Expert services of uniquely trained canines and their handlers to perform scent surveys for a sampling study of the Pacific Pocket Mouse on/near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

The U.S. Geological Survey intends to award non-competitively a sole-source purchase order to Conservation Canines, Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, to perform scent surveys for a sampling study of the acific Pocket Mouse (PPM) on/near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. Two handlers with dogs trained to differentiate PPM scat from that of other roidents will survey all PPM habitat for two weeks in June or early July. The goal is to walk transects spaced approximately 20m apart (assuming 10m detection range in either direction) over all or most of defined PPM habitat. Dogs will act as double observers, separately walking the transects to pick up the scent of PPM scat. Pin flags and tracking tubes will be placed at locations where the dogs record a positive scent detection. The goal of this program is to track trends of the critically endangered PPM populations over a fairly large spatial area on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Conservation Canines is uniquely qualified to conduct canine scent surveys for a sampling study of the Pacific Pocket Mouse (PPM). PPM are the smallest animals to ever be tested using these methodologies. The Center for Conservation Biology at the University od Washington, developed the scat detection dog program in 1997. Having pioneered the development and application of many of the fecal-based hormone and genetic techniques widely used today, Conservation Canines realized the need for a sampling method that would insrease sample acquisition over large remote areas, while reducing bias associated with unequal capture probabilities common with other sampling techniques. This is not a solicitation for proposals for the subject effort. Should you believe your firm is qualified to perform the effort outlined above, please contact Dick Paprocki, Contract Specialist, at [email protected], giving your firm's qualifications, no later than June 5, 2009.