Annual Wildlife Helicopter Capture and Transport Services

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MT FWP) is seeking qualified vendors for Annual Wildlife Helicopter Capture and Transport Services through an Invitation for Bid (FWP-IFB-2021-0415S) issued on September 23, 2020, with proposals due by October 5, 2020. This procurement involves a two-tier contract model where the first tier qualifies vendors for a Master Contract, and the second tier will be used when specific project needs arise. Bidders must provide comprehensive documentation including company details, contact information, equipment specifications, personnel qualifications, and pilot performance reviews. The solicitation requires vendors to demonstrate expertise in wildlife capture helicopter services, with specific commodity codes including Aircraft - Pilot Services, Livestock/Fish & Game Animal DNA Testing, and Veterinarian Services. Key deliverables will involve professional wildlife capture operations, potentially including chemical immobilization, handling, tagging, and sampling of free-ranging wildlife such as cervidae and bighorn sheep, following strict biomedical protocols approved by the FWP Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

The procurement does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders will be required to complete a Dark Money Disclosure form and provide comprehensive documentation addressing their qualifications and capabilities, with potential disqualification for incomplete submissions. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the available documentation, the solicitation suggests multiple contracts may be awarded based on vendor qualifications. The contract appears to be open to professional wildlife capture and transport service providers with specialized helicopter capabilities and veterinary/biological sampling expertise. Potential contractors will need to demonstrate advanced technical competencies in wildlife management, chemical immobilization techniques, and safe animal handling procedures. The biomedical protocols attached to the solicitation indicate a high level of scientific and professional standards will be expected from selected vendors.