2018 SIL WCIL NEIL aerialwaterfowlsurvey bid request.docx

Bid Request for Fixed-wing Airplane Service to Perform Waterfowl Surveys

We (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) are requesting a bid from your company to provide a pilot and fixed-wing aircraft (Cessna 182 or similar high wing plane) to complete low-level flight operations to determine weekly estimates of waterfowl use in southern Illinois and biweekly (every other week) estimates of waterfowl use in central, west-central, and northeast Illinois. Thirty-two surveys are scheduled, mid-October 2018 through early February 2019 (see attached calendar).

Southern Illinois: Sixteen weekly surveys are scheduled. Surveys will involve flying below 500 feet AGL along a set route over 14 waterfowl areas. The following locations are included on each survey: Vandalia Lake (Fayette County), Keck’s Marsh (Fayette County), Carlyle Lake (Fayette and Clinton counties), Ten Mile Creek SFWA (Hamilton County), Rend Lake (Jefferson and Franklin counties), Pyramid SRA (Perry County), DuQuoin (Perry County), Campbell Pond (Jackson County), Burning Star Mine (Jackson County), Cache River (Johnson County), Mermet Lake (Massac County), Horseshoe Lake (Alexander County), Union County FWA (Union County), and Crab Orchard NWR (Williamson County). Note: Two traditional survey locations in Kentucky (Ballard County WMA and Swan Lake) will not be included on the southern Illinois survey this year.

One Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) biologist, and as many as two or three IDNR biologists, will accompany the pilot on each survey. The pilot will pick up IDNR biologists at Shelbyville and Marion airports. Approximately eight surveys will begin at the Shelbyville airport and approximately eight surveys will begin at the Marion airport, but it may be necessary to begin several surveys at an alternate airport. The pilot will coordinate closely with IDNR biologists to determine survey dates, start locations, and IDNR crew for each survey. Flight routes will be determined by an IDNR biologist. Each survey requires approximately 7 to 8 hours of flight time. Flights usually are scheduled to occur on a Monday. If inclement weather or other factors prevent flights on Monday, the Vendor must be available to perform the work on Tuesday or Wednesday. If inclement weather or scheduling conflicts extend through Wednesday, the southern Illinois flight may be canceled.

Central Illinois: This survey will be flown biweekly in conjunction with the southern Illinois survey when the southern survey starts at the Shelbyville airport. There are eight southern Illinois surveys scheduled to begin at the Shelbyville airport. These eight surveys will include three central Illinois survey locations (Lake Shelbyville, Lake Springfield, and Sangchris Lake) and the 14 southern Illinois surveys locations identified above.

West-central Illinois: Eight biweekly surveys are scheduled. Surveys will involve flying along transects at or below 500 feet AGL along a set route over wetlands in portions of Fulton, Knox, Peoria, Stark, Bureau, and Henry counties.

One to three IDNR biologists, but normally two biologists, will accompany the pilot on each survey. The pilot will pick up IDNR biologists at the Canton airport. The pilot will coordinate closely with IDNR biologists to determine survey dates and IDNR crew for each survey. Flight routes will be determined by an IDNR biologist. Each survey will require approximately 4 hours of flight time, departing from and returning to Canton. Additional flight time may be required for commuting to and from the Canton airport. Flights typically are scheduled to occur on a Tuesday. If inclement weather or a schedule conflict prevents flying on a Tuesday, flights must be rescheduled for the next available day with suitable weather of that schedule week. If inclement weather or schedule conflicts extend through Friday, flights may be canceled.

Northeast Illinois: Eight biweekly surveys are scheduled. Surveys will involve flying at or below 500 feet AGL along a set route over lakes, river segments, and other selected wetlands in northeast Illinois. The following locations are included on each survey: Kankakee River, Lake Renwick and nearby wetlands, DesPlaines River, Dresden Cooling Lake, Braidwood Cooling Lake, Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area, Heidecke Lake, Illinois River, and LaSalle Cooling Lake.

One to three IDNR biologists, but normally two biologists, will accompany the pilot on each survey. The pilot will pick up IDNR biologists at the Morris airport. The pilot will coordinate closely with IDNR biologists to determine survey dates and IDNR crew for each survey. Flight routes will be determined by an IDNR biologist. Each survey will require approximately 3 hours of flight time, departing from and returning to Morris. Additional flight time may be required for commuting to and from the Morris airport. Flights usually are scheduled to occur on a Tuesday. If inclement weather or a schedule conflict prevents flying on a Tuesday, flights must be rescheduled for the next available day with suitable weather of that schedule week. If inclement weather or schedule conflicts extend through Friday, flights may be canceled.

Survey Standards: The Vendor shall have an active low level waiver through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The pilot shall possess and be able to demonstrate the following minimum qualifications: FAA commercial pilot’s airplane category certificate/license; a valid and current Class 1 or Class 2, FAA medical certificate; at least 1,000 hours of pilot in command flight experience in the make and model or equivalent aircraft to be used on this operation; at least 250 hours of documented pilot in command low-level flying experience; and at least 100 hours of pilot in command experience flying low-level aerial wildlife surveys in a small single engine airplane. Low-level flight is defined as flight below 500 feet AGL that is not for the purpose of takeoff or landing.

The survey requires a pilot with low level flight experience (e.g., powerline/pipeline patrol, agricultural operations, law enforcement, or wildlife survey) and a Cessna 182 or comparable high wing plane. Vendor must provide pilot, airplane, fuel, proof of insurance, and must transport passengers over survey areas in such a manner to facilitate identifying and counting waterfowl below. IDNR will provide 1 to 3 biologists per flight to count waterfowl and record observations.

For budgetary reasons, it is required that the Vendor’s plane be based at or in close proximity to the Springfield airport (≤ 60 miles). Vendor must be flexible about survey dates because weather (high winds, heavy rain, snow, etc.) will dictate when aerial surveys may occur. Number of surveys scheduled per week ranges from one to three, with two per week the most common (13 out of 17 weeks). Occasionally, inclement weather or schedule conflicts may prevent completion of surveys or result in schedule adjustments. For example, number of canceled southern Illinois surveys has ranged from 3 to 8 per year since 2007.

Please find attached a map of the general survey area.

Payment will be made in terms of a set rate per hour of flight time, up to the maximum amount specified.

If you are interested in submitting a bid, please submit a quote of the hourly rate you will accept for this contract, the type of airplane to be used, and a statement indicating that you meet the required Vendor standards and qualifications identified above.

Please be aware that if your bid is accepted we will have to enter into a contract, which will require additional paperwork to be completed. No surveys will be flown until a fully executed contract is in place.

If you should have questions please contact Dan Holm by email (dan.holm@illinois.gov) or phone (309/543-3065, office; 309/338-7649, cell).

Thank you.