Project Information

Bid Title

RFP 26-17 Lease Area Oyster Reef Plot Augmentation # 2

Issuing Agency

University of Southern Mississippi

Location

Mississippi

Published Date

Jan 20, 2026

Closing Date

Feb 20, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RFP 26-17

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Solicitation	Submission Deadline	Request Documents and Specifications
RFP 26-17 Lease Area Oyster Reef Plot Augmentation # 2	2/20/26 2:00 PM	RFP 26-17

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THIS IS NOT

AN ORDER

REQUEST FOR BIDS/PROPOSALS COVERSHEET

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Procurement and Contract Services

703 E. Beach Dr. Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Date:

Name: ____________________________________

Company: _________________________________

Address: __________________________________

City/State/Zip:______________________________

TERMS - Bidder should state terms of sale. Our terms are 2% ten days, net 45 days.

These terms will apply per Mississippi law.

AWARDING CONTRACT - Cash terms will not be used as a basis for awarding

contracts; however, the University will accept cash discounts when earned.

Bid No. 26-17

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI is considering

the purchase of the following item(s). We ask that you submit your

bid and retain one copy for your files. Right is reserved to accept or

reject any part of your bid. Your quotation will be given

consideration if received in Bond Hall, Room 214 on or before:

February 20, 2026 2:00 p.m. CDT

Buyer: Millissa Weaver

NOTE: If you cannot quote on the exact material shown, please indicate any exception giving brand name and complete

specifications of any alternate. If additional space is required, use a separate sheet or letter of transmittal.

ITEM

QUANTITY

UNIT PRICE

TOTAL NET PRICE

DESCRIPTION

RFP Bid# 26-17

Lease Area Oyster Reef Plot

Augmentation #2 as per attached

specifications.

RFX 3160007850

PROPOSAL MUST BE RETURNED TO THE UNIVERSITY IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS. RFP NUMBER AND

DATE OF BID OPENING MUST BE SHOWN ON THE OUTSIDE OF

THE ENVELOPE IF USING THAT METHOD.

We quote you as above-F.O.B. The University of Southern Mississippi. Shipment can be made in

order. DATE ______________ TERMS ____________________________________

Return quotation to Procurement Services at above address.

days from receipt of

AA/EOE/ADAI

Signature Required__________________________________________

Advertisement for Bids

The University of Southern Mississippi

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Ocean Springs, MS

Notice To Contractors

Reef Augmentation #2

Sealed bids will be received by The University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast

Research Laboratory in the Halstead Campus Receiving Office, located at 703 East Beach

Drive, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564, until 2:00 p.m. CDT Friday, February 20th,

2026, for supplying all labor, equipment, and materials necessary for the construction of

the above referenced project. All bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud.

If anyone prefers to submit their bid electronically, please follow the instructions below

using the following website: https://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Home/Sell. If

you are not already registered in this system, potential bidders will first need to click on

"Supplier Registration" and follow the steps outlined (a one-time process). Once

registered, return to the original website, and click on "Procurement Opportunities" where

you can either search by keyword for the bid you desire to respond to or leave the search

box blank and click "Search" for a listing of all current bids and proposals for the various

State of Mississippi offices. The work shall consist essentially of the following items:

contractor to perform a second augmentation to multiple one acre oyster reef plots (2 per

lease area) within four 50-acre lease areas, including surficial enhancements of #57

limestone gravel substrate to the designated plots at time TBD in the spring-summer of

2026.

All other related items of work required to complete the project as shown and specified in

the Contract Documents. The above general outline of features of the work does not in any

way limit the responsibility of the contractor to perform all work and furnish all labor,

equipment and materials required by the specifications and the drawings referred to

therein. Detailed specifications may be secured from the above office upon request or on

our website https://www.usm.edu/procurement-contract-services/current-bid-opportunities,

or by calling 228-818-8001 and referencing bid #26-17. The attention of bidders is

directed to the Special Provisions governing selection and employment of labor. Minimum

wage rates for Federal-Aid projects have been predetermined by the Secretary of Labor

and are subject to Public Law 87-581 Work Hours Act of 1962, as set forth in the Contract

Provisions. The University of Southern Mississippi hereby notifies all bidders that it will

affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement,

disadvantaged and women's business enterprises will be afforded full

opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated

against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. The

award of this contract will be contingent upon the Contractor satisfying the DBE/WBE

requirements. Each bid shall be accompanied by a Certified Check on a solvent bank or a

Bidder's Bond issued by a Surety Company licensed to operate in the State of

Mississippi, in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total bid price, payable to the

University of Southern Mississippi as bid security. Bidders shall also submit a current

financial statement, if requested by the University. The successful bidder will be required

to furnish a performance and payment bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%)

of the contract amount. Both bonds shall be signed and countersigned by a Mississippi

Resident Agent. The proposal and contract documents in its entirety shall be submitted in

a sealed envelope and deposited with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Halstead

Campus Receiving Office, Ocean Springs, Mississippi prior to the hour and date above

designated. The University of Southern Mississippi reserves the right to reject any or all

proposals, to waive technicalities or irregularities, or to advertise for new proposals, and

the decision of the University to reject any bid or proposal shall not be cause for any

liability or damages against the University of Southern Mississippi, any officers, or

employees. The bidder must agree to commence work on or before a date to be specified

in a written "Notice to Proceed" of the Owner and to fully complete the project within the

Contract Time. The bidder must also agree to pay as liquidated damages the sum

specified in the Standard Specifications per day for each calendar day of overrun in

Contract Time that work is not completed. The attention of Bidders is directed to the

provisions of Subsection 102.07 pertaining to irregular proposals and rejection of bids.

Millissa Weaver

Procurement Coordinator

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

(228) 818-8001

Publish 2 times and charge to The University of Southern Mississippi:

01/18/2026

01/25/2026

Bid # 26‐17

RFX 3160007850

University of Southern Mississippi

Lease Area Oyster Reef Plot Augmentation #2

1.0 Introduction

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is seeking to procure a

contractor to augment multiple oyster reef plots within one-acre areas (2 per lease area) within four

50-acre sites, using surficial enhancements of #57 limestone gravel to the designated plots at a time

TBD in the spring-summer of 2026.

2.0 Specifications

2.1 GENERAL PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Adherence to timing and precision of gravel applications within delineated plots is critical to the

success of this project. Prescribed quantities of material must be spread evenly across created reef

plots as defined by geolocated maps of the plots to be provided by the project manager. Areas

enclosing plots are defined by GPS coordinates within the NAD83 CRS as specified in Tables 1 and 2

below. The contractor must immediately notify USM project manager of any anticipated deviation

from the specified times and placements of gravel application, and remediation pursued. A quality

control procedure involving side-scan sonar imagery before and after the application period will

ensure specifications were followed.

Vendor should quote the lead time required for obtaining the materials and conducting the work for

the quoted contract. All required materials for the augmentation should be acquired as a one-time

purchase. Required permits have been obtained by the contractee. Sealed bid responses to be

received by 2:00 PM CDT on Friday, February 20, 2026 (see specifications below).

2.2

REQUIREMENTS

The following specifications are to ensure that the contractor performs the tasks necessary to

satisfy the project’s objectives. Any deviation from the following specifications must be

explained, justified and rectified.

Bidder shall meet or exceed the following specifications:

• four 50-acre site areas

o see Figs 1-3, below

o two in western MS Sound and two in Eastern MS Sound

o Geographic coordinates of site areas specified in table 1 below

1

o Eight one-acre bounded pre-existing plots areas per site

▪ six of which contain established base reefs

• Base reefs for 24 reef plots were created within one-acre bounded areas

o Within six one-acre areas at each of the four sites

o Base reefs were completed in two phases in spring and summer

of 2024

▪ One site was completed within each region of MS Sound

during each phase

▪ Each base reef plot was constructed using 800 cubic yards

of number 4 limestone gravel

• To fulfill this bid, surficial enhancement of the designated reef plots will

be conducted at a time TBD in spring-summer of 2026 (TBD - April-July

2026)

• The first augmentation of two plots per area occurred in late May 2025

o The same two plots (plots 5 & 7) within each of the four sites were

augmented during the May 2025 event

• The time window for the second augmentation event will be arranged

between contractee and contractor

o Surficial enhancement of 2 of the 6 base reef plots

▪ For the same two plots (plots 3 & 4) within each of the

four sites (See Figs. 4-5 below)

▪ even dispersion of surficial enhancement material across

the reef-plot areas

▪ 100 cubic yards of No. 57 limestone per reef plot

▪ The four other base reef plots at each site did not receive

any enhancement during this event

▪ the two control plots lacking base reefs at each site did

not receive any enhancement

o GPS coordinates for individual plot-area boundaries are predetermined

▪ Geo-referenced side-scan profiles of base reef plots within base-reef plot areas

are available from the contractee (e.g., Fig. 5b).

▪ See Tables 1 and 2 below for GPS coordinates for lease areas and reef-plot area

boundaries in NAD83 CRS

• Or alternatively, in NAD 83 Mississippi State Plane feet

▪ See Figures 4 and 5 below for layout configurations of reef plot areas and reef

plots within 50-acre sites:

• Plot areas (one-acre) arranged near perimeter of 50-acre site areas

o Areas of bare substrate interdigitate with reef- plots

o Independence of treatments is thereby maintained

• Reef Material for augmentation

o #57 LIMESTONE GRAVEL – particle size = 0.5" – 1.0"

▪ Estimated 1 cu yd = 1.2 ton

2

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