AB-2025-07024 - 2026 BOHN CARIBOU DNA SURVEYS #1 - HELICOPTER SUPPORT

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) monitors provincial caribou populations to collect information on caribou populations, trend and composition. EPA undertakes fecal DNA mark-recapture surveys to collect genetic data to develop estimates of population size and inform wildlife managers on necessary actions to support population recovery and management. Monitoring of caribou populations supports provincial commitments within the Alberta-Canada Agreement for the Conservation and Recovery of the Woodland Caribou in Alberta, provincial sub-regional planning efforts, updates to species recovery plans and delivery of species conservation and management actions. In winter 2025-26, EPA requires the contracting of rotary-wing services to conduct non-invasive genetic sampling surveys within and adjacent to the Bohn caribou range in Northeast Alberta, northeast of the community of Janvier. In general, the survey will require the helicopters (206L, AS350 or equivalent) and pilots to provide a low altitude, low airspeed viewing platform to safely identify caribou foraging locations. Pilots and aircraft will fly established transects (3 km spacing) throughout the Bohn caribou range, land in remote locations, close to caribou foraging locations, and enable 3-person sampling crews to collect caribou pellet samples. The geographic location of this survey are is shown in Figure 1. Three two-day survey windows are required, with an anticipated start in January 2026 (possibly December 2025 pending snow conditions) and will end by March 2026 (~1 survey per month). Successful survey delivery will require optimal environmental and flying conditions (adequate snow cover and age, air temperature and wind speeds). Actual survey length and timing are dependent on availability of optimal survey conditions. Organization of which helicopter will fly which transects will be determined to maximize efficiency and to avoid overlap and flight conflicts with the other aircraft. Surveys require pilots that have extensive experience with confined/remote landing, hover exits and delivery of wildlife and/or transect based surveys. There will also be elements of low-level, low airspeed flying to assess sites prior to landing. Pilot experience conducting these types of operations on the appropriate aircraft type will be crucial to ensure the safety of the pilot and survey staff. Each survey window will require two aircraft which will operate concurrently out of the proponent’s identified base of operations. A heated base is valuable, and preferred, as there is considerable field gear and samples that are best managed in an indoor setting. Aircraft may be provided by one or more companies, and companies may apply on one or both concurrent resources. That is, a single company may supply bids providing one or two helicopters. Bids should specify the number of aircraft being proposed as set out in the Fixed Hourly Rate Table in Attachment # 3 to Appendix C to this RFP and the proposed base of operations that is reasonable given the location of the surveys. Preference will be given to proponents who can provide both aircraft. Both wet and dry rates should be provided as part of the bid package (Attachment #3 of this RFP package). Wet rates (Base fuel) should reflect fuel usage from a proponent’s base of operations. If a proponent has remote (i.e., non-base) fuel, that pricing should be reflected under the Wet Rate (Remote fuel). The location of remote fuel accessible by a proponent should be explicitly identified (e.g., Leismer airport). Dry rates reflect pricing in which EPA provides fuel.