FBO_Announcement_2.pdf

Intent to Award Notice – 140G0126Q0304

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a requirement for the procurement of satellite-linked GPS tracking collars required for a study of big game movement and use of opportunistic wildlife crossing structures along Interstate 80 (I-80) in southern Wyoming

The U.S. Geological Survey (Cooperative Research Units, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit) requests award of a non-competitive procurement to Telonics, Inc. for an order of 90 RECON-4560-5 GPS/Globalstar satellite-linked tracking collars (45 configured for mule deer with CAST-4 protective casting and CR-5A programmable timed-release mechanisms, and 45 configured for pronghorn with CAST-4 protective casting and CR-7A programmable timed-release mechanisms). Telonics RECON-series GPS collars have already been used in multiple prior and ongoing studies of big game movement along the I-80 corridor in southern Wyoming, and so for data continuity reasons must continue to be used for this next phase of work.

The total anticipated period of performance will be 09/24/2026 - 11/23/2027.

The USGS is aware of no other source that can provide the above. Therefore, it intends to make an award to Telonics, Inc unless it is contacted by any vendor who believes they have similar product that can meet the needs of this requirement. Vendors are invited to contact the Contract Specialist, Patrick Anderson via email at patrick_anderson@usgs.gov no later than 09:00 AM Eastern, Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with an affirmative answer.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (FAR 13.1)

The following information is provided to demonstrate the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications:

The Government requires Telonics RECON-series GPS collars to maintain data continuity for ongoing studies of big game movement and wildlife crossings along the I-80 corridor. Previous mule deer and pronghorn studies used Telonics RECON collars, and the laboratory’s data-management and analytical systems are specifically configured to process Telonics data. Using a different manufacturer would require development and validation of new data-processing procedures and could affect the comparability of location accuracy, fix success, and movement metrics across the combined dataset.

Additionally, the RECON collars are compatible with Telonics CR-5/CR-7 timed-release mechanisms required to recover collars without recapturing animals, and this configuration has been successfully used in prior Wyoming studies. The RECON system also provides the required Globalstar satellite communications, integrated VHF mortality beacon, durable sealed housing, and established performance under Wyoming field conditions. Based on the need for data continuity, compatibility with existing equipment and analytical systems, and the required timed-release capability, Telonics RECON GPS collars are the only known system that meets the Government’s complete requirement without significant modification or disruption to the ongoing research program.