SAM #140G0126Q0210

Sole Source Notice: USGS Procurement of Unmanned Surface Vehicle and Sonar Systems from Blue Robotics

This notice announces the USGS's intent to procure a specialized unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and sonar systems, primarily from Blue Robotics, Inc., with strict technical requirements. - Agency: Department of the Interior, USGS, Michigan Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit - Sole source justification: Only Blue Robotics, Inc. offers an open-source, fully customizable USV operating system - USV requirements: - Catamaran hull, max 47 x 36.5 x 18 inches deployed, max 32 lbs weight (without payload/batteries) - Payload capacity at least 30 lbs - Multiple data and communication ports (serial UART, ethernet, USB, ADC) - Minimum 18 hours endurance - Wireless (200 m omnidirectional, 800 m directional) and cellular communication - Manual navigation controller, payload bracket, ethernet switch for integrating multiple sonar units - Uses 14.8v 18 AH or greater lithium batteries - Sonar systems: - Cerulean Sonar Omniscan 3D 450 SS or equivalent (450-kHz, 16-channel side scan sonar) - Cerulean Surveyor Multibeam echosounder or equivalent (240 kHz, 16-channel multibeam sonar, 80-degree swath, up to 100 m depth) - Additional equipment: - 1080p USB camera (400 m depth rating, wetlink penetrator, USB connection) - Software: Must be open-source and customizable - Commercial opportunity: Vendors offering equivalent products meeting all specifications may respond - Exclusion: Other manufacturers with proprietary software are not eligible

Description

The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Michigan Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit requires an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) with side scan and bathymetric multibeam sonar. The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to Blue Robotics unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they have similar technical expertise and can provide the same product(s). Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Miranda Blankenship, via email at Miranda_blankenship@ios.doi.gov no later than 1:00 PM EDT, Friday, July 24th, 2026, with an affirmative answer. Sole Source Justification States the Following Parts:Contracting Agency: The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Michigan Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.102(a), I hereby determine that the required services/products for an unmanned surface vessel (USV) are available from only one responsible source, and competition is precluded. No other vendors are known to provide services that meet the Government’s requirements without resulting in unacceptable duplication of cost or delay.This acquisition is restricted to the following source:Blue Robotics, Inc.2740 California StreetTorrance, California 90503, USAPhone: 310-533-9184Description of Supplies: The supplies consist of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) meeting the following criteria: USV must use an open source and completely customizable operating system. Catamaran hull design not to exceed 47 X 36.5 X 18 inches when deployed and 47 X 28 X 95 inches when folded for transport and not exceed 32 lbs. in weight (without payload or batteries) Payload capacity (batteries and instrumentation) of at least 30 lbs. Includes at least 3 serial UART ports, 1 ethernet port, 2 USB 2.0 and 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 16-bit 3.3 V ADC, and 1 16-bit 6.6 V ADC Have a minimum endurance of 18 hrs Wireless range with omnidirectional antennae of at least 200 m and at least 800 m with directional antenna Cellular communication equipped Wireless controller for manual navigation Payload bracket to support attachment of other sensors and wet link penetrators to allow cables to traverse the hull Include ethernet switch or other means to integrate multiple data sources (e.g., 2 or more sonar units) Include a Cerulean Sonar Omniscan 3D 450 SS or equivalent 450-kHZ 16-channel side scan sonar system Include a Cerulean Surveyor Multibeam echosounder or equivalent 240 kHz 16-channel multibeam sonar system with an 80-degree swath, depth range of up to 100 meters, and a built-in IMU to provide pitch and roll compensation 1080p USB camera with depth rating of 400 m, preinstalled wetlink penetrator and USBconnection or equivalentOpen-source, customizable operating system and softwareIncludes and uses readily available 14.8v 18 AH or greater lithium batteriesBlue Robotics Inc is the only reasonably available source that can meet the Government’s requirement based on the following: Other companies which produce ROVs or USVs use proprietary software for their operating systems which limit the survey equipment that can be added aftermarket and thus limit the mission profiles that can be performed using a single platform. An open-source operating system is required to allow unit scientists and students to add additional instruments, cameras, sonar, and other devices as required to meet the research needs of our cooperators, and to program the USV to perform missions integrating those aftermarket additions. USGS is actively testing multiple sonar devices, ranging from recreational to survey-grade devices, that require flexible integration options to preserve data integrity. This flexibility is not possible with other USVs that use proprietary software for their operating systems.Market research was conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 to identify potential sources capable of fulfilling this requirement. Market research was conducted via internet searches, searches of GSA Advantage, and conversations with other government and academic users of USVs in their research programs. This market research indicates no other manufacturer’s equipment can be fully integrated with existing USGS survey equipment due to the proprietary operating systems used by the manufacturers.

View original listing