Mist-netting and radio telemetry of imperiled bats on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Army's Engineer Research and Development Center Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC CERL) is soliciting proposals for mist-netting and radio telemetry services for imperiled bats at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. This effort supports long-term bat occupancy trend documentation and conservation. The contract will be a Firm Fixed-Price award. Offers are due by May 21, 2026.
Scope of Work
The contractor will perform bat capture and tracking activities, including:
- Obtaining Army Animal Research Compliance and Oversight Office (ARCOO) approval, requiring an approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol.
- Conducting mist-net surveys at a minimum of four sites between July 1 and August 15, 2026, checking nets every 10 minutes for five hours starting at dusk.
- Collecting detailed data on captured bats (species, sex, age, reproductive status, mass, forearm length).
- Attaching radio transmitters to up to 20 bats, prioritizing Myotis spp. and Perimyotis subflavus.
- Tracking bat movements via radio telemetry for up to two weeks per bat to determine diurnal roost locations.
- Opportunistically collecting and storing guano samples, then submitting them to ERDC-CERL personnel.
- Submitting a draft report detailing all work performed, including species captured, morphometrics, transmitter data, and roost locations, with a 30-day revision period after government feedback.
- Submitting DD Form 882(s) as required.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price
- Period of Performance: To be completed no later than four (4) months after award.
- Set-Aside: Unrestricted (NAICS Code: 541715, Size Standard: 500 employees). Includes FAR Clause 52.219-4 for HUBZone Price Evaluation Preference.
- Place of Performance: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
- Product Service Code (PSC): AH33 - Natural Resources And Environment R&D Services; Recreational Resources; Experimental Development.
Submission & Evaluation
- Offers Due: May 21, 2026, by 12:00 PM CDT.
- Submission Method: Email to CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil.
- Evaluation Factors: Award will be based on price and other factors, including:
- Experience: Demonstrated experience in bat ecology, mist-netting, and radio telemetry, including ARCOO/IACUC approval, federal/state permit acquisition, personnel expertise, species handling, transmitter attachment, and experience on military lands.
- Past Performance.
- Price: Evaluated for reasonableness.
Additional Notes
The government will provide past survey results, coordination for installation access, and supplies for guano collection. Security requirements include Antiterrorism (AT) Level I training and physical security/access control. Payment will be processed via Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF).