boat shocker set up • Extra wear coating applied to pontoon bottom • Dual purpose anode/cathode junction box for electrofishing raft and stream barge applications o Specifically designed to be used with the Infinity Series Control Boxes and MLES equipment o Provides connections for boat booms and hand-held anode poles, switch, and cathode o UV / water resistant cords (switch and output) and waterproof connectors to Infinity Box 140G0126Q0186 - Attachment 1 1 -- 1 of 2 -- o Cathode wire, lug, and stainless steel hardware for bonding to raft frame • Two pivot/swing electrofishing booms o 2” outside diameter; ¼” wall o Stainless steel hardware o Crafted from combination fiberglass and thermosetting polyester resin with UV inhibitors o All non-conductive boom material; no aluminum conduit for maximum safety o Socket configured boom ends for added safety from electrocution • Collapsible anode arrays o 3/16” stainless steel cables o Folds to 8 inches for storage • Foot pedal safety switch o May be used by operator or bow dipper • Lightweight 4kw generator o Pull start with isolated neutral; approx. 115lbs o Generator plug, cord and bonding cable Custom built single axle flat bed trailer • All welded steel powder coated black • 16ft long x 84” cargo area with treated deck lumber • HDPE slides for easy deployment • 2” coupler, chains and light pigtail • 3500lb axle with 15” tires, wheels, spare and mount • Welded in D-rings to secure raft with straps / tie downs • Solid nose and sidewalls to protect inflatable from road debris • Rear fold down gate Suzuki 6hp outboard motor • Tiller steer with internal fuel tank installed and tested • Portable Delivery Information: ATTN: TBA Materials Support Warehouse 3240 Ligon St., Raleigh, NC 27607 Delivery contact information TBA. 140G0126Q0186 - Attachment 1 2 -- 2 of 2 --