Notice of Sole Source - Klamath Salmon Radio Tags

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is issuing a sole source procurement notice for Klamath Salmon Radio Tags pursuant to OAR 137-047-0275, ORS 279B.050(6)(m), and ORS 279B.075. This is a single purchase procurement, not a competitive solicitation, with a notice posted on February 2, 2026, and a deadline of February 9, 2026. The procurement seeks radio transmitting tags designed for internal implantation in freshwater fish, specifically juvenile and adult Chinook salmon and steelhead, with specifications requiring tags to generate individual identification codes and function for a minimum of 100 days in juveniles and 300 days in adults. The tags will support a multi-agency partnership involving state, federal, tribal, and non-governmental organizations in assessing Chinook migration patterns and passage through Keno Dam following the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River. The sole source determination is based on compatibility requirements with existing infrastructure and the unique capability of the selected vendor's proprietary coding system to identify over 200 individual fish while maintaining compatibility with receiver equipment already deployed throughout the watershed.

The ODFW has determined that only Lotek Wireless Inc. is capable of meeting the specialized requirements of this procurement, as market research identified only two companies in North America producing appropriate radio transponder tags—Lotek and Advanced Telemetry Systems (ATS)—but only Lotek's proprietary coding system satisfies the project's specifications. The existing infrastructure supporting this procurement consists of 15 stationary Lotek SRX1200-D2 receivers and 2 mobile Lotek SRX-MD2 receivers already installed and in use throughout the watershed, making vendor compatibility essential for efficient utilization of existing goods. The estimated total contract value for this sole source procurement is $103,930. This is not a competitive solicitation and therefore does not include response deadlines, bid conferences, or site visits typical of open solicitations. As a sole source acquisition, this procurement allows for any necessary protests or challenges to the determination under applicable Oregon procurement regulations.