Management and Stocking Strategies Evaluation Service in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking a vendor to evaluate management and stocking strategies for Muskellunge fisheries within the state. The agency needs to monitor post-stocking survival rates using acoustic receiver arrays and manual tracking of radio-tagged fish in various reservoirs and lakes. This survival data will support adaptive management, allowing the agency to refine its culture and stocking methods, such as comparing on-shore ramp stocking to off-shore stocking, to improve overall survival rates. The project covers the development of system-specific criteria for optimized Muskellunge fisheries to revise the Iowa Muskellunge Management Plan and Stocking Policy. The selected vendor will analyze project data and deliver a comprehensive plan offering actionable recommendations to improve these fisheries. The scope also includes project management and Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit management. Eligibility is restricted to onshore, United States organizations only. The agency requires the performance of the work to be conducted offsite. The agency is currently looking for proposals to establish the budget, and no specific funding limits or key dates are provided in the solicitation.