Western Kentucky Coalfield Bat Surveys

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), under the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, issued Request for Proposal 660 1900000236 for a personal service contract to conduct Western Kentucky Coalfield Bat Population Surveys in Elliott County. The procurement solicits qualified individuals and organizations to perform comprehensive bat survey services including mist net surveys at up to 20 sites, acoustic surveys at up to 20 sites, visual inspections of up to 20 bridges throughout the Western Coalfields Region, and radio transmitter attachment on up to 5 Indiana or Northern long-eared bats between May 15 and August 15, 2019. All field activities must adhere to United States Fish and Wildlife Service Indiana Bat Summer Survey Guidance protocols, with KDFWR staff approval required for any deviations. Mandatory requirements include possession of valid federal and state endangered species permits, photography equipment suitable for species documentation, at least two complete sets of bat processing equipment, USFWS-approved hardware and software for acoustic surveys, and a minimum of three rabies-vaccinated staff members. The evaluation criteria consist of technical qualifications worth 300 points maximum—comprising 150 points for years of experience conducting threatened and endangered bat surveys in Kentucky (25 points per year) and 150 points for species identification experience beyond five years (10 points per additional year)—and cost proposals worth 250 points maximum, with the lowest cost proposal receiving the maximum score. The RFP was issued on March 8, 2019, with written questions due by March 15, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time and proposals due on March 26, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time; Commonwealth responses to questions were provided on March 19, 2019. No offeror conference was scheduled, and no electronic or facsimile submissions are accepted.

The contract term is anticipated to run from April 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, with the possibility of renewal for two additional two-year terms at the discretion of KDFWR, subject to Secretary of Finance and Administration Cabinet approval and Legislative Research Commission Government Contract Review Committee filing. The RFP contains no mentioned set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on organization types eligible to respond, and no incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. Pricing is to be submitted on a per-night basis for mist netting costs, per-bridge costs for bridge surveys, with radio tagging incorporated into mist netting expenses; the vendor bears responsibility for selecting all survey sites including bridge locations. The solicitation is subject to Kentucky Revised Statutes 45A and 12.210 and must comply with all applicable state procurement regulations. The Commonwealth reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, conduct oral presentations, request best and final offers, and negotiate fair and reasonable compensation. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFP documents.