2026 Lower Columbia and Willamette River Angler Effort Aerial Survey

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing an Intermediate Procurement Request for Proposal (RFP S-63500-000015849) to contract aerial survey services for conducting angler effort counts on the Lower Columbia and Willamette Rivers during 2026. The contractor must provide an approved aircraft with seating for one passenger, an experienced pilot, labor, operating supplies, and equipment to perform low-altitude aerial surveys on the Willamette River from Willamette Falls downstream to the mouth (including Multnomah Channel), the Clackamas River from River Mill Dam to the mouth, and the Columbia River from Herman Creek near Cascade Locks to Buoy 10 near Astoria. The primary objective is to accurately count boat and bank anglers participating in recreational fisheries to support sport fishery management within harvest guidelines and Endangered Species Act compliance. All flights must depart from Troutdale Airport, with a minimum of 30 hours of airplane and pilot services required. Evaluation will be scored on estimated fees (30 points), understanding of requested services (25 points), general qualifications (25 points), and pilot qualifications (25 points), with awards informed by reference checks from three professional references and demonstration of contractor responsibility through financial capability and relevant contract history. Questions and requests for clarification are due February 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM Pacific Time, with proposals due February 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM, and the Notice of Award anticipated for approximately February 26, 2026. The contract will be effective upon execution and approval and terminates on October 31, 2026, with no renewal options specified.

The RFP includes specific set-asides and outreach requirements for certified disadvantaged businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and emerging small businesses, with offerors required to complete a COBID Certification or Outreach Plan. All contractors must comply with Oregon wage and discrimination laws, and those with contracts exceeding $150,000 must implement sexual harassment prevention policies. Additional requirements include non-inclusion on federal exclusion lists, submission of required documentation (Offeror Information and Certification Sheet, Reference Check Form, Cost Sheet, Responsibility Inquiry, and Scored Components Form), and compliance with Oregon tax laws and civil rights statutes. Pricing shall be submitted on a lump-sum or unit-price basis with all costs, contractor overhead, and profit included; the RFP specifies pricing for a minimum of 30 hours of airplane and pilot services plus additional hourly rates for flights exceeding the minimum, along with round-trip transportation costs from the aircraft's home base to Troutdale Airport. The contract compensation is listed as pending and will be determined during the procurement process, with payments made only for completed and accepted deliverables according to the payment schedule in the Statement of Work. The single point of contact for all inquiries is Kathy Blehm at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, telephone 503-509-1322 or kathy.m.blehm@odfw.oregon.gov.