Special Procurement by Rule Request_321-26_abl_1.pdf

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M E M O R A N D U M Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Intra-Agency

DATE: September 04, 2026

TO: April Brenden-Locke, Designated Procurement Officer

FROM: Yvonne Shaw, Program Manager

RE: Request for Special Procurement by Rule— Advertising and Outreach Services Per OAR 125-247-0288 and ORS 279B.085 Bird Alliance of Oregon and Turn In Poachers Partnership project

Information and Education requests a determination of use of Special Procurement by Rule under ORS 279B.085 for the Bird Alliance of Oregon and Turn In Poachers Partnership project. This project requires a contracting procedure that differs from the procedures described in ORS 279B.055, 279B.060, 279B.065 and 279B.070 for the procurement of advertising services. This request outlines the situation, the justification for the Special Procurement, and findings to satisfy the required standards. Approval of the request activates the proposed process to produce the needed Public Contract.

Special Procurement Under Rule as per OAR 125-247-0288(6)

Type: Advertising and Outreach Services (per OAR 125-247-0288)

1. Time Period Requested: From: September 30,2026 To: May 30, 2027

2. Total Estimated Cost: $10,000

3. Request, Background, Current Need, and Proposed Contracting Procedure:

a. Request:

Information & Education requests approval of a Special Procurement by Rule to establish a public contract with Bird Alliance of Oregon (BAO) for the delivery of a statewide anti‑poaching outreach campaign. The contractor will produce a Warbler magazine article, anti‑poaching video, two social media posts, an infographic, and a BirdWord email newsletter call‑out that align with ODFW’s Anti‑Poaching Campaign goals.

b. Background:

ODFW’s Anti‑Poaching Campaign is pivoting its marketing efforts to meet its current budget and refine its target demographics. One of the expressed goals of this campaign is reaching out to birders.

Bird Alliance of Oregon has the largest community of birders across the state, as well as nature enthusiasts. Those birders, once educated about the anti‑poaching campaign and how they can help protect wildlife, can act as watchful eyes and Good Samaritans when out in the field.

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Bird Alliance of Oregon also provides compelling educational storytelling through their Wildlife Care Center. They routinely treat crows and raptors with old gunshot wounds, as well as birds brought in immediately after poaching attempts. These real patient stories create unique emotional connections with the public. Bird Alliance of Oregon maintains one of Oregon’s largest conservation‑focused audiences: Facebook 123,000 followers; Instagram 43,700 followers; BirdWord email list 17,800 subscribers; Warbler magazine 16,000 members. This partnership aligns with ODFW’s mission to reduce poaching, improve reporting behaviors, and enhance public engagement.

c. Current Need:

The agency requires targeted advertising services delivered through Bird Alliance of Oregon’s proprietary communication platforms and rehabilitation-center content. The total project cost is $10,000. BAO will produce articles for key publications, including The Warbler and the BirdWord newsletter, and develop social media posts designed for targeted audience outreach. They will also create anti-poaching infographics and educational materials, including video content. BAO reaches a specialized audience that ODFW aims to engage through this campaign.

d. Proposed Contracting Procedure:

This Special Procurement meets the following condition under OAR 125-247-0288(6)(b):

(b) The service requires specialized capabilities available from only one source.

5. Conditions: This proposed special procurement meets one of the following:

(b) Service or parts required are for sophisticated equipment for which specially trained personnel are required and such personnel are available from only one source

• Bird Alliance of Oregon has the largest statewide audience of birders, who are the precise demographic necessary for anti-poaching education. No other vendor possesses this audience relationship.

• BAO owns and manages exclusive platforms (Warbler magazine, BirdWord newsletter, their large social media channels). These outlets cannot be competitively solicited because they are not general commercial advertising venues.

• Only BAO has direct access to Wildlife Care Center patients with gunshot injuries, enabling creation of authentic anti-poaching storytelling and video footage. This unique access cannot be replicated by alternative vendors

6. Findings to Satisfy the Required Standards: This proposed special procurement:

(a) will be unlikely to encourage favoritism in the awarding of public contracts or to substantially diminish competition for public contracts because:

The proposed contract is based on BAO’s unique ownership of communication channels and Wildlife Care Center content. Because these outreach avenues are not available through any other source, competition is not

Rev. 5/22/24 Page 3 of 3 feasible or diminished. The procurement does not favor a commercial advertising vendor but selects the only nonprofit entity capable of reaching Oregon’s largest birding audience with mission-specific content.

and

(b)(ii) will otherwise substantially promote the public interest in a manner that could not practicably be realized by complying with the requirements of ORS 279B.055, 279B.060, 279B.065, or 279B.070, or any rules adopted thereunder because:

This partnership enables ODFW to deliver targeted anti-poaching education through BAO’s extensive statewide network of bird watchers. The campaign teaches what constitutes poaching, how to report it, and why birders are ideally positioned to assist. It connects the public emotionally to real Wildlife Care Center cases, increasing reporting rates and community involvement. These outcomes cannot be practicably achieved through the standard competitive process, as no other vendor possesses these communication channels or this audience reach.

Approval of Special Procurement by Rule

April Brenden-Locke, Contracts Manager/DPO Date Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

9/9/2026