2026 Elk Capture for Monitoring in Southern Blue Mountains

The State of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is requesting proposals for helicopter-based elk capture and monitoring services in the Silvies, Maury, Ochoco, and Murderers Creek Wildlife Management Units across Grant, Crook, and Harney counties, with proposals due September 15, 2026.

The contractor must provide a helicopter with an experienced pilot, gunner, and mugger, along with comprehensive support services including a fuel service truck and licensed driver. The scope encompasses capture, restraint, and collaring of adult elk for monitoring purposes within the four designated wildlife management units in the Southern Blue Mountains region.

The price proposal form establishes deliverables and pricing structure: up to 60 adult elk captures, six ferry flights for helicopter transportation between locations, one mobilization and setup event, 60 hours of fuel truck and driver services, 750 miles of fuel truck mileage, and seven days of crew per diem. Proposers must submit itemized hourly rates for helicopter ferry flights and fuel truck operations, mileage rates for fuel truck transportation, and daily per diem rates compliant with Oregon Department of Administrative Services Travel Policies. The contractor's proposed price must be all-inclusive of profit, overhead, and incidental costs not explicitly listed. ODFW reserves the right to increase, decrease, or remove deliverables to accommodate budgetary constraints.

Contractors must demonstrate experience in wildlife capture operations and maintain all necessary certifications and licenses for helicopter operations and wildlife management. The solicitation attachments (A through H) contain detailed technical specifications, operational parameters, safety requirements, and logistical considerations necessary for proposal development. A map document delineates the geographic scope and operational boundaries across the four wildlife management units.