Helicopter Mule Deer Surveys

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is requesting proposals for helicopter mule deer aerial surveys statewide under Solicitation 802-27-77098, with proposals due August 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time and written questions due July 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM Central Time. Addendum No. 1, issued July 22, modifies key specifications and must be acknowledged with bid submission or respondents will be disqualified.

The scope requires 160 flight hours of mule deer surveys using a Robinson R-66 turbine helicopter (or TPWD-approved equivalent), split between 80 hours in the Panhandle and 80 hours in the Trans-Pecos region. Operations occur at 50–60 feet above ground level, speeds of 35–55 miles per hour, during sunrise to 11:00 AM and the final three hours of daylight, using randomly generated geo-referenced transects. The contractor must provide aircraft, pilots, personnel, equipment, fuel, and all consumables; hourly billing rates on Exhibit B are inclusive of flight hours, ferry time to and from base camp, and refueling.

Minimum qualifications include five years' experience in wildlife surveys and mountainous terrain operations, a current FAA Part 135 Air Carrier and Operator Certificate, and a Robinson R-66 or approved equivalent equipped with real-time flight tracking, GPS, and Garmin WireAware technology. The pilot must hold a Commercial Pilot License with current medical certificate, VFR day and night currency, a minimum of 2,000 pilot-in-command hours in helicopters, and at least 1,000 hours conducting low-level wildlife surveys in mountainous terrain. Insurance requirements include aircraft general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, aircraft passenger liability of $100,000 per person/$400,000 per occurrence, and workers' compensation at statutory limits.

The initial contract term runs from award through August 31, 2028, with three optional one-year renewal periods by mutual written agreement. Evaluation weighting is 15% compensation and fees, 15% technical proposal, 35% qualifications and experience, and 35% key personnel expertise and safety records. The state reserves the right to award a single or multiple contracts based on best value and may reject any bid items.