CA Aerial Release of Fruit Flies

Fruit Flies are occasionally transported inadvertently across our borders and introduced into the environment of the United States by numerous means. These flies come in on various fruits and vegetables in various stages of their life cycles. If allowed to exist in the environment, they could cause millions of dollars in damage and have a significant impact on international and interstate trade. The female flies lay upwards of 300 eggs in over 250 varieties of fruit and vegetables during their lifespan. The utilization of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) along with spray applications of pesticides is the only current safe solution to this problem. As a consequence, the Secretary of Agriculture is committing resources to continually introduce sterile fruit flies into areas that have historically been prone to numerous introductions. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), in conjunction with California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is conducting a Preventative Release Program. A Preventative Release Program is the release of sterilized male fruit flies throughout an area to be available and breed with any introduced female to prevent infestations of this pest. USD APHIS intends to establish a firm fixed price Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for aircraft and crew services for the aerial release of sterilized fruit flies to support the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Preventative Release Program in the Los Angeles Basin and as needed to support additional fruit fly aerial release programs in California.