Aviation Services for Aerial Rabies Vaccine Dispersal   3

Background
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS), National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) is seeking to establish a contract for commercial aviation services for aerial rabies vaccine bait dispersal.

This initiative aims to manage wildlife rabies effectively, which has become a significant public health challenge due to the increasing complexity of rabies management in the U.S. The NRMP has a long history of collaboration with various authorities to control rabies spread among wildlife, particularly in the eastern United States.

Work Details
The contractor will provide aircraft, pilots, supervision, labor, supplies (excluding oral rabies vaccine baits), aerial services, on-site maintenance of aircraft, facilitating equipment, and associated materials necessary for the distribution of oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits.

The contractor must ensure that all baits are distributed at specified rates during designated hours and within defined areas. The contract includes three ordering periods: 1) Aerial Dispersal Flight Hours - 1500 hours per period; 2) Ferry Time Flight Hours - 100 hours per period. The contractor is also required to develop and maintain a quality control program and submit a Quality Control Plan with their initial quote.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed over three ordering periods, each lasting twelve months: from April 15, 2025, to April 14, 2026; April 15, 2026, to April 14, 2027; and April 15, 2027, to April 14, 2028.

Place of Performance
The work will primarily take place across approximately 15 locations in the Eastern United States.