Green Crab Removal Program in Basin Head, Marine Protected Area (MPA)

This requirement is for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Title: Green Crab Removal Program in Basin Head, Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Summary:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) requires a Contractor to support field research and undertake a removal program of European green crab, an aquatic invasive species affecting the ecological integrity of Basin Head MPA in Prince Edward Island (PE). The main objectives of this Contract are to ensure that the removal of the invasive species are aligned with the Green Crab Research Proposal and the Basin Head MPA Operational Management Plan, aiming to reduce green crab populations and their impact on blue mussels, vital to Irish moss stability.

Scope of Work:

Requirement 1 – Sampling Regime

i. Deploy 47 traps at 41 designated sites (coordinates provided by DFO).
ii. Ensure accessibility by road, foot, canoe, or Jon boat.
iii. Conduct trapping for 60 days per year, following a structured schedule from May to October.

Requirement 2 – Data Collection

Collect crab count, size, and sex data of Green crab as well as any by-catch captured at specific locations to evaluate removal effectiveness, catch per unit effort, size distribution, and sex ratio.

Requirement 3 – Data Management

Maintain an electronic database of all collected data—including size, sex, total green crab, and by- catch—and submit monthly reports to the DFO Project Authority in Microsoft Excel format.

Requirement 4 – Final Report

Prepare and submit a final report of the findings. This will be submitted to the DFO Project Authority to guide monitoring and management efforts.

Refer to the Statement of Work in the RFP for complete requirement details.

Period of the Contract:

The initial period of the Contract is from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 inclusive.

Security:

There is no security requirement applicable to this solicitation.

Trade Agreements:

The requirement is subject to the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA), Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement, Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement, World Trade Organization–Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-GPA), and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).

Mandatory Requirements:

Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the mandatory evaluation criteria as detailed herein. Bidders’ Proposals must clearly demonstrate that they meet all Mandatory Requirements for the proposal to be considered for further evaluation. Proposals not meeting the mandatory criteria will be excluded from further consideration.

Mandatory Criteria

M1 Field Experience in Crustacean Trapping
The Bidder must have a minimum of two (2) field seasons of experience within the past five (5) field seasons in crustacean trapping in estuarine or marine environments.

M2 Capability and Staffing Plan
The Bidder must provide a plan, in accordance with Annex A, Statement of Work, describing their capability and staffing approach to meet the daily trapping, sub-sampling, processing schedule, and data entry requirements.

M3 The Bidder must demonstrate that their vessels (Jon Boat and Canoe) comply with section 3.2.1 of the Statement of Work

M4 For all staff listed in M2(d), the Bidder must submit a copy of their Pleasure Craft Operators certifications to demonstrate competency in operating a small pleasure craft.

Comprehensive Land Claim Agreements

This procurement is not subject to any Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement

Selection Method

The basis of selection is Highest Combined Rating of Technical Merit and Price.