Helicopter Aerial Gunning

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is soliciting blanket contracts for helicopter aerial gunning services across the state of Texas, with the goal of lethally managing populations of exotic ungulates, predators such as coyotes and bobcats, and feral animals to support native wildlife conservation. The contract will commence on September 1, 2026, and run through August 31, 2028, with the possibility of up to three one-year renewals and a potential twelve-month extension if needed. Services will be performed on an as-needed basis, with individual projects defined by scope of work documents issued after contract award, focusing primarily on the Trans-Pecos region including the Marfa Plateau and Marathon Basin, as well as specific areas in the northern Panhandle. Contractors must provide turbine helicopters such as the Hughes MD 500E, Bell 206, or Robinson R66, with the Robinson R44 Raven II permitted only in low-elevation pronghorn habitats under specific conditions. All aircraft must comply with FAA Part 135 regulations, and pilots must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of wildlife-oriented flight time and at least five years of direct experience in aerial gunning of coyotes, aoudad, and feral hogs. Operations require semi-automatic rifles or shotguns, working GPS systems for boundary marking, and radio communication with ground crews. Bids are due by June 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with submissions required via email to purchasing.bidbox@tpwd.texas.gov, though physical sealed packages are also accepted. Proposals must include eleven mandatory exhibits covering company profile, key personnel resumes, safety records, equipment lists, licenses, past project references, technical proposals, and a signed execution of proposal—all of which must be submitted to meet minimum qualifications or risk disqualification. Evaluation is based on best value, with 35% weighted toward qualifications and capability, 35% toward pilot expertise and operational safety, 15% to pricing, and 15% to the technical proposal. Contractors must maintain minimum insurance thresholds including $1 million in aircraft liability, $1 million in employer’s liability, and $100,000 per person in passenger liability, and comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements under Executive Order 11246, Texas state tax exemptions, and federal and state environmental laws. All work products and