Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

Inspired Flight IF1200A hexacopter drone system and remote sensing payloads, including a Sentera 6X Thermal Pro multispectral/thermal sensor, a Yellowscan Venturer Lidar Scanner, and a Resonon Pika L hyperspectral imaging camera.This equipment will directly support research objectives including habitat mapping, snag detection, and other ecological assessment applications. The lidar system will enable high-resolution vegetation classification, elevation modeling, canopy structure mapping, and wetland detection. The multispectral/thermal sensor will facilitate vegetation condition assessments

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for performing sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(8)) .