Sole Source Lotek Radio Tags

The state and local contract opportunity is a sole source procurement by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Klamath District Office for 100 Lotek freshwater nanotags with standard warranty. The procurement is specifically for VHF radio tags required for a scientific research study focused on tracking the movement and survival of juvenile Chinook Salmon in the Klamath Basin. The primary objective of the study is to inform restoration actions and reintroduction efforts following the planned removal of four lower Klamath hydroelectric dams. The procurement is unique in that it requires a specific brand of radio tags (Lotek) due to compatibility with existing radio receivers already deployed in the research project. The sole source determination document indicates that alternative brands of VHF tags cannot be used without potentially compromising the scientific data collection. The contract opportunity was posted on November 29, 2021, with a response deadline of December 6, 2021, representing a relatively short procurement window of approximately one week.

The procurement appears to be restricted to a single vendor, Lotek, as they are the sole manufacturer of the required radio tags for this specific research project. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the documentation. The total estimated cost for the 100 Lotek nanotags is $17,465.00, representing a relatively modest budget for this specialized scientific equipment. The existing infrastructure includes Lotek brand radio receivers already in use for the research study, which necessitates the continued use of Lotek-manufactured tags to ensure data consistency and compatibility. The procurement is directly tied to an ongoing scientific research initiative in the Klamath Basin, with the tags being critical for monitoring juvenile Chinook Salmon movement and survival. No incumbent vendors are listed beyond Lotek, and the procurement appears to be a direct, single-source acquisition based on technical specifications and research requirements.