Lower Dechutes River Helicopter Chinook Redd Survey

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is issuing a Request for Proposals for helicopter aerial survey services to conduct Chinook salmon spawning site (redd) counts along the Lower Deschutes River. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to provide one helicopter and an experienced pilot capable of transporting up to three ODFW biologists at low altitudes (150 feet above ground level) at speeds not exceeding 40 mph to visually survey and count fall Chinook salmon spawning sites across the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River. The survey work is scheduled to occur from approximately October 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, with up to three helicopter flights conducted as weather and water clarity permit, requiring 48-hour advance notice for each flight. The contractor must provide estimated five hours of survey flight time plus one to three hours of round-trip ferry time, with flights departing from designated airports including Columbia Gorge Airport, Madras Airport, or via fuel truck delivery. Key qualifications include possession of a valid pilot's license, demonstrated experience with low-altitude aerial survey operations, a well-maintained aircraft meeting safety standards, and comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, commercial general liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence/$4,000,000 annual aggregate), automobile liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), and aircraft liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence/aggregate). The contractor will be compensated on an hourly flight-rate basis with a total not-to-exceed amount pending final negotiation, and payment is contingent on completed and accepted deliverables. The proposal submission deadline is June 4, 2026, with contract evaluation criteria including pilot experience with similar survey work, aircraft suitability and maintenance records, safety protocols, cost competitiveness, and potential preference for incumbents with demonstrated performance history on comparable ODFW projects.

The contract documents do not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting contractor eligibility based on business classification or disadvantaged enterprise status. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available procurement materials. The contract term extends through January 1, 2031, with provisions for amendment to extend an additional three years and a possible fourth year, subject to funding availability and project continuation needs. The contractor must maintain independent contractor status and comply with all federal and state tax laws, federal civil rights statutes, the Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment for awards exceeding $100,000, and various environmental and labor regulations. All contractors must execute required certifications regarding tax compliance, non-discrimination, sexual harassment prevention policies, and exclusion list verification prior to contract execution. While specific award values or budget ranges are not explicitly stated in the available summary materials, the contractor is responsible for all operational costs, employee taxes, and benefits as an independent contractor, with invoices submitted itemized to ODFW's Accounts Payable Unit for payment expected within 45 days of approval.