Addendum 2.pdf

North Carolina Solicitation Addendum Version Date: 11/2021

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SOLCITATION ADDENDUM

FAILURE TO RETURN THIS ADDENDUM MAY SUBJECT YOUR RESPONSE TO

REJECTION.

1. The Solicitation is hereby modified as follows:

Issuing Agency: NC Department of Environmental Quality: Division of Mitigation Services

Solicitation Number: RFP 16-2390995147

Solicitation Description: Adaptive Management Plan for Rowan Branch

Solicitation Opening Date and Time:

October 20, 2026 At 2:00 PM

Addendum Number: 2

Addendum Date:

Purchasing Agent: Kristie Corson

Modification

Solicitation Section

Current Solicitation Language Updated Solicitation Language

1 2.6 Questions related to the content of the solicitation, or the procurement process should be directed to the person on the title page of this document via the email address tracie.harrell@deq.nc.gov by the by the date and time specified in the RFP SCHEDULE Section of this RFP. Vendors will enter “RFP # 16-2313794044 – Questions” as the subject of the message.

Question submittals should include a reference to the applicable RFP section. This is the only manner in which questions will be received.

Questions related to the content of the solicitation, or the procurement process should be directed to the person on the title page of this document via the email address kristie.corson@deq.nc.gov by the by the date and time specified in the RFP SCHEDULE Section of this RFP.

Vendors will enter “RFP # 16- 2390995147 – Questions” as the subject of the message. Question submittals should include a reference to the applicable RFP section. This is the only manner in which questions will be received.

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 16-2390995147

ADDENDUM NUMBER: Error! Reference source not found.2

North Carolina Solicitation Addendum

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2. The following are questions received about the Solicitation and the State’s response to those questions:

Question

Document Section

Vendor Question State’s Response

1 Will DMS consider changing the solicitation to include an assessment/evaluation of a natural flood mitigation project on portions of the Rowan Branch site?

The Rowan project is intended to provide preservation credits by treating invasive vegetation within the conservation easement. While this activity may enhance flood resilience, the current state of vegetation is already working toward flood resilience. Additionally, although preservation is a viable option for flood resilience, the Rowan Branch project is a compensatory mitigation project seeking compensatory mitigation credit.

2 Task 1:

Section 5.2.1

Wetland Delineation Extent – Task 1:

Section 5.2.1 requires a field delineation to determine existing wetland acreages and confirm wetland boundaries and specifically notes that previously identified seep wetlands must be refined to exclude non-wetland areas. Please confirm that the required field effort is to evaluate and delineate the previously mapped wetland areas, including riparian and non-riparian wetlands and the non-credit/hashed wetland areas, rather than conducting a new wetland determination across the entire conservation easement.

The field efforts should be focused to re-evaluate and delineate the previously mapped non-riparian/seep wetland areas (shown in yellow on posted maps) to exclude any areas that may no longer be considered non-riparian/seep wetland.

3 Field Marking of Wetlands: Please confirm that the non-riparian wetland boundaries are to be physically marked/flagged in the field in addition to being GPS-located and provided in the required shapefile and georeferenced PDF deliverables.

Correct, newly confirmed non-riparian wetland boundaries should be marked in the field with flagging in addition to being GPS-located and provided in the required shapefile and georeferenced PDF deliverables.

4 JD/PJD: Please confirm that Task 1 requires the wetland delineation and associated spatial deliverables and soils report, but does not require preparation or submittal of a USACE Jurisdictional Determination or Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination package.

Task 1 requires a wetland delineation, spatial data, georeferenced PDFs, and LSS sealed soils/wetland report submitted to DMS. A USACE Jurisdictional Determination (JD) or Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (PJD) is NOT required.

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Document Section

Vendor Question State’s Response

5 5.2.1 Licensed Soil Scientist: Section 5.2.1 states that the delineation and soils report must be completed and sealed by an LSS.

Please clarify whether the LSS is expected to independently perform the wetland delineation or whether the Vendor's qualified wetland scientists may perform and flag the delineation, with the LSS performing the necessary soils evaluation and review/seal of the resulting wetland delineation and soils report.

The Vendor’s qualified wetland scientist(s) may perform the delineation, the LSS must perform the soils evaluation and review and seal the final wetland delineation/soils report. The Vendor may subcontract an LSS if they do not currently have one on staff.

6 Bush Hogging/Site Access: During the site visit, bush hogging was discussed in connection with accessing portions of the site. Please confirm whether the Vendor should include bush hogging/site-access costs in its proposed price and subsequently account for those costs/actions in the AMP.

The Vendor should include any work, like bush hogging related to access, that is necessary to perform the evaluations requested in the RFP. If the contracted Vendor would like to provide a cost estimate as to potential costs as part of the drafted AMP, that is acceptable to

DMS.

7 Hydrologic Trespass: “Hydrologic trespass” was discussed during the site visit. Please clarify what condition or issue DMS/IRT is referring to by hydrologic trespass at Rowan Branch and whether any investigation, mapping, analysis, or recommendation related to that condition is expected as part of the Vendor's scope.

When the site was originally proposed as a potential mitigation project, there were discussions with the IRT about the potential for hydrologic trespass if stream restoration, wetland re-establishment, or other earthmoving site modifications were to occur. No hydrologic trespass investigation, mapping, or analysis is required as part of the Vendor’s scope for this RFP.

8 Invasive Species Mapping: For Task 2, please confirm that invasive vegetation should be mapped as polygons identifying species, location, and an estimated/subjective density for each polygon, rather than requiring quantitative vegetation sampling or fixed-plot density measurements. The AMP requirements identify species, density, and location as required information.

Correct, invasive vegetation should be mapped as polygons on the PDF and spatial data that identify species, location, and estimated densities of vegetation (approximate stems per acre density, etc.). Quantitative sampling or fixed plot density measurements are not required but can be utilized if the Vendor chooses.

9 Non-Credit/Hashed Wetland Areas: Please confirm that wetland areas shown as hashed/non-credit areas on the existing project mapping are nevertheless to be field delineated and included in the updated wetland mapping produced under Task

Current non-credit/hashed wetland areas do not need to be re-delineated as part of this RFP.

The IRT closeout contingency only required the wetlands identified as non-riparian/seep to be refined to exclude any non-wetland areas.

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Document Section

Vendor Question State’s Response

10 Does NCDMS require active North Carolina Licensed Soil Scientist (LSS) licensure for the delineation and soils report deliverables, or would a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) and Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) qualify under the comity provisions of N.C.G.S. § 89F-12?

The Vendor’s qualified wetland scientist(s) may perform the delineation, the LSS must perform the soils evaluation and review and seal the final wetland delineation/soils report. The Vendor may subcontract an LSS if they do not currently have one on staff.

11 Are you expecting the licensed soil scientist to execute a full hydric soil investigation, including hydric soil boundary extents and an accompanying hydric soil report in addition to a conventional wetland delineation? Or are you looking for the soil scientist to conduct soil borings, evaluate soil profiles, and present findings within the conventionally delineated wetland boundary extent?

The LSS should conduct soil borings, evaluate soil profiles, and present findings (via a sealed soils report) within the re-delineated non-riparian/seep wetland boundary extent.

12 Does the proposal need to be ADA compliant?

No

13 Will mechanical vegetation removal be allowable during the implementation portion of the project?

Yes, if approved by the IRT as part of the AMP, mechanical vegetation removal will be allowed during the implementation of the project.

14 Will the vendor selected for this RFP be excluded from performing the invasive species management work in a later solicitation?

No

15 5.2.1 Will the VENDOR need to obtain a Jurisdictional Determination from the Army Corps of Engineers?

Task 1 requires a wetland delineation, spatial data, georeferenced PDFs, and LSS sealed soils/wetland report submitted to DMS. A USACE Jurisdictional Determination (JD) or Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (PJD) is NOT required.

16 5.2.1 Will NCDMS provide shapefiles used to create the Georeferenced Closeout Map?

Yes. DMS will provide the contracted Vendor with shapefiles.

17 5.2.3 Will a Categorical Exclusion need to be prepared, or any threatened and endangered species considerations need to be made?

The IRT will decide if any permits or consultations will be required for the invasive treatment work during review of the submitted Draft AMP. The Vendor should plan for the possibility of a Categorical Exclusion and/or other federal consultations as part of any bid submittals.

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Check ONLY ONE of the following options and return one properly executed copy of this Addendum prior to the Solicitation opening time and date.

☐ A response was submitted prior to this Addendum. An updated response has been submitted to address the changes resulting from this Addendum.

☐ A response was submitted prior to this Addendum. NO CHANGES have resulted from this Addendum.

☐ A response was not submitted prior to this Addendum. ANY CHANGES resulting from this Addendum are included in our response.

ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS REMAIN THE SAME

Authorized Signature Date

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SOLCITATION ADDENDUM