Anadromous Fish Radio Telemetry Monitoring

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is pursuing a sole source procurement for radio telemetry equipment from Lotek Wireless, Inc. to support juvenile spring-run Chinook Salmon monitoring on the Klamath River. The specific procurement involves 200 Lotek NTF-3-2 coded nanotags (VHF radio transmitting tags) that provide unique identification codes and can track individual fish for over 100 days. The project is part of a collaborative effort involving state, federal, tribal, and non-governmental organization partners, utilizing 15 stationary and 2 mobile receivers already installed throughout the watershed. The primary objective is to monitor outmigration success and passage of juvenile salmon through Keno Dam following the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River. This procurement is being conducted under OAR 137-047-0275, 279B.050(6)(m), and ORS 279B.075, with a sole source justification based on Lotek being the only manufacturer producing radio transmitters and receivers fully compatible with their proprietary coding system. The contract opportunity was posted on February 24, 2025, with a response deadline of March 3, 2025.

The sole source procurement does not appear to have specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. Lotek Wireless, Inc. is the sole vendor for this specific equipment, with Advanced Telemetry Systems (ATS) considered but determined incompatible with the project's technical requirements. The procurement falls under the regulatory provision for sole-source procurements not exceeding $250,000, as approved by the ODFW Designated Procurement Officer on February 21, 2025. While the exact contract value is not explicitly stated, the procurement involves 200 radio tags from Lotek Wireless, Inc. The existing infrastructure includes 15 stationary and 2 mobile receivers already deployed throughout the Klamath River watershed, which will be used in conjunction with the newly procured radio telemetry tags. The project represents a critical component of environmental monitoring efforts related to salmon migration and habitat restoration following the removal of hydroelectric dams.