7G--VA-DIV OF MIG BIRD-TELEMETRY TRANSMITTER

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Department of the Interior, intends to award a sole source purchase order to Vertebrate Systems LLC for the procurement of GPS/GSM transmitters designed for small raptors, specifically to support a long-term demographic study of Cooper’s hawks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The transmitters, manufactured by Ornitela and modelled as OrniTrack-6 and OrniTrack-10 or approved equivalents, are tailored to meet stringent biological and operational requirements, including a backpack design that is aerodynamic, waterproof, and lightweight — with the 6-gram units and 10-gram units falling below the 3% body weight threshold for the target species. Each device is equipped with a high-sensitivity 72-channel GPS receiver, an LTE Cat-M1 (LTE-M) cellular transceiver for reliable data transmission across the U.S. and into Mexico, a lithium-polymer battery with solar charging capability, and internal memory capable of storing up to two million data records. The transmitters allow for user-configurable GPS logging intervals from one second to 48 hours and GSM upload intervals from 10 minutes to 192 hours, with stored data retained during network outages. Advanced features include dual geofencing with up to 10 rectangular zones per zone, high-frequency sensor data collection for acceleration, magnetization, and temperature, day/night mode operational settings, remote firmware updates over-the-air, and full remote control via an online dashboard. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 334220 and PSC 5820, and will be executed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures per FAR Part 13.106-1(b), with an estimated value not exceeding $250,000. A total of 10 units — four 6-gram and six 10-gram models — will be delivered, with data transmission costs included for the operational lifespan of the devices. The requirement is justified as sole source because no other supplier provides transmitters meeting the technical, physical, and performance specifications necessary for safe deployment on Cooper’s hawks, particularly with proven reliability in international environments and adherence to wildlife tagging weight limitations. The notice is open for potential competition responses until June 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time, with inquiries directed to Jack Skogen at the provided contact information.