Douglas District 2026 Spring Elk Comp Flights

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is seeking a contractor to provide helicopter services for conducting elk population surveys in Douglas and Coos Counties during the 2026 spring season. The procurement involves a comprehensive flight program requiring a Bell 206BIII helicopter or equivalent with a minimum of 340 horsepower, equipped with radio communications, GPS, and aircraft tracking systems. The contractor must provide an experienced pilot with at least 1,000 hours of helicopter flight time, specifically including low-elevation and wildlife inventory experience, along with a 4x4 fuel truck and licensed driver to transport up to three ODFW personnel. The project is estimated to require up to 30 flight hours, with surveys conducted during the first and last three hours of daylight to optimize elk herd observations. Proposal evaluation will be based on a 115-point scoring system, with points allocated across understanding of services (25 points), general qualifications (30 points), pilot qualifications (30 points), references (15 points), and pricing (15 points). The RFP was posted on September 10, 2025, with proposals due by October 1, 2025, and an anticipated contract award on October 14, 2025, covering the period from January 1 through March 1, 2026, with a primary performance window of February 1-15, 2026.

The contract opportunity includes provisions for disadvantaged business participation, with the RFP requiring a disadvantaged business outreach plan as part of the submission requirements. The solicitation is federally funded, which means federal terms will apply to the contract, and it includes non-discrimination policies and equal employment opportunity provisions. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly detailed, the procurement appears open to qualified vendors who can meet the technical and experience requirements. The contract includes an option to renew for additional flight hours and an additional one-year period, with a cumulative maximum contract duration of two years. Although the sample contract indicates a total amount of $0.00, this likely represents a placeholder, and actual compensation will be determined through the competitive proposal process. Contractors must provide comprehensive pricing covering helicopter and pilot rates, ferry flights, fuel truck expenses, mileage, and per diem costs for two crew members. The project anticipates working over 8-10 days, with all costs, profit, and overhead to be included in the proposed pricing.