260730_Q&A_Biological_Monitoring_Oyster.pdf

This Q&A document is associated with a resolicitation request for proposals issued by the Housing and Community Renewal (HCR)/Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) in New York for Biological Monitoring of Oyster Implementation for the Living Breakwaters Project. The resolicitation was issued on July 13, 2026, with this Q&A document dated as of July 30, 2026. The document addresses bidder inquiries regarding licensing and certification requirements, specifically regarding the acceptability of AAUS or equivalent scientific diving credentials versus OSHA-compliant dive operators or company-managed scientific diving programs. The resulting contract will have a five-year term from 2027 through 2031, subject to approval by the Agency's Board of Directors.

The RFP establishes contracting goals for minority and women business enterprises (MWBE), with a 15 percent goal for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and a 15 percent goal for Women Business Enterprises (WBE), along with a 6 percent goal for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB). No business enterprises have been awarded identical or substantially similar procurement contracts within the past five years. The Q&A response directs bidders to refer to the amended Solicitation and Addendum posted on the HCR website for specific safety protocol specifications and further clarification on credentialing requirements.