7E--MA-ARD-MGRTRY BIRDS-WILDLIFE ACOUSTICS

The Department of the Interior, through its It Goods Fws office, has issued a sole source award notice for the purchase of 20 rugged, weather-proof autonomous recording units designed to detect Eastern Black Rails in marshland habitats across the South Atlantic states. The contract, identified by solicitation number DOIFFBO260102 and NAICS code 334310, is being awarded under FAR subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) and (ii) as a firm fixed price transaction not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. has been solely justified as the only viable source capable of meeting the project’s unique technical specifications, including iPhone app configuration for unit programming, compatibility with existing Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission units, and proven field performance vetted by Black Rail experts under humid, hot, and rainy breeding season conditions. The award is non-competitive, with no formal evaluation factors or weighted criteria due to the single-source nature of the acquisition. The units must withstand extreme environmental conditions typical of the target regions, and no alternative vendors have been deemed capable of satisfying the specific interoperability and durability requirements. Submission of capability statements challenging the sole source determination was permitted until June 15, 2026, via email only in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format, with all associated costs borne by the respondent. No details on delivery schedule, place of performance, payment terms, inspection procedures, or total contract value are provided, though the requirement is clearly defined around the procurement of 20 specialized recording units with stringent technical and environmental performance standards. The point of contact for the solicitation is Solmaz Salih, with additional administrative correspondence directed to Carter Duke for challenge submissions.