Soul Source justification under SAT_Reconyx2024_Signed.pdf

SOLE SOURCE or BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION (FAR 13 Under the SAT)

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED

The Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) of the US Forest Service, Dept. of Agriculture is requesting research grade “camera traps” (motion and heat activated cameras) for conducting wildlife research in extreme winter environments.

The total estimated value is $46,700 and the delivery timeframe needed is within 1 month of placing the order and before August of 2024.

2. JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLICITING FROM A SINGLE SOURCE or FOR A BRAND NAME

RMRS is requesting the Professional model of the HyperFire2 Covert camera trap from Reconyx, Inc. These cameras have multiple features not found in other commercially available camera traps in the categories of performance in extreme environments, programming capability, programming flexibility, security, and reliability. In addition to these features these cameras are made by an American company and are the only trail camera that are manufactured in the United States.

Performance in extreme environments: The operating temperature of the Hyperfire2 is -40 F to 140 F which far exceeds the operating temperature of other available camera trap brands (see Section 3 below). This is particularly true for the lower operating temperature, and the Hyperfire2 will operate in low winter temperatures at which most other cameras will not function. These cameras are being purchased primarily for research on an Threatened mammal species (Canada Lynx) in Montana where winter temperatures can often be below 0 F for days and weeks at a time. These can also be the most active time for this species as they must hunt to maintain energy and body temperature and this camera is the only model that reliably captures data at these temperatures.

Hyperfire2 Pro cameras also have a unique detection zone, or programmed area in the field of view that leads to a camera trigger. The proprietary detection zone of the Hyperfire2 leads to very few “false triggers”, or blank photos, caused by movement of vegetation or shadows in the view of the camera. Other camera traps often take thousands of blank photos (a recent RMRS survey had 341,000 blank photos) that can cost hundreds of hours of staff time to process after surveys are completed.

Programming Capability: The Hyperfire2 has several programming options that are not available in other camera traps that are essential for several aspects of wildlife research.

1. Programming from SD card: Hyperfire2 Pro cameras can be programmed from a file on an SD card when that card is inserted into the camera. With large projects that utilize multiple field staff this is an essential feature to ensure that standard programming is applied to all units placed in the field. When other brands of cameras have been used inconsistent programming has often led to data loss of up to 20%.

2. Time lapse scheduling: Hyperfire2 Pro cameras can program custom times for timelapse photos, or photos that are always taken at a certain time of the day in addition to photos and videos that are taken after being triggered by heat and motion. Most other camera trap brands cannot combine timelapse and motion sensor triggered photos, and those that can do not have the programming flexibility of the Hyperfire2 Pro. This feature is essential to determine when cameras are functioning or not (e.g., dead batteries) which is needed for accurate statistical analysis of survey data.

3. Delayed Start: Hyperfire2 Pro cameras can be programmed to start some period after cameras are deployed in the field (up to 1 year) so that data collected in camera trap surveys can be collected with a common start date. This saves hours of staff time after surveys are conducted to standardize survey data, and this feature is also not available in other camera trap brands.

4. External trigger photos/videos: Hypefire2 Pro cameras can be triggered using an external trigger which is a more reliable trigger method for detecting smaller animals than the native motion sensor in the camera. Research projects that focus on the prey of Threatened and Endangered carnivores often use external triggers with bait to accurately survey prey abundance. This feature is not available on other camera trap brands.

Programming Flexibility: The Hyperfire2 Pro has much more flexible programming capabilities than other commercially available camera traps. These include photos per trigger, delay after triggering, nighttime shutter speed and ISO ratings, and compatibility with rechargeable batteries.

1. Photos and Delay: The Hyperfire2 Pro has many options for collecting multiple photos per trigger combined with multiple delay options after trigger to optimize species capture while limiting the number of photos captured during the survey. Other camera traps do have some options, but not the combination that can prevent SD cards from filling up during long survey periods in remote locations that prevent multiple site visits to cameras to change SD cards.

2. Nighttime photo options: Hyperfire2 Pro cameras have the ability to change the shutter speed and ISO settings for nighttime photos to optimize clarity of photos taken at night. This is critical for surveys that need to capture details of spots or stripes on part of the animal for individual identification and for identifying animals that have been fitted with GPS or VHF collars as part of a large study. Some other camera brands have one or two options for adjusting nighttime picture sensitivity, but since they are marketed primarily to hunters they do not provide the photo clarity needed for research objectives.

3. The Hyperfire2 Pro is the only camera trap that is explicitly designed to be used with both rechargeable and alkaline/lithium batteries. Other camera models are not made to be used with rechargeables and many brands state that using rechargeable batteries violates the warranty. The use of rechargeable batteries for camera trap surveys costs the government less in the long run and greatly cuts down on the dangerous waste of partially used batteries.

Security: Hyperfire2 Pro cameras have two features not found in other camera trap brands that greatly reduce theft and data loss. The first is the ability to use a code to unlock the camera. The camera will not function without entering the code, and paper placed in the battery compartment of the cameras stating this have been found to reduce theft (although not always damage) to cameras in previous field studies. Additionally the Hyperfire2 is built so that a cable lock can be inserted around and through the front door of the camera, preventing the door from being opened by people and preventing the camera door from being ripped off by wildlife (a surprisingly common occurrence in areas with bears). Preventing the door being opened by people also reduces the theft of SD cards, and all data, by people. Theft of SD cards has resulted in data loss of up to 10- 15% in other field studies, especially in areas that are popular with hunters.

Reliability: Hyperfire2 Pro cameras are the only trail cameras that come with a 5 year warranty, excellent warranty service, and reliably function for up to10 years. Other trail cameras come with a

1 year warranty and often only function reliably for 3-4 years. It is also the experience of RMRS researchers that warranties for other camera trap brands have been hard to claim in many instances, and often results in a credit for new cameras instead of replacement which is much harder to deal with in a government agency.

3. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION

Other camera trap brands have been evaluated by a combination of market research, field testing, and testimonies from other researchers. Many other camera trap brands besides Bushnell and Browning mainly focus on cameras that connect to a cell network and have lower quality trail cameras without this feature. Results for this research is summarized below for the 5 most common other brands of commercially available camera traps that offer models with an infrared (IR) flash that is not visible to animals (vs. a “low glow” IR flash that is still visible), a feature that is the minimum requirement for wildlife research using camera traps.

Bushnell: Bushnell has two models of camera traps that have an “invisible” infrared flash. These models are less reliable than the Hyperfire2 (~5% of cameras have been reported to fail in field conditions in the first year by other researchers) and are not reliable in low temperatures, and do not have the programming capabilities and security features described above. The cameras only lock onto a mounting device or tree through the back bracket, the door to access the batteries and SD card cannot be locked, and they do not have camera sensitivity or nighttime programming options like the Hyperfire2 Pro. In addition, they do not have the option of programming the camera from an SD card. Bushnell cameras are manufactured in China, not the United States.

Browning: Browning carries several different models of camera traps with an “invisible” IR flash.

The Browning cameras all utilize a battery tray compared to the internal battery compartment of the Hyperfire2 Pro, and this tray has been reported to fail often by other researchers. Researchers in a large USFS carnivore monitoring study in CA had to resort to duct taping the tray closed to get more than one year out of many of their cameras. In addition, none of the Browning models are rated to low winter temperatures and they do not have the programming capabilities and security features listed above. The cameras only lock onto a mounting device or tree through the back bracket, the door to access the batteries and SD card cannot be locked, and they do not have camera sensitivity or nighttime programming options like the Hyperfire2 Pro. In addition, they do not have the option of programming the camera from an SD card. Browning cameras are manufactured in the Phillipines, not the United States.

Spypoint: Spypoint has one trail camera model that has an “invisible” IR flash. This camera does have an internal battery compartment but has substantially less programming options than the Hyperfire2 Pro and does not reliably operate at very low temperatures. The cameras only lock onto a mounting device or tree through the back bracket, the door to access the batteries and SD card cannot be locked, and they do not have camera sensitivity or nighttime programming options like the Hyperfire2 Pro. In addition, they do not have the option of programming the camera from an SD card. Spypoint cameras are assembled in Canada using parts from Asia and are not manufactured in the United States.

Cuddeback: Cuddeback has one trail camera model that has an “invisible” IR flash. This brand has mostly focused on developing cellular connected trail cameras and cameras that take nighttime color pictures with a white light flash. This type of flash is not appropriate for wildlife research since many carnivore species have been found to avoid camera locations after being startled with a bright flash. This camera does have an internal battery compartment but has substantially less programming options than the Hyperfire2 Pro and does not reliably operate at very low temperatures. The cameras only lock onto a mounting device or tree through the back bracket, the door to access the batteries and SD card cannot be locked, and they do not have camera sensitivity or nighttime programming options like the Hyperfire2 Pro. In addition, they do not have the option of programming the camera from an SD card. This camera model also takes D batteries, not AA, which is more expensive and makes cameras far heavier in the field. Cuddeback cameras are designed in the USA but not manufactured in the USA.

4. STEPS TO PRECLUDE FUTURE SINGLE SOURCE (or BRAND NAME) AWARDS

Unfortunately, no other company makes a research grade trail camera similar to the Hyperfire2 Pro, but there are other steps we are taking to preclude future single source awards. One is that we are working to make one or two large purchases of this product so that multiple future single source awards will not be needed to meet research objectives. We are also choosing a camera trap model that has the industries longest warranty and the highest rated longevity by several sources (other researchers and ratings sites such as trailcampro.com) so that we rarely need to replace units.

5. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S DETERMINATION

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b) that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is available for the required services.

Requesting Office:

NAME: Tavis Forrester Title: Research Wildlife Biologist

Concur/Does Not Concur:

NAME

Contracting Officer

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