NM ESFO - Pilot Project - Mexican Wolf Interaction

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, is issuing a Request for Quote (RFQ) solicitation number 140FS226Q0050 for professional services to support communication and collaboration with livestock producers on GPS cluster investigations for Mexican wolves. The primary objective is to conduct a pilot project involving study area identification, rancher engagement, GPS cluster field investigations, and long-term study proposal development across a six-month performance period from April 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026. Quotes are due by March 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time via email submission. Evaluation will be based on three factors: technical approach addressing rancher engagement methods and GPS cluster investigation strategies; personnel qualifications demonstrating the Principal Investigator's relevant academic credentials and publication record in livestock producer research; and price competitiveness including all labor, travel, equipment, software, and direct costs. Quotes must be submitted as a single PDF file containing a completed SF 1449, company information, signed SF 30 amendments if applicable, representations and certifications, technical narrative, personnel qualifications documentation, and itemized pricing.

This solicitation is designated as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set-aside. The contract specifies that the contractor must provide a Principal Investigator with a PhD and demonstrated experience working with livestock producers, along with a full-time biologist/technician stationed in Alpine, Arizona, requiring approximately 320 hours of PI work and 960 hours of technician work. The performance area encompasses Catron County, New Mexico, and Apache and Greenlee counties in Arizona, with work involving investigation of approximately five GPS wolf clusters per day. Key deliverables include finalized field protocols, a cluster investigation database, photographic documentation, and a comprehensive study proposal within one month of project completion. The Government will evaluate offers by combining total pricing for the base contract and the six-month Option to Extend Services, with the USFWS providing shared housing, telemetry equipment, one truck, utilities, a Python script, and one government researcher for assistance.