Mist-netting and radio telemetry of imperiled bats on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC-CERL), seeks mist-netting and radio telemetry services for imperiled bats at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, with proposals due May 21, 2026 and contract award anticipated mid-June 2026. This procurement is set aside as Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB).

Place of performance is Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Field work spans four weeks during the bat roosting season (July 1 through August 15, 2026). The contractor must obtain IACUC-approved protocol clearance from the Army Animal Research Compliance and Oversight Office, conduct mist-netting surveys at a minimum of four sites, attach radio transmitters to up to 20 captured bats (prioritizing Myotis species and Perimyotis subflavus), perform radio telemetry tracking for up to two weeks post-capture, and collect opportunistic guano samples. Transmitters must be compatible with the Motus network for continued government monitoring; transmitter frequencies in the standard 216–220 MHz range are not recommended. Suturing is identified as the preferred attachment method. Contracted personnel must complete Antiterrorism Level I training and site-specific safety briefings prior to work initiation; access requires pre-registration and a Real ID or passport. Field work requires government escorts due to installation access restrictions. Government lodging is not available; contractors must arrange commercial accommodations. The total contract period is four months from award.

The contractor shall submit a draft report within 30 days of completion, documenting capture results, morphometrics, roost locations with coordinates and photographs, and copies of data sheets. NAICS code is 541715; PSC is AH33. The procurement is firm fixed price. Evaluation criteria include demonstrated experience in bat ecology, mist-netting, radio telemetry, obtaining federal permits, suture-based transmitter attachment, and work on military lands, along with past performance and price reasonableness.