S-63500-00015621 Notice of Intent to Award OB.pdf

This is a Notice of Intent to Award issued by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Administrative Services Division for helicopter services to conduct sage-grouse lek surveys in central and southeastern Oregon. The solicitation (RFP No. S-63500-00015621) requests two helicopters with a minimum of two experienced pilots, one fuel truck with licensed driver(s), and support personnel to locate and document sage-grouse breeding areas during the 2026-2027 project period. The project involves approximately 120 total flight hours (60 hours per year), with surveys conducted between April 1-20 in both 2026 and 2027, primarily during the first two hours after sunrise. The proposal opening date was January 29, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time, with the contract term extending through April 30, 2027, with no specified renewal options. JL Aviation, Inc. of Boring, Oregon, has been deemed the successful awardee, having received the highest point totals in the evaluation grading and having been deemed responsive and responsible. The evaluation scored proposals across five criteria: cost (10 points), references (15 points), understanding of services (50 points), general qualifications (40 points), and pilot qualifications (30 points), totaling 145 possible points.

Aircraft must be Bell Jet Ranger B-3 equivalents or comparable helicopters with minimum 340 horsepower, FAR Part 135 certification, GPS navigation, radio communication, and remote tracking systems. Pilots must have a minimum of 1,000 total helicopter flight hours and 100 hours of low-elevation flight experience. Substantial insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability of $2,000,000 per occurrence, Aircraft Liability of $2,000,000, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, and Workers' Compensation coverage. The contract includes liquidated damages of $500 per day for equipment or pilot replacement delays exceeding 48 hours. This is an intermediate procurement under OAR 125-047-0270, and the agency will not be accepting protests. Contractors must demonstrate financial stability, provide three professional references, and certify compliance with Oregon tax laws, non-discrimination requirements, and wage equity standards. The solicitation encouraged proposers to identify certified disadvantaged business subcontracting opportunities, though no specific set-aside was mandated.