Updated Abundance and Genetic Diversity of Black Bears in Florida

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is pursuing a single-source procurement for an updated abundance and genetic diversity study of black bears in Florida, specifically targeting Wildlife Genetics International as the preferred vendor. The project involves extracting microsatellite DNA from black bear hair samples to genetically identify individual bears, compare genetic diversity over time, and detect migrations between bear subpopulations. Key project requirements include genotyping at least 7 microsatellite markers per sample, with a mandatory sex-identifying marker to ensure statistical power in differentiating individual bears and tracking genetic diversity changes. The procurement is not a traditional solicitation for bids or proposals, but instead requires potential vendors to provide written information demonstrating their capability to supply the specified services. Vendors must submit their information via email to the designated contact by Thursday, October 9th, 2025, at 4:00 PM ET. The project has a planned 3-year contract term and requires vendors to comply with Chapter 287 of Florida Statutes and other applicable regulations. Vendor selection will be based on demonstrated expertise in genetic analysis, specifically the ability to provide compatible genetic analysis that allows comparison with past research.

The procurement appears to be a non-competitive, single-source contract with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types. Wildlife Genetics International has been identified as the sole vendor due to their unique qualifications, including a 25-year history of analyzing bear hair genetic samples from Florida and having previously analyzed over 4,000 bear hair samples. The vendor's specialized expertise in determining statistically effective genetic markers and refining genetic profiles for different bear subpopulations makes them the preferred contractor. The estimated contract value is $300,000, covering the 3-year project duration. No incumbent vendors other than Wildlife Genetics International are mentioned, and there are no explicit references to existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements. The procurement emphasizes the vendor's capability to provide scientifically rigorous genetic analysis that can be compared with historical research data, with a focus on maintaining continuity in bear population genetic studies.