Mist-netting and radio telemetry of imperiled bats on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

The U.S. Army’s Engineer Research and Development Center Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC CERL) is soliciting contractor services to conduct bat ecology research at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, during a four-week window between July and August 2026. The primary objectives include mist-netting bats, attaching radio transmitters via suture methods, performing radio telemetry tracking, and collecting frozen guano samples from multiple bat species, with all deliverables required to be submitted to ERDC-CERL personnel at the installation. The work must comply with federal and state permitting requirements, including obtaining a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bat Species Recovery Permit, and adhere strictly to Army Animal Research Compliance and Oversight Office (ARCOO) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) standards. The contract is firm fixed price, with award anticipated in mid-June 2026, and performance must be completed within four months of award. All fieldwork must conclude before departing the APG area, and unused collection materials must be returned. A draft report detailing species captured, morphometric data, transmitter locations, and sampling effort must be submitted by the end of the performance period, with zero tolerance for deviation from the Performance Work Statement. Offerors must demonstrate extensive experience in bat ecology, mist-netting, and radio telemetry, including direct experience with the target bat species, suture-based transmitter attachment, and prior work on U.S. military installations. Past performance and price are evaluation factors, with award based on a trade-off process that prioritizes technical capability over lowest cost. The solicitation requires detailed documentation of personnel qualifications, permits, and ARCOO approval history. Contractors must ensure all personnel complete antiterrorism training, pass NCIC-III and TSDB vetting, and comply with Personal Identity Verification (PIV) and installation access protocols. Technical data and software deliverables are subject to restrictive marking requirements under DFARS clauses, with rights provisions governed by deviations tied to the 2026-O0036 series. Invoicing must be processed through WAWF, and all submissions must be sent electronically to CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil by May 21, 2026, with no telephone responses accepted. The contracting office is located in Champaign, Illinois, and inspection and acceptance are performed by the government at the same location. Compliance with Buy American and Small Business subcontracting requirements, as well as cybersecurity and data safeguarding