DNR airplane flight services for fall/winter waterfowl surveys

The state and local contracting opportunity is for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to procure fixed-wing airplane services to conduct fall and winter waterfowl surveys across southern, central, west-central, and northeast Illinois. The vendor will provide a pilot and Cessna 182 or similar high-wing aircraft to perform 32 surveys between mid-October 2018 and early February 2019, including 16 weekly surveys in southern Illinois and 8 biweekly surveys each in central, west-central, and northeast Illinois. IDNR biologists will accompany the pilot on each survey to count waterfowl and record observations. The vendor must meet specific qualifications, including low-level flight experience and a current FAA waiver. Interested vendors must submit a quote for the hourly rate, the type of aircraft to be used, and a statement confirming they meet the required qualifications. Responses are due by October 1, 2018.

The contracting opportunity does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. Additionally, it does not provide information on any incumbent vendors or current contractors, existing infrastructure or technology that requires integration, or possible award values or budget ranges. The documents attached to the opportunity include a bid request, a map of the general survey area, and a survey schedule, but do not contain any additional salient details regarding the procurement.