Tribal FishCo Purchasing & Processing Fish, Providing Ice

Closing Date: Open until filled.

NOTE: This RFQ is for Tribal FishCo, an independent enterprise of the Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Nez Perce tribes. It is neither owned nor governed by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. This RFQ is posted here as a courtesy to Tribal FishCo.

Full RFQ available here: RFQ-2025-08-12FishCo

Position Details

Tribal FishCo LLC (FishCo) is owned and operated by the four Columbia River treaty tribes including the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe. As outlined in greater detail below, FishCo is soliciting quotations from prospective contractors to purchase and process fish (head & gut only) and to produce and provide ice to tribal fishers on FishCo’s behalf at its fish processing plant located near White Salmon, WA.

FishCo and the selected Contractor will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a one-year term, with an opportunity for the parties to mutually agree to extend the MOA for additional one-year terms thereafter. The Contractor will be responsible for providing capital (cash and equipment) to staff operations at the plant. The MOA will establish the conditions by which FishCo and the Contractor will coordinate with one another and the services the Contractor will provide to FishCo for the 2025 fall commercial fishing season and seasons during any subsequent terms of renewal. Pursuant to the MOA, the Contractor will be authorized to purchase fish on-site from members of the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes at market pricing levels and also to process this fish (head & gut only) for market. Activities to be conducted under the MOA may include: equipment maintenance, ice production, fish buying, certain fish processing activities, product development, marketing, branding, distribution, and training of members of the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes employed by FishCo in processing, with the objective of developing FishCo employees’ abilities so that FishCo may operate and maintain the plant in future years.

The Contractor will be expressly prohibited from dumping any fish solid waste materials (e.g., head, guts) into the premises’ stormwater and sewer system or anywhere on or near the premises and will be responsible for disposal of such waste materials off-site. The Contractor will be responsible for any fees or fines resulting from the disposal of waste or wastewater not in accordance with these responsibilities. The Contractor will be required to have a HACCP plan in place to guide the processing of fish.

FishCo estimates fall 2025 harvests at approximately the levels indicated in the table below. These estimates are based on modeled catches under typical fishing patterns and recent average weights. Actual harvest will depend on actual run sizes, and not all fishers are expected to need ice from FishCo as some other buyers provide ice.

Goal

To help FishCo carry out its ISDEAA scope of work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for operation and maintenance of the fish plant; to increase the economic benefits of treaty Indian fisheries by providing tribes and tribal fishers with access to a tribally operated fish operation where they pick up ice, sell their catch, have fish processed, and market products through the branding of tribally caught salmon; and to train members of the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes employed by FishCo in operations and maintenance activities, including processing, product development, marketing, branding, and distribution.

Responsibilities

1. Producing ice and making it available for tribal fishers Mondays through Thursdays from 9am to 5pm, and Fridays from 9am to noon, or other agreed upon schedule. Tribal fishers shall not be required to sell fish to the Contractor in order to receive (or purchase) ice.
2. Providing all staffing and coordination necessary to produce and provide (sell) ice, and to purchase and process fish.
3. Providing ice to tribal fishers of the four treaty tribes, regardless of whether they sell fish to the Contractor. Contractor shall record all ice transactions (i.e., ice disbursements to treaty tribe members; amounts provided; date and time of disbursement; any payments made) with all information provided to FishCo at the end of the contract period.
4. Providing records and making payment to FishCo, or other vendors, in accordance with the MOA and Contractor’s Scope of Work. This includes:
   1. Providing a weekly record of all fish purchase transactions (fish tickets) with the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes’ members, pounds of fish purchased, date of purchase, and payments made, with all information and payment provided to FishCo by Tuesday of the following week of operations; and
   2. Providing a weekly record of all ice transactions with the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes’ members, pounds of ice provided, date of disbursement, and amounts of any payments made, with all information and payment provided to FishCo by Tuesday of the following week of operations.
   3. Paying all utility bills (e.g., gas, electricity, sewer, water, garbage, telephone, and security alarm) within 10 business days of receiving an invoice for such from FishCo.
   4. If ice is sold, each tribal fisher will get a receipt, which will be accounted for in the summary document provided to FishCo at the end of the contract.
5. Using, retaining, and paying for limited ice for Contractor’s own use, as provided in the MOA.
6. Being responsible for adherence to FishCo’s sewer agreement, including hooking up and monitoring the flow meter, water, and other discharges, testing the water in conformance to the sewer agreement requirements, and entering data into State of Washington, Department of Ecology’s system to meet compliance with wastewater treatment monitoring processes.
7. Conducting operations in a safe and prudent manner. All employees need to be trained on safety issues relating to their respective positions, e.g., ice production, fish handling, processing, and packaging, including HACCP compliance.
8. Covering all costs associated with ice production, fish buying, processing, marketing, and operations, including but not limited to the following:
   1. Contractor’s employee wages and associated costs (e.g., L&I and other payroll costs, travel, per diem, housing, workers’ compensation, etc.);
   2. All equipment costs, including set-up, tear-down, clean-up, and transportation to and from the site; and
   3. The timely payment of all utilities for the term of the MOA, as noted above and will be specifically described in the MOA.
9. Leaving the premises in similar, or as good condition, compared to its existence prior to the commencement of the MOA. Contractor and a FishCo representative will review the premises prior to the start of ice production or fish purchasing and document any issues associated with the condition of the plant or equipment. Contractor is financially responsible and liable for returning the premises and facilities to their original condition as documented during the site inspection (other than normal wear and tear, acts of God, and natural disasters), and to furnish all required labor, parts, replacements, and repairs in a timely fashion.
10. Being responsible and financially liable for any and all clean-up or repairs determined by FishCo to be necessary in order to leave the premises in similar or as good condition as they were in prior to commencement of the MOA, as required above. If FishCo determines that such clean-up or any repairs are required and chooses to undertake such clean-up or repairs itself, Contractor agrees to reimburse FishCo for those expenses in a timely manner.
11. Restricting access to the plant to necessary personnel and maintaining an entry log for insurance liability purposes and as part of the HACCP. This includes ensuring that Contractors’ employees do not camp or otherwise stay overnight on the premises except as may be required for operations; no entity or individual other than Contractor and Contractor’s employees, as necessary for operations, receive keys to the premises; and no tribal fishers’ boats or other equipment are stored on the premises.
12. Post-season activities for the wastewater conveyance and treatment system:
    1. All removable fittings and hoses should be cleaned, drained, and stored in a locking job box, or a tote. All pipe assemblies should be taped shut for rodent control.
    2. The sump in the plant must be drained and cleaned. The removable sump pump should be removed, cleaned, inspected, and stored per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
    3. The screen outside should be drained (remove head box plug) and power washed. The screen needs to be releveled. An automated spray bar can be used to keep the screen clean during operations. It should be installed before the next season.
    4. The tote next to the screen with the pump should be cleaned. The pump should be serviced per (b) above.
    5. The outside wall-mounted flow meter next to the screen should be removed and the inside carefully cleaned. The meter can then be reinstalled.
    6. The lift station next to the truck bay should be cleaned out. The pumps should be serviced per the contractor that installed them.
    7. The flow meter mounted in the removable pipe section that discharges to the lift station must be cleaned and serviced per the manual (taking care to remove the batteries).
13. Returning the key providing access to the fish processing facility at the end of the MOA or at any time as requested by FishCo.
14. Complying with FishCo’s policies, rules and regulations, which are subject to change with notice (per Board decision), as determined by FishCo.
15. Complying with all applicable federal, state, local, and tribal statutes, regulations, and policies and procedures that control or affect any action that might be necessary or taken under the MOA, including such laws governing or related to the environment. Contractor will immediately notify FishCo in writing by email if Contractor has reason to believe that it is not in compliance with any such laws and provide a solution, or action plan for bringing the operation into compliance. Contractor may recommend mitigation measures in the event that the operation is unable to come into compliance. Any criminal activity by Contractor on the premises will be grounds for termination of the MOA.

Qualifications

See full RFP for full requirements

Supervision

Working Conditions

CRITFC Motor Vehicle Policy

n/a