Aerial Capture of California Bighorn Sheep for Population Monitoring and Management

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Ontario District Office is seeking a contractor for an aerial capture operation of California Bighorn Sheep across Eastern Oregon. The procurement involves hiring a comprehensive wildlife capture team that includes a helicopter, experienced pilot, fuel truck with driver, and a two-to-five-person wildlife capture crew equipped with net guns and specialized capture equipment. The primary objective is to capture up to 120 California Bighorn Sheep from various herds for population monitoring and management purposes. The initial contract term is one year, with potential renewal options for up to a cumulative maximum of eight years. Proposers must submit comprehensive documentation, including a price proposal form, reference checks, proposer information sheets, and a scored proposal components form. The solicitation is identified as RFP S 63500 00014501, with proposals due by September 4, 2025. Evaluation criteria will likely include the contractor's technical capabilities, experience with wildlife capture operations, equipment readiness, crew expertise, and proposed pricing.

The contract opportunity appears to have provisions for disadvantaged business enterprises, as evidenced by the attached Certified Disadvantaged Business Outreach Plan. Potential proposers will need to complete a Responsibility Inquiry and provide documentation demonstrating their organizational capabilities and compliance with state procurement requirements. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated in the provided documents, the complexity of the operation suggests a substantial contract value that would require significant operational infrastructure and specialized wildlife management expertise. The procurement is structured to allow for potential multi-year engagement, indicating a long-term commitment to ongoing California Bighorn Sheep population management. Proposers will need to demonstrate not only technical proficiency in wildlife capture techniques but also compliance with various administrative and regulatory requirements outlined in the attached documents. The contract appears designed to provide ODFW with flexible, professional wildlife management services tailored to the specific needs of Eastern Oregon's Bighorn Sheep populations.