2025 deschutes fall chinook aerial redd surveys

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is seeking a contractor to conduct up to three aerial redd surveys of fall Chinook salmon in the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River between October 1st, 2025, and January 31st, 2026. The primary objective is to count salmon spawning sites using a helicopter, with flights planned for mid-November, early December, and potentially a third flight in late December or January. The contractor must provide a Jet Ranger or Long Ranger helicopter, an experienced pilot with a minimum of 1,000 flight hours, and the capability to transport up to three ODFW biologists during low-elevation surveys at 150 feet above ground level and speeds not exceeding 40 mph. Proposal evaluation will be based on a 100-point system, with points allocated as follows: understanding of services (10 points), general qualifications (30 points), pilot qualifications (30 points), and pricing (30 points). The solicitation (OregonBuys Bid # S-63500-00014342) requires proposals to be submitted by August 07, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with a tentative notice of intent to award on August 12, 2025.

The state encourages participation from small businesses, including those certified by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID). While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly stated, the procurement appears open to qualified vendors who meet the technical and experience requirements. The contract involves comprehensive pricing, including mobilization fees, aircraft and pilot hourly rates, ferry flights, and per diem expenses, with estimated project requirements of 20 hours of helicopter and pilot time, 6 hours of ferry flights, and 12 hours of fuel/service truck driver time. Although a specific total contract value is not provided, the cost sheet suggests a structured pricing approach that allows for detailed cost submissions. The project supports ODFW's long-term monitoring efforts of fall Chinook populations, with survey data used for run-reconstruction estimates and annual reporting to the Technical Advisory Committee. Contractors will need to comply with specified insurance requirements, federal terms and conditions, and tax law compliance.