OR Porcupine Investigation 2025 - 2027

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is conducting a sole-source procurement for a specialized scientific research project involving GPS tracking collars for North American porcupines. The procurement seeks 20 small mammal GPS and VHF-capable collars from Telemetry Solutions to support a pilot research initiative investigating porcupine populations, habitat use, and mortality sources in Oregon. The project aims to study this unprotected mammal species, which researchers believe has experienced significant population decline in the western United States. Key deliverables include the acquisition of custom-designed collars that meet strict veterinary weight requirements (less than 2% of the animal's body weight), featuring specialized belt materials with hypoallergenic properties and compatibility with existing download equipment. The procurement is being conducted under Oregon Revised Statute ORS 279B.075 and will include a long-range download station to support tracking these animals' movements. The solicitation was posted on September 12, 2025, with a proposal due date of September 19, 2025, representing a relatively short response window for potential vendors.

This procurement is a sole-source contract, which means it is not open to competitive bidding and is specifically targeted at Telemetry Solutions based on their unique capabilities. Market research compared alternative vendors like Lotek and Vectronics, concluding that none met the project's specific technical and biological research needs. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organizations were mentioned in the documentation. The total estimated procurement value is $45,195, covering the 20 specialized GPS tracking collars and associated download equipment. The contract appears to have a duration from 2025 to 2027, aligning with the project's research timeline. No information was provided about incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure requirements beyond the specified tracking technology. The sole-source determination emphasizes the vendor's specialized expertise in creating collars precisely engineered for porcupine research, which justifies the direct procurement approach.