Caribou Fecal DNA Survey

This Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) is an invitation by the Government of Saskatchewan (GOS), Ministry of Environment (ENV) to prospective proponents to submit proposals for the provision of Woodland Caribou Fecal DNA Survey for survey areas in the SK1 caribou conservation unit, as further described in the RFP Particulars (Appendix A) (the “Deliverables”).

Woodland caribou, Boreal population are classified as “threatened” under the Species at Risk Act. ENV has legislative responsibility for, but not limited to, wildlife management, including species at risk, and is responsible for leading conservation measures for woodland caribou in the province.

The work for this RFP involves systematic aerial reconnaissance to locate and identify fresh caribou sign and on the ground site visits to collect caribou fecal pellets. The survey area is in northern Saskatchewan, in the SK1 caribou conservation unit, and will create logistical challenges.

Additional Information

At a minimum the Successful Supplier is required to do the following:

• Conduct aerial surveys and site visits to collect woodland caribou fecal pellets in sample blocks within the SK1 Caribou Conservation Unit (Boreal Shield) of Saskatchewan (Appendix F).

• Plan and execute systematic aerial reconnaissance (flight lines 9 km apart) to locate and identify fresh woodland caribou sign, travel to those sites, choose pellet collection sites, and collect caribou fecal pellets following the protocol established by ENV. See Appendix G - Saskatchewan Woodland Caribou Fecal Pellet Collection Protocol.

• Complete reconnaissance surveys and pellet collections in the four (4) sample areas (areas shown in Table 1, map of the study area in Appendix G) during January 2023 to March 2023.

• These surveys are to be done by an experienced Successful Supplier who is comfortable riding in fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

• Samples to be stored frozen and subsequently delivered to ENV’s Fish, Wildlife and Lands Branch staff within 14 days of collection or March 31, 2023, whichever is first.

• Arranging for use of aircraft landing strips.

• Any aircraft equipment necessary to the survey (not already provided by the aircraft owners).