C24925010 - Snowy Plover Banding

California State Parks' Orange Coast District is seeking a contractor to provide Western Snowy Plover banding services across Huntington State Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach, and San Onofre State Beach during the 2025, 2026, and 2027 breeding seasons. The procurement, identified as Contract C24925010, requires a qualified contractor to perform comprehensive banding services for Snowy Plovers and their chick broods under the direct supervision of a California State Parks Environmental Scientist. Proposers must possess a current USGS Bird Banding Permit for snowy plovers and a United States Fish and Wildlife Service 10(a)(1)(a) permit covering banding activities in Orange County. The contractor will be responsible for providing all necessary labor, tools, materials, travel, and equipment to complete the banding work, with a mandatory end-of-season comprehensive banding report. Written questions for the Request for Proposals (RFP) are due by December 17, 2024, with agency responses posted by January 10, 2025, and final proposals required to be submitted electronically by January 17, 2025, at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. Proposal evaluation will be based on technical merit (40 points), cost (30 points), and experience/qualifications (30 points), with a minimum combined score of 70 points required for consideration.

The solicitation includes several enterprise considerations, with a 5% preference for California Small Businesses and potential incentives for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) ranging from 1-5% points, though the DVBE participation requirement has been explicitly waived for this contract. The total contract value is not to exceed $18,000, with an anticipated contract start date of April 1, 2024, covering banding activities during the breeding seasons from April 1 to September 15 in each contract year. The procurement spans multiple jurisdictions within Orange County, including Orange County itself, Orange Blossom CDP, Orange City, Orange Cove City, and Orangevale CDP. While no incumbent vendors are specifically identified, the contract requires specialized ecological fieldwork expertise in avian research and conservation. Successful proposers must demonstrate technical capabilities in wildlife monitoring, precise banding techniques, and the ability to work effectively within sensitive coastal ecological environments under strict scientific protocols.