7G--Intent to Sole Source - Lotek Telemetry Equipment

The Department of the Interior National Park Service Intermountain Region has published a Special Notice announcing their intent to sole source Lotek telemetry equipment for Yellowstone National Park. The notice, posted on July 8, 2025, indicates the agency's plan to procure 400 Lotek brand fish transmitters and associated tracking equipment specifically for cutthroat trout research. The procurement falls under NAICS code 334220 for Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing and will be classified as a commercial acquisition using simplified acquisition procedures. The agency is seeking waterproof acoustic telemetry transmitters, specifically the 3V Coded Fish Transmitter Micro Coded Fish Transmitter 2-3EM series, along with tracking equipment to support their fisheries research program.

The primary objective of this procurement is to track movements of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout through aerial flight transects along tributaries to identify spawning movements and patterns. The National Park Service justifies the sole source approach based on the specialized nature of the equipment, including fully programmable options on a single frequency, and the compatibility requirements with existing Lotek SRX800 receivers already deployed in their research program. The agency's fisheries team has existing expertise with Lotek technology, making this brand the preferred choice for operational continuity. While the notice indicates an intent to sole source, interested firms who believe they can provide equivalent transmitters are invited to contact Contract Specialist Stacy Vallie at stacy_vallie@nps.gov. The government reserves the right to determine whether to proceed with the non-competitive strategy based on any responses received from potential contractors who can demonstrate equivalent capabilities.