Intent to Sole Source - Satellite Wolf Tracking Collars

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITIONSOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION Requesting Agency: US Fish and Wildlife Service R2 NM Ecological Service Field OfficeContracting Agency: Division of Contracting and General Services (Region 2)Action to be approved: Sole Source Purchase of GPS/Arcos collars from Sirtrack for use on Mexican Gray wolves.Supplies Required: 5 GAC191 collars (each $3300.00), 5 AC191 collars (each $2095.00) and 2 download interface boxes with software and cables (each $250) for tracking wolves. Total $27590.00Statutory Authority: FAR 6.302-2.Demonstration of requirement of authority: Sirtrack is the best option for purchasing GPS/Arcos collars because they provide satellite tracking capabilities on a weekly basis, they have a long battery life (potential battery life of 4 years), and weigh less than other models (important as the animals will be wearing these collars 24/7). Sirtrack has been recognized as the best platform for utilizing Argos technology and was the only company that had high quality Argos and GPS collars. Efforts to ensure offers from as wide a range of suppliers as possible: These collars for wildlife are a fairly unique niche within the wildlife field and performance can vary tremendously between collars. Given the cost associate with each collar and monitoring/capture of each wolf, it is critical for the project to utilize a company with a proven track record and high quality collars. The weight and performance of these Sirtrack collars is unmatched based on independent evaluation. The major advantage of using the GPS/Argos system is that you could attain the weekly locations but also program the collars to get more intensive locations (4 per hour) for a couple of weeks each year which would allow us to attain cluster information and thus collect data on kill rates as well as have more precise location data that would be useful for studying resource selection and other questions. A research wildlife biologist with USDA-WS-NWRC did a full assessment for the wolf program of current techniques used for monitoring Mexican wolves and whether new/different techniques or technology could enhance the program by providing more information and lowering cost of the monitoring effort. Methods used include: 1) Personal experience of the USDA wildlife biologist.2) Speaking to biologists and researchers on other monitoring projects including the lynx project in Colorado, the wolf project in Yellowstone, and several bear projects throughout the west. 3) Reading reports on use and experiences with GPS collars.4) Speaking with various field personnel from AZGF, NMGF, and FWS at the Mexican wolf field office in Alpine.5) Researching available technology via talking to companies and reviewing web pagesMarket Research: Five companies were looked at base on our needs for monitoring wolves. They are as follows:1. ATS: ATS does not supply GPS/Satellite or Argos systems.2. Telonics: Offers Argos and GPS/Argos systems with good quality products and support.3. SirTrack: SirTrack has a great reputation for quality products and service. They have updated technology of the Argos system and quality GPS systems. For 12hrs once a week to get 4-5 locations during that period. With a 200 g collar they are getting 32months on the Argos and 60 months on the VHF (on for 12 hrs each day). 4. NorthStar http://www.northstarst.com/, North Star has developed a new line of wildlife tracking collars that provide GPS locations from the field to the www in real time via the Globalstar satellite system. To our knowledge, these are the very first satellite collars that operate through a system other than Argos.5. Lotek: Lotek has GPS/Satellite collars with newer technology but their Argos collars utilize older technology that is outdated.Other facts supporting use of other than full and open competition: Delays in fulfilling the agency's needs are unacceptable. Since we have already looked at the possibility of how the competition compares to this company (see above), and this company far outweighs the others in capabilities that we need, we do not see that further competition would be beneficial and would delay our urgent need for these collars. I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Melissa Kreutzian, BiologistNMESFO Mexican Wolf Program