Sole Source Lotek Radio Tags

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting a sole source procurement for 100 Lotek Nanotag NFT-2-1 Freshwater VFH radio tags to support a critical fish migration research project in the Crooked River watershed. These specialized radio tags are specifically designed to track Spring Chinook Salmon and summer steelhead smolts, weighing 0.3 grams or less and capable of operating for 80 days. The procurement is uniquely structured as a sole source acquisition due to the specific technical requirements that only Lotek can fulfill, including proprietary code and frequency combinations necessary for integration with existing radio receiver networks at Opal Spring Dam and along the Crooked and Deschutes Rivers. The contract opportunity was posted on November 18, 2021, with a proposal due date of November 29, 2021. The total estimated cost for these radio tags is $18,000, and the procurement is focused on obtaining highly specialized tracking equipment with very precise technical specifications that cannot be met by alternative vendors.

This procurement appears to be an unrestricted competitive opportunity with no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The sole source justification is predicated on Lotek being the exclusive supplier capable of meeting the extremely specific technical requirements for the radio tags. The existing infrastructure includes a Lotek radio receiver network already deployed at monitoring locations, which necessitates complete compatibility with the proposed radio tags. The procurement is direct and targeted, with no indication of multiple award possibilities or alternative vendor considerations. The contract appears to be a straightforward, single-source acquisition designed to support ongoing fish migration research with a clear technical rationale for selecting a single manufacturer. The budget of $18,000 represents a focused, specialized procurement that addresses a specific scientific research need for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.