Bat Surveying and Mist-Netting, Camp Grayling, MI

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the Bat Surveying and Mist-Netting, Camp Grayling, Michigan opportunity (W9132T26QA004).

• Project Nature: This is considered a new procurement for initial surveying efforts, though similar services have been acquired historically under larger-scope assistance awards.

• Sampling Effort: A minimum of 2 mist net nights per site at 4 sites (8 net nights total) is required within a 14-calendar-day period. Concurrent sampling is allowed but not required. The number of nets per site will vary based on site conditions.

• Bat Handling: Bat handling was approved for similar work at Camp Grayling in 2023. The government is seeking further confirmation regarding current restrictions but is not aware of new ones.

• Transmitter Technology: While IoT/Bluetooth transmitters are intriguing, the remote nature of Camp Grayling may limit their effectiveness due to range issues. The government currently uses Lotek SRX1200-M2 receivers and prefers transmitters compatible with this system and Motus (e.g., NTQB2 Motus tags, PicoPip Ag337 tags).

• IACUC Approval: Contractors must obtain Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval independently before applying for Army Animal Research Compliance and Oversight Office (ARCOO) approval. Experience with gaining ARCOO approval is an evaluation criterion.

• Personnel & Access: There are no set limits on personnel numbers. Escorts are not required for most field sites, and nighttime access is permitted. However, all personnel must complete specific Antiterrorism/Operational Security training and possess a Real ID or passport for installation access.

• Lodging: Government lodging is not available on the installation; commercial options are available in Grayling and surrounding areas.

• Clarifies the scope and duration of mist netting and bat handling.

• Specifies preferred transmitter compatibility and frequency ranges.

• Outlines IACUC and ARCOO approval processes and their relevance to evaluation.

• Details personnel training and installation access requirements.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for mist-netting of imperiled bats on Camp Grayling, Michigan. The objective is to capture bats, affix radio transmitters for tracking by ERDC-CERL, and collect guano samples. This effort supports long-term mission requirements for environmental sustainability and compliance with conservation laws.

• Obtain approval from the Army Animal Research Compliance and Oversight Office (ARCOO), requiring an approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol.

• Conduct mist-net surveys at a minimum of four sites over a two-week period between July 1 and August 15, 2026. This includes checking nets every 10 minutes for five hours starting at dusk and collecting specific data (species, sex, age, reproductive status, mass, forearm length, wing score).

• Attach radio transmitters to a subset of 10 captured bats (prioritizing Myotis spp. and Perimyotis subflavus). The contractor is responsible for purchasing and attaching 10 transmitters compatible with the Motus automated radio telemetry network.

• Collect guano samples opportunistically from captured bats and store them appropriately.

• Submit draft and final reports detailing all work performed, including results, species captured, morphometrics, transmitter details, locations, sampling effort, and data sheets.

• Submit DD Form 882(s) for patents.

• Contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

• Period of performance is four months after award.

• The solicitation issue date is April 29, 2026.

• The offer due date is May 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM local time.

• Offers must be emailed to CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil.

• Evaluation will be based on price and other factors, including:

  • Experience in bat ecology, mist-netting, and radio telemetry (assessed for high, some, or low confidence).
  • Past Performance.
  • Price (evaluated for reasonableness, not necessarily lowest price).

• Offerors must provide specific information regarding experience in ARCOO/IACUC approval, obtaining federal/state permits, personnel expertise, capturing/handling species, radio transmitter attachment methods, and experience on military lands.

• The acquisition is unrestricted.

• NAICS Code: 541715, Size Standard: 500 employees.

• Includes notice of price evaluation preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns.

• Government-furnished support includes past survey results and access to sampling sites. Government personnel will perform radio telemetry tracking.

• Government will provide consumable supplies for guano sample collection.

• All contract personnel require security clearances and training, including Antiterrorism (AT) Level I training and Suspicious Activity Reporting training.