USGS CRU Wildlife Telemetry Transmitters

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the purchase of Wildlife Telemetry Transmitters for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Cooperative Research Units. The primary use is to support the field program of the Idaho Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit for monitoring movements and nesting locations of Ridgway's rails in California. This research is associated with endangered species research, contaminant risk, avian ecology, nesting success, and movement patterns.

• Transmitter Specifications:

  • Equal to or better than BluBat tags (QTY:20) and Flicker GPS Gen 2 tags (QTY:10).
  • Size/Weight: 6.6 g or less in mass. Company must be able to produce transmitters weighing both 4.5-6.5 g and 3-4 g.
  • Compatibility: Compatible with Motus platform or cellular network, with the ability to remotely deliver data. Motus-enabled transmitters must use a 2.4 GHz transmission frequency.
  • Power: Solar powered or battery life of 2-3 years.
  • Attachment: Backpack harness attachment style (4-corner hole casing).
  • Durability: Waterproof.

• Delivery Timeframe: 30 days ARO (After Receipt of Order).

• Delivery Address: U.S. Geological Survey, 875 Perimeter Dr MS 1141, Moscow, ID 83844.

• Not specified in this document.

• Not specified in this document.

• The USGS mission essential functions and the importance of this procurement to research and educational training are described. The USGS considered alignment with DOI IT Transformation goals, alternative solutions, bandwidth and IT security impacts, portability, interoperability, and life cycle requirements.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the procurement of Animal/Bird Telemetry Transmitters and associated services. The government is seeking firm-fixed-price, discounted pricing for these items.

• Animal/Bird Telemetry Transmitters (ETOB Flicker GPS Gen 2 tags)

• Cellular data plan

• Items are to be provided in accordance with the attached Technical Specifications and applicable clauses.

• Product/Service Codes: 7G22 (IT AND TELECOM NETWORK: SATELLITE AND RF COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS) and 7E21 (IT AND TELECOM MOBILE DEVICE PRODUCTS).

• Contract type: Firm-fixed-price.

• Delivery: FOB Destination.

• Delivery by Date: Multiple (specific date not provided in this excerpt, but implied to be within the period of performance).

• Quotations must be submitted to the issuing office (USGS NATIONAL ACQUISITION BRANCH, Reston VA) on or before 05/08/2026 at 1300 ED.

• The solicitation includes evaluation factors for award, prioritizing lowest price technically acceptable.

• Technical acceptability will be evaluated based on Technical, Experience, and Past Performance.

• Offers must be held firm for 30 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.

• The solicitation is not marked as a Small Business Set-Aside.

• NAICS code and small business size standard are to be found elsewhere in the solicitation.

• This RFQ is for information and quotations; furnished quotations are not offers.

• The document references several attachments, including Technical Specifications, Section 508 Compliance, FISMA IT Security Guidelines, and DOI IT Baseline Compliance Contract Guidelines.

• Various contract clauses are incorporated by reference, covering topics such as System for Award Management, Buy American, and payment procedures.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the ICT Accessibility Requirements Statement per Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, specifically for "wildlife telemetry transmitters" and related "E206 Hardware." It details functional performance criteria and instructions for offerors regarding Section 508 compliance.

• E206 Hardware: Specifies that hardware components with information transmission or user interfaces must conform to requirements in Chapter 4.
• E302 Functional Performance Criteria: Details requirements for ICT to be usable by individuals with varying abilities, including:
  • Without Vision
  • With Limited Vision
  • Without Perception of Color
  • Without Hearing
  • With Limited Hearing
  • Without Speech
  • With Limited Manipulation
  • With Limited Reach and Strength
  • With Limited Language, Cognitive, and Learning Abilities
• Instructions to Offerors: Requires offerors to provide an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for each ICT item using the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) Version 2.1 or later. The ACR must address applicable Section 508 requirements, explain how ICT meets standards, and describe evaluation methods. Offerors must also describe their approach to universal design, plans for non-conforming features, and typical user scenarios including individuals with disabilities.
• Acceptance Criteria: States the government reserves the right to test ICT items to validate Section 508 conformance claims and may require remediation if claims are inaccurate.

This document is critical for bidders proposing to provide wildlife telemetry transmitters or related hardware. It mandates compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards and requires the submission of a detailed ACR. Bidders must understand these requirements to accurately prepare their proposals and ensure their offerings meet the government's accessibility obligations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, titled "FISMA 18-Point Checklist – IT Security Guidelines," outlines specific IT security requirements that are incorporated into the Statement of Work/Performance Work Statement for potential contracts. It serves as a checklist to ensure compliance with various security standards and clauses.

This checklist details requirements related to:

• Background Investigations
• Non-disclosure Agreements
• Training requirements (DOI end-user computer security awareness)
• Personnel changes notification
• Contractor location restrictions (no performance outside the U.S. without permission)
• Applicable Standards (DOI SDLC, NIST SP 800-64)
• Asset Valuation-Security Categorization (using FIPS 199 and NIST SP 800-60)
• Property Rights for software and data
• Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)
• Certification & Accreditation (C&A)
• Internet Logon Banners
• Incident Reporting
• Quality Control (malicious code-free software/hardware)
• Self-Assessment
• Vulnerability Analysis
• Security Controls (NIST SP 800-53)
• Contingency Plans

Bidders must carefully review this checklist to understand the mandatory IT security requirements and compliance obligations associated with the opportunity. These requirements will likely form a significant part of the contract's Statement of Work and will impact how services are performed, how systems are managed, and what documentation or processes must be in place. Failure to meet these requirements could affect proposal evaluation and contract performance.

Other / Unclassified

This document, titled "Information Technology Baseline Compliance Contract Guidelines" and dated July 2022, provides guidance for the Department of the Interior (DOI) regarding requirements that must be reviewed and considered for incorporation into contract actions involving information technology (IT) products or services. It outlines various compliance areas that contractors must adhere to.

This document is highly relevant to potential bidders as it details the mandatory IT and cybersecurity, privacy, accessibility (Section 508), records management, personnel security, and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) requirements that will likely be incorporated into solicitations and resulting contracts. Bidders should review these guidelines to understand the compliance obligations, including:

• IT and Cybersecurity: Compliance with FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST standards, and specific requirements for information systems, cloud services, IPv6, continuous monitoring, and security training.
• Cybersecurity Incident Response: Procedures for reporting and responding to security incidents.
• Privacy Requirements: Adherence to the Privacy Act of 1974, handling of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Sensitive PII (SPII), and breach reporting protocols.
• Accessibility (Section 508): Requirements for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to be accessible to people with disabilities, including conformance to Revised 508 Standards and providing Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs).
• Records Management: Compliance with federal laws and NARA policies for managing government records created or maintained by contractors.
• Contractor Personnel Security: Requirements for background investigations for personnel accessing federal facilities or systems.
• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): Guidelines for managing, safeguarding, and disseminating CUI.

Understanding these requirements is crucial for bidders to accurately scope their proposals, ensure compliance, and assess their ability to meet the government's technical and security standards.