R--VA-USFWS MIG BIRD-CFR WINGBEE

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to award a firm fixed price sole source contract to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University for the processing, storage, staffing, and coordination required to execute the Waterfowl Parts Collection Survey in the Mississippi Flyway. This contract, identified by solicitation number DOIFFBO260128 and classified under NAICS code 611310, is valued at $35 million over a five-year period beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2031, encompassing one base year and four option years. The award is justified under FAR 6.302-1 due to the unique capabilities of Southern Illinois University, including specialized freezer storage exceeding 575 cubic feet maintained below freezing from October 1 to March 31 and September 15 to September 30, dedicated workspace for 40 individuals during a one-week period in February, and experienced student personnel capable of barcode scanning, data entry, species identification, and mail logistics. The university will also supply 10 tables, 40 chairs, and approximately 15 trash receptacles for annual operations, while the government provides shipping boxes, mailing labels, and other survey supplies. The contract requires full compliance with the System for Award Management (SAM) registration, with payments processed exclusively via Electronic Funds Transfer using banking information verified in the SAM database. Invoices must be submitted through the Invoice Processing Payment Platform (IPP), accompanied by detailed attachments proving all eligible costs under SOW Parts 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A2, and 2B, along with all supporting receipts, vouchers, and cost data. The place of performance is Laurel, Maryland, where the government receives final data reports and survey materials. Although this is a notice of intent and not a competitive solicitation, any interested party may submit a capability statement by July 17, 2026, to keith_rose@fws.gov in Microsoft Word or PDF format, demonstrating clear and convincing evidence that competition would benefit the government, though any associated preparation costs are borne solely by the respondent. No formal contract clauses, inspection criteria, or evaluation factors are specified because the award is non-competitive and grounded exclusively in the unique, irreplaceable attributes of the selected institution.