2025 Elk Capture for Monitoring in Northeastern Oregon

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is conducting a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive elk capture and monitoring project in northeastern Oregon. The solicitation seeks a contractor to provide a fully equipped helicopter operation, including experienced pilot(s), gunner(s), and mugger(s), along with a fuel service truck and licensed driver to capture and collar up to 250 adult female elk across 16 specified Wildlife Management Units. The primary objective is to collect data on elk population distributions and boundaries through the deployment of global positioning system (GPS) collars. Proposal submissions are due by November 8, 2024, at 3:00 PM Pacific Time, with the agency anticipating a Notice of Intent to Award around November 15, 2024. Evaluation criteria will include the offeror's cost proposal, references, qualifications, understanding of services, and specific expertise of the pilot and capture crew. The project is scheduled to occur between January 1 and March 31, 2025, with a total contract term of approximately two and a half months. Key requirements include specific qualifications for aircraft, pilots, and capture personnel, with the agency providing GPS collars and up to three personnel to assist with capture operations.

The RFP encourages participation by certified disadvantaged business enterprises and requires offerors to submit an outreach plan detailing efforts to utilize such firms as subcontractors. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly stated, the solicitation demonstrates a commitment to inclusive procurement practices. Preliminary bid results indicate that only one proposer, Elkhorn Aviation, LLC, submitted a bid and received an evaluated score of 433 points. The total contract value is not explicitly disclosed, but the agency will provide GPS collars and support personnel, with the contractor responsible for all costs related to food, accommodations, and fuel for the project. The agency reserves the right to adjust the scope and quantities to meet budgetary constraints and can halt capture operations if excessive mortality levels are observed. Safety procedures are stringent, and the contractor will not be compensated for any animals that die during the capture process. The solicitation represents a specialized wildlife management contract focused on precise ecological monitoring in northeastern Oregon's diverse wildlife management units.