NIGP 92540: Fisheries; Fish Ladders - Engineering

NIGP 92540 Fisheries; Fish Ladders—Engineering, an Item code, encompasses professional engineering services for dam hydrostatic and hydrologic assessments, fish passage infrastructure design, and downstream aquatic habitat improvements that state and local water resource authorities, counties, and municipalities solicit to comply with federal dam-safety standards and fisheries stewardship mandates. The Brazos River Authority's RFP for hydrostatic pressure relief system assessment and downstream channel improvements at Sterling C. Robertson Dam (RFPNO261385, due October 14, 2026) exemplifies the scope: comprehensive investigation of relief wells, drains, and stilling-basin concrete; structural assessment; evaluation of downstream erosion and bank protection; and design of remedial improvements to achieve a 40-year minimum service life under USACE and TCEQ standards. Key personnel must hold Texas professional engineering or surveying licenses and five to ten years of relevant experience, with preference for high-hazard dam backgrounds. The awardee secures a time-and-materials contract with a mutually agreeable not-to-exceed amount, terminable without penalty, and maintains professional liability insurance of $5 million per claim / $10 million aggregate plus general liability of $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate, workers' compensation, automobile liability of $1 million, employers' liability of $1 million, and pollution liability of $1 million per claim. The Brazos River Authority held a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting and site visit on September 15, 2026, with a September 25 addenda deadline for Q&A responses.

Recent solicitation activity under this code centers in Texas and Pennsylvania. Beyond the Brazos River Authority opportunity, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, issued a sub-lease RFP (2629, due June 4, 2026) for operation of a trout nursery facility in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission at 57 Upper Farm Road, Norristown—a ten-year operational lease for fingerling rearing to support fishing opportunities for disadvantaged children, disabled citizens, and public events. Responding organizations must demonstrate past nursery operation experience and submit references; evaluation criteria include price, bidder experience, past performance, and operational capacity. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources committed capital funding for a new dedicated electrical service to the selected operator. Most recent activity appears concentrated in Texas water-resource management and Pennsylvania fisheries stewardship initiatives; no comparable opportunities appear active in other states within the recent-solicitations window.