DCR 992 Loon Capture and Banding

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, in conjunction with the Department of Fish & Game, Department of Agricultural Resources, and Department of Environmental Protection, is issuing a Request for Response (RFR) for qualified contractors to perform loon capture and banding services on DCR-managed waterbodies, primarily Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir, and Hycrest Reservoir. The procurement seeks contractors to safely live-capture adult and juvenile Common Loons, measure and band them with USGS aluminum and color-coded plastic bands, collect blood and feather tissue samples for contaminant analysis (including mercury, lead, and PFAS screening), process abandoned or unhatched eggs, and archive tissues for future analysis. Contractors must possess appropriate state and federal permits and employ biologists with extensive field experience in avian capture and handling. Deliverables include annual reports by calendar year-end containing mercury and PFAS testing results and comprehensive documentation of all banding and sampling activities. The RFR targets up to three award recipients, with electronic bid responses due May 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT via COMMBUYS, a question submission deadline of April 13, 2026, official answers published by April 15, 2026, and notification of successful bidders estimated for May 8, 2026. The contract is estimated to commence June 1, 2026, with an initial three-year term through June 1, 2029, plus two optional one-year renewal periods for a maximum five-year duration. Evaluation criteria include Technical Approach & Methodology (25%), Experience & Qualifications (20%), Data Collection, Management & Reporting (15%), Animal Welfare & Regulatory Compliance (15%), Laboratory Analysis Capacity (10%), Cost Proposal (10%), and Equipment & Logistics (5%).

This procurement is designated as a Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) targeted opportunity, prioritizing Massachusetts-based small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees and gross revenues not exceeding $15 million based on a three-year average; however, if no SBPP participants submit responsive bids meeting best value criteria, non-SBPP businesses may be considered. All bidders must participate in the Commonwealth's Prompt Payment Discount (PPD) initiative and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) program unless documented hardship is demonstrated, and subcontracting is limited to 20 percent of contract value unless the subcontractor is SBPP-registered. Required submissions include a cover letter demonstrating relevant qualifications, rate/fee schedule, resumes of key personnel, project manager contact information, three client references from the past 12 months, and compliance documentation for permits, licenses, and insurance. The estimated contract value is $15,000 per year with a total maximum of $75,000 for the full contract duration, contingent upon available funding. The DCR reserves the right to interview selected respondents prior to final award and may terminate contracts at any time if work quality is unacceptable or if continuation is not in the Commonwealth's best interest.