South Dakota 2024 Elk and Bighorn Sheep Captures

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks has issued Request for Proposal #23RFP9073 seeking qualified vendors to provide aerial wildlife capture services in the Black Hills Fire Protection District. The procurement aims to capture approximately 150 adult female elk and 50 bighorn sheep during the period of January 1 to March 31, 2024. Successful offerors must provide helicopters and pilots with current certifications, conduct chemical immobilization, deploy radio collars, collect tissue samples, and record detailed location and condition data. Vendors are required to submit itemized costs for capture services, helicopter ferry charges, fuel service vehicle, and crew expenses. The proposal submission deadline is September 22, 2023, with an anticipated award decision and contract negotiation scheduled for October 10, 2023. Inquiries about the RFP must be emailed to Andrew Norton at andrew.norton@state.sd.us with the specific subject line "RFP #23RFP9073" and will be responded to via email and posted on the state's e-procurement system.

The RFP does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The State will provide certain equipment and supplies, including radio collars, chemical immobilization drug kits, and sample kits, which will be made available to the selected vendor. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the provided documentation, the comprehensive nature of the wildlife capture services suggests a substantial contract value. The three-month contract period indicates a specialized and time-sensitive procurement targeting vendors with specific wildlife capture expertise and helicopter capabilities. Potential offerors must demonstrate significant technical competence in wildlife handling, chemical immobilization techniques, and data collection protocols specific to elk and bighorn sheep populations in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.