IFB P2680004 Mountain Lion Conservation Houndsman Services for Northern Sierra Region

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is soliciting bids under IFB P2680004 for houndsman services supporting mountain lion research in the Northern Sierra Region, with bids due November 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and an optional walkthrough on November 10, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A 5% small business preference applies to California-certified small businesses, and a DVBE incentive of up to 5% applies to bids that include California-certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise participation. DVBE participation is not mandated.

The contractor supplies trained hounds and handlers to trail, pursue, and tree mountain lions in the Tahoe and Plumas National Forests across Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, and Nevada counties, with potential expansion to other California areas on an opportunistic basis. Hounds support capture, biological data collection, and satellite collar deployment. CDFW handles chemical immobilization and collar deployment. The contractor is responsible for equipment, hound care, veterinary services, vaccinations, transportation, and accommodations for animals and personnel. Bidders must have five years of experience handling hounds for mountain lion work, a minimum of ten mountain lions treed under wet ground conditions and ten under dry ground conditions, experience maintaining tracking logs and GPS records, and three professional references. Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and Workers Compensation and Employers Liability of $1,000,000.

The maximum contract value is $45,000, paid on actual services at contractor-specified daily rates, quarterly in arrears, with 10% retainage pending satisfactory completion. The estimated minimum workload is 35 field days, subject to weather, CDFW staff availability, and events such as wildfires. The IFB states a contract term through June 30, 2027 with an option to extend one additional year at the original rates, and the sample agreement sets fieldwork through May 31, 2027. Bid opening is November 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., the Notice of Intent to Award is scheduled for November 25 through December 2, 2026, and the proposed award date is December 9, 2026.