PUR 7776_FWC SS 26.27-05_Telonics.pdf

PUR 7776 (Revised 07/2022) Page 1 of 3 Incorporated by Reference: Rule 60A-1.045, F.A.C.

DESCRIPTION OF INTENDED

SINGLE SOURCE PURCHASE

(PUR 7776)

AGENCY: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commisison

TITLE: Crocodilian GPS Tracking Tags Short description of the commodity or service desired: Telonics SeaTrkr-4370-5 and SeaTrkr- 4170-5 GPS/Iridium 2-way tags

CONTACT

Name: Rachel Massey Address: 1875 Orange Ave E, Tallahassee, FL 32311-6160 Telephone: (850) 510-9990 Email: rachel.massey@myfwc.com

Internal tracking number, if any: FWC SS 26/27-05

Date posted: 8/28/2026 Last day for receipt of information: 9/21/2026

This description of commodities or contractual services intended for purchase from a single source is posted in accordance with Sections 120.57(3) and 287.057(3), Florida Statutes (F.S.), and will remain posted for a period of at least 15 business days.

Commodity or Contractual Service Required (commodity or United National Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC), manufacturer, model, and description, as appropriate):

43221706 Radio antennas 43221721 Radio frequency data communication equipment 43221722 Global positioning system GPS antenna

Quantity or Term (as appropriate):

3 years from the date first purchase order is issued

Requestor (division, bureau, office, individual, as appropriate):

Vincent Deem Associate Research Scientist Crocodylian Research Program Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)

Performance and/or Design Requirements (e.g. intended use, function or application, compatibility, requirements; reference to policy, rule, statute or other act of the Legislature, etc., as appropriate):

SeaTrkr-4370-5 and SeaTrkr-4170-5 GPS Transmitter

- mountable onto American alligators and American crocodiles in the nuchal region

- design of attachment hardware will be agreed upon before order

- designed to be completely submersible and funtion in both freshwater and marine environments

PUR 7776 (Revised 07/2022) Page 2 of 3 Incorporated by Reference: Rule 60A-1.045, F.A.C.

- overall dimensions of transmitter (excluding baseplate or other attachment hardware) must not exceed 11 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm (LxWxH)

- weigh less than 225 grams

- internal satellite and VHF radio antennas, and no external antennas

- VHF signal must be programable to be inactive or in a low power usage state when not needed for tracking to prolong battery life and resume normal tracking operation at a specified programed time

- reprogrammable remotely via satellite link after it has been deployed

- uses Iridium satellite network

- record between 1 and 12 locations per 24 hr cycle (latitude/longitude)

- accommodate data downloads remotely via satellite link at least one time per week

- projected battery life of at least 12 months after deployment while collecting at least 4 locations per day and meeting data transmission criteria listed above

- projected battery life of at least 12 months after deployment if unit is stored inactivated for up to 12months before deployment

Intended Single Source:

Telonics Inc.

932 E. Impala Ave.

Mesa, AZ 85204

Estimated Dollar Amount:

$90,000

Justification for single source acquisition (what is necessary and unique about the product, service or source; steps taken to confirm unavailability of competition, as appropriate):

Telonics GPS Loggers/Transmitters with Iridium satellite capabilities are the only technology that meets the specific requirements of this research project. Telonics hardware has successfully supported previous crocodilian research, with data collection beginning in 2018-2024 from an original deployment of 32 tags. Maintaining the same hardware platform is essential to ensure data quality control, consistency, and comparability with historical datasets. Changing hardware platforms could introduce discrepancies in data collection, performance, or transmission that would compromise long-term research objectives. Telonics is the sole manufacturer, dealer, and distributor of the SeaTrkr-4150-5 and 4370-5 GPS/Iridium Transmitter models, which meet the required size, weight, and communication specifications for this application. Extensive research has been conducted to identify alternative technologies that meet the necessary requirements, including appropriate dimensions for crocodilian deployment, Iridium satellite connectivity, and post-deployment reprogramming capabilities. Available alternatives were determined to be unsuitable due to limitations including incompatible satellite systems, lack of remote reprogramming capability, restricted availability, or tag dimensions that exceed the size constraints required for safe deployment on alligators and crocodiles. Testing of representative aquatic tracking equipment, also known as a "dummy" tag of a vendor’s smallest aquatic/marine model was sent to us to confirm dimensions, and it was determined to be too large to fit between the nuchal scutes of an alligator or crocodile, while other brands of tags that specialize in tracking avian species were also researched, none of these tags are suitable for deployment in an aquatic/marine environments. Based on prior successful use, compatibility with existing datasets, PUR 7776 (Revised 07/2022) Page 3 of 3 Incorporated by Reference: Rule 60A-1.045, F.A.C.

and the unique combination of required features, Telonics is the only vendor capable of meeting all project specifications.

Approved By (names & titles, as appropriate, e.g., requestor, requestor management, information systems, budget, purchasing):

Vincent Deem, Associate Research Scientist Ryan Ford, Research Associate Kendra Waln, Administrative Assistant I Robin Boughton, Section Leader Leanne Flewelling, FWRI Deputy Directo Rachel Massey, Assistant Purchasing Director, Office of the Executive Director Rachel Korade, Purchasing Director, Office of the Executive Director

Prospective vendors are requested to provide information regarding their ability to supply the commodities or contractual services described. If it is determined in writing by the agency, after reviewing any information received from prospective vendors, that the commodities or contractual services are available only from a single source, the agency shall provide notice of its intended decision to enter a single-source purchase contract in the manner specified in Rule 60A- 1.045, Florida Administrative Code, and section 120.57(3), F.S.