Addendum 1~55.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

Document Title: Forest Carbon Markets Project # FY27RES0001

BID # BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-134205

Addendum # 1

October 22, 2026

RE: Addendum No. 1 – RFI Solicitation Document Update

To: All Proposers/Bidders of Record:

Please be advised that the RFI Solicitation Documents for the above-referenced project have been modified, corrected, and/or supplemented as follows. Addendum No. 1 is hereby incorporated into the Contract Documents.

Purpose of Addendum:

The purpose of this addendum is to provide responses to questions submitted by proposers. All clarifications, explanations, and additional information are now part of the Contract Documents.

1. The RFI requests estimates of credit volume, development and verification costs, timing, sale price, and net revenue for state lands. In addition to the information contained in the 2020 Forest Action Plan and any data from the Forests as Climate Solutions initiative, what forest inventory, management plan, harvest history, timber revenue, GIS, and other state-land data will the Commonwealth make available to respondents to support these estimates?

Response: The information described below is available per the relevant links included.

Respondents are encouraged to provide ranges of estimates under various scenarios, drawing on their professional experience and knowledge of the Massachusetts landscape, while clearly identifying the assumptions and data limitations associated with each scenario.

• Management Plans: In addition to the Forest Action Plan, DCR’s Division of State Parks and Recreation’s Landscape Designations and Management Guidelines (2012) are available at https://www.mass.gov/doc/landscape-designations/download, and the Western Connecticut River Forest Management Plan is available at https://www.mass.gov/doc/western-ct-valley-forest-rmp-final/download.

DCR’s Division of Water Supply Protection’s Land Management Plan (2017) is available at https://www.mass.gov/doc/2017-dcr-division-of-water-supply-protection- 2017-land-management-plan/download. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s State https://www.mass.gov/doc/landscape-designations/download https://www.mass.gov/doc/western-ct-valley-forest-rmp-final/download.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/2017-dcr-division-of-water-supply-protection-2017-land-management-plan/download https://www.mass.gov/doc/2017-dcr-division-of-water-supply-protection-2017-land-management-plan/download

Wildlife Action Plan is available at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-state-wildlife-action-plan-swap.

• GIS and other state land data: MassGIS provides a variety of data sets; some data sets relevant to this question include land cover, parcels and protected open space. The site also has LiDAR data. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-data-lidar-terrain-data A full list can be found at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massgis-bureau-of-geographic-information.

• Massachusetts Forest Explorer: Includes a variety of data about forests throughout the state and is available at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/forest-explorer-your-guide-to-massachusetts-woods.

2. Given the information currently available through the RFI, does the Commonwealth expect quantitative estimates of credit volume and revenue for state lands at this stage, or would scenario-based ranges with clearly stated assumptions and data limitations be responsive?

Response: Scenario-based responses that include a credit volume range and associated revenue would be responsive. Responses should include clearly stated assumptions and data limitations.

3. Is the Commonwealth considering forest carbon credits primarily for external sale, retirement toward Commonwealth climate commitments, conservation financing, or some combination of these approaches? How does the Commonwealth anticipate accounting for credits sold externally relative to its greenhouse gas inventory and net-zero commitments?

Response: The Commonwealth is considering forest carbon credits for a combination of potential uses, with conservation finance taking precedence. All net natural and working lands emissions in Massachusetts’ annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory (Appendix C on https://www.mass.gov/lists/massdep-emissions-inventories) will be considered applicable toward the Commonwealth’s statewide Net Zero emissions limit in 2050.

Respondents are encouraged to explain how the scenarios identified in the question (external sale, retirement toward Commonwealth climate commitments, or conservation financing) would affect project feasibility, revenue potential, project structure, or other questions raised in the RFI. In responding to section 4.a of the RFI, please describe the carbon accounting issues that may arise when forest carbon credits are sold externally.

4. For privately owned lands, is the Commonwealth interested primarily in assessing statewide or regional aggregation approaches, or should respondents also consider stand-alone projects for individual landowners? Are any ownership types or parcel-size ranges a priority?

Response: The Commonwealth seeks information to better understand the feasibility and revenue potential of a variety of approaches on privately owned lands, including statewide or regional aggregation, stand-alone projects for individual landowners, and other potential approaches. In responding to the RFI, please explain how different https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-state-wildlife-action-plan-swap https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-state-wildlife-action-plan-swap https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-data-lidar-terrain-data https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massgis-data-lidar-terrain-data https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massgis-bureau-of-geographic-information https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massgis-bureau-of-geographic-information https://www.mass.gov/info-details/forest-explorer-your-guide-to-massachusetts-woods https://www.mass.gov/info-details/forest-explorer-your-guide-to-massachusetts-woods https://www.mass.gov/lists/massdep-emissions-inventories approaches may affect project feasibility, revenue potential, project structure, or other issues raised in the RFI. If, based on your experience, certain ownership types or parcel-size ranges should be prioritized, please identify them and explain your reasoning.

5. Should respondents assume that lands already subject to conservation easements, reserve designations, or other restrictions remain in scope for carbon-market evaluation? If so, will the Commonwealth provide information on applicable restrictions to support assessment of additionality and carbon rights?

Response: All public and private forests are within the scope of the RFI, including lands subject to conservation easements, reserve designations, or other restrictions. In responding to the RFI, please explain how conservation easements, reserves designations and other restrictions may affect project feasibility and revenue potential under different scenarios, including any implications for additionality and carbon rights.

6. Do we upload our response under "items" or "attachments" in COMMBUYS?

Creating a Quote Response

1. Navigate to the bottom of the Bid Solicitation

2. Select Create a Quote

3. Select Save and Continue

4. Select the Items tab

a. Review the RFR for specific instructions

5. Select Save and Continue

Attaching a Quote

1. Select the Attachments tab

2. Select Add File

3. Select Choose File

4. Click Save and Continue to save changes

5. Repeat until all required documents are attached

7. Is there any formatting or page length guidance for the response?

Response: There are no formatting or page length requirements for responses. As noted in the RFI, respondents may respond to any or all of the questions presented in the RFI.

END OF ADDENDUM