Task 1: Manned Rotorcraft Service for Conducting Statewide Aerial Annual Deer Survey Description: Contractor must provide a helicopter and pilot to conduct the annual Deer Survey. The Contractor must fly two DNR observers and one navigator over (1) Des Moines and adjoining suburbs, (2) Ames, (3) Boone and immediate boundary areas, (4) an approximately 20 square mile area southwest of Winterset in Madison County, (5) Green Valley State Park, (6) approximately 30 square miles in 1 square mile blocks around Seymour, and (7) approximately 30 square miles in 1 square mile blocks around Elkader. Surveys must be conducted when adequate snowfall and daily weather conditions are favorable beginning no sooner than January 10 each year. Predetermined survey blocks must be flown on roughly ¼ mile transects or along the flow of the terrain. Each survey block must be searched for deer at an altitude of 150-300 feet. The surveys will require up to 5 days (up to 8 hours of flight time/day) to complete. The total flight time for the surveys will not exceed 40 hours annually (this does not include travel time to the above locations). The pilot must be prepared to stay overnight to efficiently complete the survey in a timely manner and work around weather constraints. The survey cannot be conducted in rain or snow or when winds exceed 15 mph. This work is weather dependent. While DNR will attempt to provide as much advance notice as possible, Contractor must be available to perform these services on two days’ (48 hours) notice. Task 2: April Canada Goose Survey Description: The survey will occur in mid-April when weather conditions are appropriate (wind less than 30 mph and visibility > 1 mile) and Canada geese are in the incubation stage of nesting. The successful Respondent will work with a team of wildlife biologists to conduct low level searches of 330 plots scattered throughout the state. Plots are one square mile and include potential goose nesting habitat such as wetlands or various sized waterbodies. The DNR provides GPS locations of the plots. Upon arrival at the plot, the pilot and wildlife biologist work together to identify the habitat and search for geese in a low level (150-400 AGL) pattern until the habitat has been covered. This task typically takes approximately 40 flight hours. The pilot must be prepared to stay overnight to efficiently complete the survey in a timely manner and work around weather constraints. This work is weather dependent which requires the Respondent be available to perform these services on two days (48 hours notice). This survey is expected to begin April 5-15 and conclude by April 25. No later than May 1 and as requested by the DNR. Task 3: Four Square Mile Survey Description: The Four Square Mile Survey occurs during May 4-25 in northern Iowa. The successful respondent will work with a team of wildlife biologists to conduct low level searches of wetlands in 36 plots across a nine county area in northern Iowa. This task typically takes approximately 15 flight hours. The pilot must be prepared to stay overnight to efficiently complete the survey in a timely manner and work around weather constraints. This work is weather dependent which requires the Respondent be available to perform these services on two days (48 hours notice). This survey is expected to occur between May 1 - 25. No later than May 31 and as requested by the DNR. Task 4: General Wildlife Surveys Description: On an as-needed basis and at the request of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the successful respondent shall provide an hourly rate for survey services. Flight time and total hours will be scheduled and mutually agreed upon by the respondent and the Department.
