Aerial Stocking of Fingerling Brook Trout into NH Remote Ponds

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is issuing a Request for Bids (RFB) for aerial stocking services to deliver fingerling brook trout to 43 remote ponds throughout central and northern New Hampshire, including the White Mountains region. The primary deliverable is helicopter-based aerial stocking services with a qualified pilot capable of operating in challenging mountain terrain at elevations up to 4,000 feet, equipped with fixed floats for water landings. The contractor must provide a complete operational package including a fuel service truck for up to nine landing sites, an insulated, watertight fish transport and holding tank (24"x24"x36", approximately 20 gallons) with electrically powered aeration and flexible drainage capability, and water sample collection services. The operation must be completed within a single day in early June 2026 (with a preliminary sortie scheduled for June 10, 2026) and encompass all pre-event setup, post-event breakdown, and equipment cleaning. The pilot and contractor are responsible for all travel expenses to and from the New Hampshire starting location (Grafton Recreation Field in Grafton) and must assume all costs for meals and lodging if weather delays extend the project beyond one day. The bid submission deadline is 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026, with proposals submitted to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Inland Fisheries Division, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, New Hampshire. Detailed specifications, sortie information, and pond coordinates are available upon request from John Viar (603-744-5470 or john.a.viar@wildlife.nh.gov) or Vikki Leonard (603-271-2501 or fisheries@wildlife.nh.gov).

Companies, corporations, and trade names must be registered with the New Hampshire Secretary of State's Corporate Division (603-271-3244) to conduct business with the State of New Hampshire; sole proprietorships are exempt from this registration requirement. The RFB document does not specify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other restricted categories. No incumbent contractor information is provided in the available bid documents, and no existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are noted. The preliminary sortie specifications indicate the operation will involve stocking 450 fingerling brook trout (weighing approximately 33.1 pounds total) across three initial pond locations, though the complete scope encompasses 43 designated ponds with fish quantities and weights subject to annual variation. The RFB documents do not disclose the contract award value, budget range, or contract duration terms.