Western Kentucky Coalfield Bat Surveys

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, operating under the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, is soliciting competitive proposals through Request for Proposal 660 1900000303 to conduct Western Kentucky Coalfield Bat Population Surveys in Elliott County. The procurement seeks qualified contractors to perform comprehensive bat survey services including mist net surveys at up to 20 sites, acoustic surveys at up to 20 sites, and visual inspections of up to 20 bridges throughout the Western Coalfield region between May 15 and August 15, 2019, with all field activities following United States Fish and Wildlife Service Indiana Bat Summer Survey Guidance protocols. Mandatory contractor qualifications include current valid Federal and State permits for threatened and endangered bat surveys, appropriate photography equipment, two complete sets of bat processing equipment including mist nets and poles, USFWS-approved acoustic survey hardware and software, and a minimum of three rabies-vaccinated staff members. The evaluation criteria allocate 300 points for qualifications and experience (awarding 25 points per year of threatened and endangered bat survey experience in Kentucky up to 150 points, plus 100 points for minimum five years of bat species identification experience with 10 additional points per year beyond five years up to 150 points) and 250 points for cost proposal, with the lowest-priced proposal receiving maximum points. The RFP was issued on April 3, 2019, with proposals due by April 9, 2019, at 3:30 PM Eastern Time, with no bidders' conference scheduled. Final data and reports must be submitted by November 15, 2019, and proposals must remain valid for a minimum of six months following the proposal due date. The anticipated contract term runs from April 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, with renewal options available for two additional two-year terms at the agency's discretion, subject to Finance and Administration Cabinet and Legislative Research Commission approval.

Kentucky resident bidder and qualified bidder preferences apply to this procurement in accordance with KRS 45A.490 and 45A.492. No specific incumbent vendors, current contractors, or existing infrastructure requiring integration have been identified in the solicitation documents. Proposals must be submitted in three separate sealed packages consisting of technical, cost, and proprietary information submissions in specified hard copy and electronic formats. No specific contract budget or award value is identified in the solicitation documentation, and no set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises have been noted. Interested vendors should be prepared to demonstrate substantial experience with bat surveys in Kentucky and verified expertise in bat species identification to be competitive for award under the stated evaluation criteria.