New aerial boat and angler survey contracts.

This state and local contract opportunity from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking aerial recreational angler survey services for Saginaw Bay. The selected contractor will be required to conduct aerial boat, shore, and pier angler counts on Saginaw Bay based on a pre-arranged random schedule during the ice fishing (January-March) and open water fishing (April-October) seasons. The contractor must provide all necessary aircraft, pilots, and services as scheduled by the state, with a maximum of 215 flights per year. The RFP specifies requirements for the aircraft, pilot qualifications, contractor responsibilities, and state responsibilities. Proposals are due by September 24, 2024, and the anticipated contract start date is January 1, 2025. The contract may be renewed for up to an additional 3 years. The funding for this contract is 75% federal and 25% state funds. Invoices must be submitted within 45 days after contract expiration, and any invoices received after that timeframe will not be paid.

This contract opportunity is open to all qualified bidders, and there are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. The current incumbent vendor or contractor is not specified. The RFP does not provide a budget range or award value, but it notes that the funding source is a combination of 75% federal and 25% state funds.