Sole Source Notice - 2027 USFWS National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Recreation

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has issued a Sole Source Notice for Procurement #S-63500-00016389 regarding the 2027 USFWS National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. This is a sole-source procurement determination rather than a competitive bidding opportunity, approved under ORS 279B.075 and Oregon Administrative Rules OAR 125-246-0170(2)(c)(H) and OAR 125-247-0275(2)(d). The procurement involves contracting with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) to provide state-level data collection services for Oregon, conducting additional interviews to gather representative data on hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching participation and expenditures among Oregon residents. Key deliverables include a final weighted dataset containing all Oregon survey data by October 31, 2028; a synthesized report of 2027 Survey findings for non-technical audiences by October 31, 2028; an accompanying slide deck for sharing results by October 31, 2028; and access to analytic support from NORC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service researchers through December 31, 2028. The sole-source justification is based on NORC being the exclusive administrator of the 2027 USFWS National Survey contracted by the USFWS and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies since 2020, and market research determined that no alternative sources can provide Oregon-specific, state-level, nationally comparable data on the required topics collected on a regular five-year schedule. The posting date was March 19, 2026, with a protest period deadline of March 26, 2026.

This sole-source procurement carries no set-aside designations or restrictions based on organization type, as competitive bidding is not permitted under this determination. NORC is identified as the incumbent and sole-source vendor for this contract, selected based on its unique position as the exclusive national survey administrator and its ability to provide Oregon with approximately 900 cost-free interviews as part of national-level data collection, supplemented with additional state-specific interviews. The contract value is estimated at $124,000, representing a cost-effective approach that enables direct comparison of Oregon data with other states and national figures. No existing technology infrastructure integration requirements are specified in the notice. Interested parties who believe the sole-source determination is improper may submit written protests to the ODFW Designated Procurement Officers, April D. Brenden-Locke and Luca X. Wittenberg, providing detailed statements of legal and factual grounds, descriptions of resulting harm, and relief requested.