The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Idaho Region awarded a $24,696 firm fixed-price purchase order to Animas Biological Studies, LLC for conducting comprehensive Pinyon Jay surveys across approximately 4,703 acres in Moffat County, Colorado. The contract, awarded on August 13, 2025, is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services). The survey work encompasses three distinct areas: Douglas Mountain (2,576 acres), Dry Gulch (1,729 acres), and Thornburgh Gulch (398 acres), and will be performed in the Little Snake Field Office jurisdiction. Performance is scheduled from February 15 through June 30, 2026, with work to be conducted in Craig, Colorado.
Under the contract, Animas Biological Studies will conduct three survey visits per project area between February 15 and May 15, 2026, utilizing Survey123 and FieldMaps for data collection in accordance with established wildlife survey protocols. Survey technicians will be responsible for detecting and identifying Pinyon Jays and raptors, performing clearance surveys and nest searches, and providing detailed documentation including GPS tracks, observation data, nest locations, and photographic evidence. The work supports the BLM's wildlife management and environmental compliance objectives, with the intensive survey activities concentrated during the Pinyon Jay breeding season to ensure accurate population assessments and nest location identification across the specified land areas.