MOTSU RCW Monitoring Support 2026

Auburn University is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) monitoring support services at Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU) in North Carolina, with the contract period running from September 12, 2026, through September 11, 2027. The solicitation, posted on February 18, 2026, requires a Q&A submission deadline of February 27, 2026, and a proposal closing date of March 4, 2026, at 10:30 AM CST, with public bid openings conducted via conference call. The service provider must deliver comprehensive monitoring and habitat management support encompassing seven primary tasks: project management and reporting, updating approximately 340 known RCW cavity trees across 24 clusters, conducting breeding and reproduction monitoring with nest checks at 9-11-day intervals from mid-April through July 15, performing fledgling and adult monitoring with banding according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protocols, providing habitat management support, and installing up to 15 drilled cavities or cavity inserts annually. The Program Manager must possess a Master's or Doctorate degree in Biology, Wildlife, or Zoology with a minimum of 15 years of RCW experience, and the service provider must hold all required federal and state permits for RCW banding, capture, and translocation, including Federal Endangered Species Authorization, North Carolina Endangered Species Permit, and USGS Bird Banding Permit with auxiliary marking authorization. Deliverables include monthly progress reports due by the 10th of each month, a comprehensive breeding season summary due by August 31, and all federal and state permit reports due by January 31 of the subsequent year, with all data and reports to be provided in Microsoft Office formats and ArcGIS geodatabase format. Proposals are evaluated on a 50/50 basis split between pricing and history/past performance, with emphasis on lowest overall cost and demonstrated experience with similar Department of Army or Department of Defense projects.

Auburn University requires that all bidders certify compliance with Alabama state and local sales tax collection requirements, debarment status, and federal immigration law compliance, with E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding required if the contractor has any office or employees within Alabama. The University is committed to utilizing Small Business and Small Disadvantaged Business subcontractors where feasible, with reporting required throughout contract performance. The service provider must furnish all personnel, equipment, supplies, transportation, and materials except for government-furnished items and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 aggregate, commercial automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and umbrella/excess liability coverage. Proposals must be submitted through the JAGGAER Sourcing Event Portal on an F.O.B. Destination – Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, and Auburn University reserves the right to award in whole or in part, make multiple awards, or reject any or all proposals. A formal protest of award may be filed within five days of the notice of intent to award through the sourcing event's Q&A Board. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents.