Tiffin River Wildlife Area Drone Spraying

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, is seeking a contractor to perform drone-based aerial spraying at the Tiffin River Wildlife Area in Fulton County, Ohio. The procurement involves two specific tasks: spraying a 5.4-acre wetland area to control flowering rush and phragmites, and spraying a 0.9-acre dike to remove vegetation for infrastructure repair. The contractor must use a drone sprayer with aquatic-labeled glyphosate and non-ionic surfactant, with service windows between August 1, 2025 - September 26, 2025, or April 15, 2026 - June 30, 2026. Work will be performed Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with site visits available by appointment. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder through the OhioBuys procurement platform, with a proposal due date of August 25, 2025. Bidders must provide all necessary personnel, equipment, and materials, with a specific requirement that drone equipment be manufactured with non-Chinese parts or software. The primary point of contact is Sam Beutler, Wildlife Area Coordinator, who can be reached at (419) 551-2664 or Samuel.Beutler@dnr.ohio.gov.

While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned, the procurement does have some notable restrictions and requirements. Contractors must complete an OPERS Independent Contractor Form and an Affirmation and Disclosure Form, which includes provisions about offshore services and data location restrictions. The contract includes standard Ohio state terms and conditions, requiring contractors to maintain various insurance coverages, including commercial general liability, automobile liability, workers' compensation, and cyber liability. Specific minimum coverage limits are specified in the Services Agreement Template. Though the total project budget is not explicitly stated, the contract term extends to June 30, 2026, with the start date to be determined after bid award. Potential bidders should note that the contract includes comprehensive legal protections for the state, with provisions for immediate termination if services are performed outside the United States without a signed waiver. Contractors must also comply with all state and federal laws and provide ongoing transparency about service and data locations.