23WM Hare Collars

The Pennsylvania Game Commission seeks bids for the procurement of 200 GPS radio-collars engineered for snowshoe hares, aiming to enhance research and monitoring of their movement and behavior. The collars must offer precise GPS data, including latitude, longitude, date, and time, and support reliable remote data downloads within 1000 meters. They must also have two-way communication for schedule adjustments, built-in mortality sensors, VHF beacon features, and integrated wires and antennas. Collars must weigh less than 35 grams, accommodate neck sizes from 120mm to 250mm, and feature a secure fastening mechanism. Compatibility with Lotek software, user-programmable schedules, and swift fix GPS capabilities are required. The collars come with a minimum two-year warranty and do not need to be physically returned for warranty claims. Technical support and training must be provided. Delivery is scheduled in two phases: 135 collars by December 2025 and 65 more by December 2026, with all units delivered to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The first year will include battery and feature testing—specifically accelerometer and ambient temperature tracking—on 70 initial collars, with full feature rollout contingent on successful results. Refurbishment is expected for the first batch in FY26 and the second batch in FY27. The contract’s performance period spans December 2025 through December 2027, covering both delivery and refurbishment. Bidders are required to adhere to nondiscrimination laws and certify compliance with federal lobbying regulations. Bids must include all activation and data transmission costs for two years of collar use.