Scientific Monitoring and Studies Associated with the Oregon Bull Trout Fish Species

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP) intends to negotiate and award a firm fixed-price (FFP) contract with to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) for scientific monitoring and studies associated with the Oregon Bull Trout fish species.  The contract will support meeting the requirements under the Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Continued Operation and Maintenance of the Willamette River Basin Project and Effects to Oregon Chub, Bull Trout, and Bull Trout Critical Habitat Designated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Court Injunction Case 3:18-cv-00437-HZ by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP). 

This contract shall be limited to a 12-month period of performance.

ODFW will aid USACE in reestablishing naturally reproducing Bull Trout populations in suitable and formerly occupied sites to increase the viability of the species above the Willamette Valley Project USACE Dams. This work will reduce the loss of adult Bull Trout attempting to access upstream habitat above USACE dams in the Willamette River Basin.

These two objectives will be accomplished by assessing the impact of the dams on individual movements, distribution, abundance, and timing of Bull Trout spawning. These assessments include employing multiple techniques:  capturing bull trout downstream of dams, conducting spawning surveys, operating a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag detection system, conducting juvenile Bull Trout distribution and abundance surveys, translocating fish, conducting habitat suitability analysis, and updating a genetic management plan.  

Data consistency and continuity are critical for research on long-term population trends.  A shift in data collection protocols would preclude the comparison of data from year to year. This would result in many small datasets rather than one continuous dataset.  The Government has determined this contract to be of critical importance to the continued monitoring and studies of the Oregon Bull Trout species.

Reason for Sole-Source Acquisition:

The statutory authority for this non-competitive acquisition is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b) which states, “for purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold…the requirements at 13.501(a) apply to sole-source (including brand-name) acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services pursuant to subpart 13.5. The requirements of FAR 13.501(a) apply to sole-source acquisitions conducted pursuant to Subpart 13.5 for commercial supplies or services greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) but not exceeding $7.5M.  Acquisitions conducted under simplified acquisition procedures are exempt from the requirements in FAR Part 6.

ODFW’s development, ownership, and use of the PIT tag detection system and their ability to maintain consistency and continuity with monitoring and studies conducted to date.  These services are necessary to comply with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) signed Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Continued Operation and Maintenance of the Willamette River Basin Project and Effects to Oregon Chub, Bull Trout, and Bull Trout Critical Habitat Designated under the ESA.  This BiOp was signed 11 July 2008, and ODFW has been assisting USACE NWP with the monitoring and surveying services since the BiOp was signed.

As mentioned above, ODFW developed the PIT tag detection system and has the site-specific systems and expertise in the operation and maintenance of the PIT tag detection system.  PIT tag detection system capabilities include systems that span large main stem river channels; mobile systems for surveying deep, swift water; non-standard trapping techniques necessary to capture downstream-migrating adult and sub-adult bull trout; and constructing and operating in-stream weirs, including complex floating weirs necessary for some high discharge locations. The PIT System and related equipment was custom-built or modified by ODFW to meet the unique challenges of this study area and is not commercially available. 

There is a three- to four-month lead time for the fabrication and installation of a PIT tag detection system due to supply chain issues of the electronic parts needed for fabrication.

ODFW’s work to date on this project includes frequent, intensive coordination with USACE, USFWS, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), ODFW district offices, the academic research staff at Oregon State University (OSU), and other groups working with bull trout throughout the region. These partnerships permit ODFW access to specialized equipment and facilities such as the Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Lab, State fish hatcheries, State and Federal genetics research labs, etc. ODFW coordinates the Upper Willamette Bull Trout Working Group – assuring consistency, collaboration, and effectiveness in efforts to improve the status of bull trout in the Willamette Basin.

No other Contractor can provide the services ODFW currently provides in the limited time needed to ensure the continuation of services.

Currently, a solicitation does not exist.  All responsible Offerors may submit a capability statement which shall be considered by the agency.

*No Phone Inquiries, please.

Capability Statement Submission Requirements

1.  Point of Contact name, email address and phone number, CAGE code and Unique Entity ID (UEI) number (if available).

2.  If the organization is a small business, please state the category of small business, such as 8(a), HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone), SDVOSB/VOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business/Veteran-Owned Small Business, WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business).

3.  The Government will evaluate the capabilities of an interested party based on their submission of information detailing the Offeror’s

        a.  capability to procure, permit, design, and install a PIT System timely and be ready for timely installation of PIT tag detection system, 

        b.  description of data collection methods and protocols suggested for: capturing bull trout downstream of dams, conducting spawning surveys, operating a PIT tag detection system, conducting juvenile Bull Trout distribution and abundance surveys, translocating fish, conducting habitat suitability analysis, and updating a genetic management plan.

        c.  description of relationships secured to facilitate providing access to specialized facilities and equipment needed to perform these services (translocating fish, PIT System, etc.).

*No Phone Inquiries, please.

Send responses by email, labeled as “W9127N23Q0053 – Bull Trout” in the subject line to the following:

dana.m.western@usace.army.mil and Patrick.P.Collins@usace.army.mil