Harp Trapping Surveys FY2019 - FY2020

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), within the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, is seeking personal service contractors to conduct harp trapping surveys of federally endangered and threatened bat species across multiple counties, including Elliott County. The primary objective is to monitor White-nose Syndrome (WNS) in cave-dwelling bat populations, focusing on Indiana bats, gray bats, Virginia big-eared bats, and northern long-eared bats. Contractors will perform surveys at up to three sites in Wayne, Elliott, Menifee, and Estill counties, with specific timing requirements: spring surveys between April 1-21, 2019, and fall surveys between September 1-October 31, 2019. Each survey must begin at sunset, continue for a minimum of three hours, and include equipment monitoring at 10-minute intervals. Mandatory qualifications include valid federal and state permits for bat surveys, photography equipment, at least two harp traps with complete bat processing equipment, and three rabies-vaccinated staff members. The evaluation will be based on a 500-point system: 300 points for qualifications and experience (including 150 points for years of bat survey experience in Kentucky and 150 points for bat species identification expertise) and 200 points for cost proposal. The proposal deadline was extended to April 30, 2019, at 3:30 PM Eastern Time.

The contract does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises, but it does include reciprocal Kentucky resident bidder preferences and qualified bidder preferences as outlined in KRS 45A.490-494. The contract term is anticipated to run from April 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, with potential options for two additional two-year renewals, subject to approval from the Finance and Administration Cabinet and Legislative Research Commission review. No specific contract funding amount is disclosed in the solicitation, and pricing will be determined by the contractor based on the proposed survey scope. Contractors must maintain certification to do business in Kentucky and adhere to debarment and suspension certifications. The final contract award is contingent upon approval by the Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and filing with the Government Contract Review Committee. Proposals must be submitted in sealed packages with separate technical and cost components, including both hard copies and electronic formats on thumb drives, with no electronic or facsimile submissions accepted.