Request for Response-MassWildlife-NCRF 3278 Project.pdf

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE

SALT MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT

FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING

Issue Date: April 15, 2026

Purchasing Department Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)

Procurement Contact

Cynthia Pratt, Procurement and Contracting Supervisor MassWildlife Field Headquarters 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA 01581 508-389-6315, cynthia.pratt@mass.gov

Project Manager

Patricia Huckery, Northeast District Manager MassWildlife Northeast District Office 85 Fitchburg Road, Ayer, MA 01432 978-772-2145, pat.huckery@mass.gov

RFR Title Salt Marsh Restoration Project-Final Design and Permitting RFR Number DFW-2026-098

COMMBUYS Bid Number BD-26-1046-DFW-FWE11-128187 (Open Market Bid)

Bid Response Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. EST(“bid opening date” in

COMMBUYS)

1. Description or Purpose of Procurement

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) is requesting bids for the 3,278-Acre Nature-Based Trio Salt Marsh Restoration Project (3278), a project to complete final design and permitting of 3,278 acres of salt marsh within Great Marsh. The nature-based techniques to be employed are ditch remediation, runnels, and marsh habitat islands (trio project).

The goals of the proposed 3278 trio project include:

1) Convert 3,278 acres of existing preliminary trio restoration designs to final designs to meet regulatory requirements in consultation with the Great Marsh SMARTeam Review/Design members (Salt Marsh Adaptation and Resiliency Team),

2) Subcontract with MassWildlife approved trio design expert(s) to complete final designs,

3) Manage all aspects of environmental permitting in coordination with the MassWildlife project lead,

4) Coordinate meetings with conservation partners for pre-permit application review and comments,

5) Consult with the UMass Mass Marsh Monitoring group to develop final pre-and post-monitoring plans.

2. Applicable Procurement Law

SALT MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT • FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING • DFW-2026-098

Check Appropriate

Box (“X”):

Type of Purchase Executive Branch Goods and Services Applicable Laws

X Goods and Services MGL c. 7, § 22; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801 CMR 21.00

Human and Social Services MGL c. 7, § 22, § 22N; c. 30, § 51, § 52; 801

CMR 21.00; 808 CMR 1.00

Legal Services MGL c. 30, § 51, § 52 and § 65; c. 7, § 22; and 801 CMR 21.01(2) (b)

Grants MGL c. 7A, § 7; St. 1986 c. 206, § 17; 815 CMR 2.00

3. Acquisition Method

Check All Applicable

(“X”):

Category

X Fee-For-Service

Outright Purchase

Rental (not to exceed 6 months)

Term Lease

License

Other

4. Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract

Check One (“X”): Contractors

X Single Contractor

Multiple Contractors

a. Estimated Number of Awards

The target maximum number of Contractors is one. The Purchasing Department may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so.

5. Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

Check One (“X”): Eligible Entities

Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Defined Entities Only. Any Contract(s) resulting from this Bid will be open for use by the issuing Purchasing Department and the following other entities:

X Limited User Contract – Restricted to Use by Issuing Entity Only.

6. Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew)

Contract Duration Number of Options Number of Years/Months

Initial Duration Effective date through February 1, 2027.

Renewal Options N/A No options to renew.

Total Maximum Contract Duration* Effective date through February 1, 2027.

7. Anticipated Expenditures, Funding, or Compensation

Estimated Value of Procurement: $150,000.00

The funding for any contract resulting from this procurement is conditioned upon approval of NFWF grant funding.

Additional funds may be available for additional acreage if MassWildlife deems there is a benefit to the Commonwealth.

8. Scope of Work and Specifications

HABITAT RESTORATION AND PERMITTING SERVICES: TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 3,278 ACRES OF NATURE-BASED TRIO RESTORATION FINAL DESIGNS AND RECEIVE REQUIRED ENVIRONMENAL PERMITS

FOR THE PROJECT TO PROCEED TO PRE-MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION.

This Scope of Work covers final design and permitting for a minimum of 3,278 acres of trio restoration in the Great Marsh encompassing the towns of Newbury, Rowley, Ipswich and Salisbury (see maps in Appendix E).

MassWildlife has remaining 6,061 acres of pre-liminary trio designs prepared for permitting. However, funding was only obtained for a subset of those designs. The contractor will serve as the project manager overseeing all aspects of final trio design as well as project permitting requirements.

Assessments of legacy agriculture and mosquito control ditches have been completed and GIS maps produced. These maps were overlain with trio designs that included ditch remediation and runnels.

Preliminary designs are at 95% completion. The contractor will complete final design which includes in-depth quality control to ensure tide-sheds and placement of ditch remediation and runnels are correct for permitting.

• Convert at least 3,278 acres of existing preliminary trio restoration designs to final designs to meet regulatory requirements in consultation with the Great Marsh SMARTeam Review/Design scientists (Salt Marsh Adaptation and Resiliency Team),

• Subcontract with a MassWildlife approved trio design expert(s) to complete final designs.

• Finish MEPA review with application completed by MassWildlife.

• Manage all aspects of environmental permitting in coordination with the MassWildlife project lead, including but not limited to:

• Complete and file applications for local, state, and federal permits; create GIS maps, drawings, designs, for applications - MEPA, MESA, WPA, WQC, c.91, ACOE, local by-laws, etc..

• Post hearing and project notices in newspapers, MEPA Monitor, schedule hearings and site visits.

• Present at hearings and lead site visits; correspond with regulators, SMARTeams design/review scientists.

• File Registry documents.

• Lead weekly progress meetings with MassWildlife and project partners (USFWS, The Trustees, MA

Audubon Society, Town of Ipswich, Essex County Greenbelt Association).

• Coordinate meetings with conservation partners for pre-permit application review and comments, with special attention to describing and illustrating the importance of micro-runnel techniques in accelerating restoration of salt marsh restoration.

• Consult with the UMass Mass Marsh Monitoring group to develop final pre-and post-monitoring plans.

• Consult with the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) and project partners to develop a saltmarsh sparrow long-term monitoring plan.

• Discuss and finalize NHESP Time of Year restrictions for saltmarsh sparrow.

• Apply principles of the 4-tiered Restoration Design Approach.

• Site selection is that determined by MassWildlife and exhibited in the attached site maps.

Preliminary designs will be shared with the contractor meeting the evaluation criteria and who is selected to complete the project.

Timeline We anticipate that this project will start May 2026 (contingent on funding) and conclude on February 1, 2027, with the submission of a final report.

Deliverables

• All regulatory certifications, permits, licenses, approvals required for a project of this type and scale to move to the monitoring and implementation phases. Received electronically and with three paper copies.

• Copies of all regulatory applications, maps, data, illustrations, and supplementary documentation provided electronically in Word and PDF format.

• Final trio plans as approved by regulatory authorities, in GIS format, c. 91 mylars (if required), and two sets of water-proof paper (or similar) color copies size 24 x 36 inches, scale 1:2000.

• A Final Report, due February 1, 2027, which includes:

o An analysis of problems encountered and how to remedy them in future applications.

o Any recommended changes or clarifications to the DEP TRIO Guidance that would expedite future applications.

Project Expansion:

MassWildlife may, at its sole discretion, expand the scope of work to include additional acreage. Any additional work awarded will be governed by the terms and conditions of this RFR and the resulting contract, using the supplemental per-acre pricing provided in the vendor’s proposal. The total acreage to be serviced shall be finalized by MassWildlife and the selected vendor prior to contract execution. The agreed-upon acreage will be memorialized in the final scope of work.

Notice to Proceed The awarded contractor for this procurement will receive a Notice to Proceed. No work may commence without the execution of a Commonwealth Standard Contract Form and the issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

Invoicing

• Vendor will submit invoices electronically to the Procurement Contact, Cynthia Pratt, by email to cynthia.pratt@mass.gov on a monthly or otherwise mutually agreed upon basis.

• Invoices must be itemized with brief descriptions of work performed and tasks completed.

• Total of all invoices is not to exceed the Max Obligation agreed to under this procurement. No additional expenses will be reimbursed without prior written permission from the CFO and a contract amendment.

• Final invoice must be submitted no later than March 31, 2027.

9. Other Specifications

Commonwealth Bill Paying Policy All invoices issued pursuant to this contract are payable in accordance with the Comptroller’s Bill Paying Policy. The Commonwealth's Bill Paying Policy outlines the Commonwealth’s policies that apply to the expenditure of Commonwealth Funds by Executive Departments, including but not limited to: Prompt Payment Discount, Late Payments, and EFT Requirements.

Commonwealth Tax Exemption The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is tax exempt. The Department of Fish and Game will provide a copy of its tax exemption upon request to the awarded vendor.

Compliance with Laws and Regulations All activities agreed to and conducted under this RFR, and contract must comply with federal, state, and local laws. Nothing in this RFR or its resulting contracts is intended to supersede or violate any laws.

mailto:cynthia.pratt@mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/info-details/understanding-commonwealth-payments https://www.mass.gov/info-details/understanding-commonwealth-payments

Public Records Law All documents submitted in response to this RFR are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L., Chapter 66, Section 10, and to Chapter 4, Section 7, Subsection 26. Any statements in submitted proposals that are inconsistent with these statutes shall be disregarded.

10. Small Business Purchasing Program Background

The Massachusetts Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) was established pursuant to Executive Order 599 to increase state contracting opportunities with small businesses having their principal place of business within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pursuant to the SBPP, it is the intention of the issuing department to award this Small Procurement to one or more SBPP participating business(es) as described below.

SBPP Award Preference While all businesses, no matter the size or principal place of business, may submit responses to this solicitation, should an SBPP participant respond and meet the best value criteria as described in this solicitation, the SBPP participant shall be awarded the contract. The Strategic Sourcing Services Team (SSST) will not evaluate submissions from non-SBPP participants unless no SBPP Bidder meets the SSST’s best value evaluation criteria.

SBPP Participation Eligibility To be eligible to participate in this procurement as an SBPP participant, an entity must meet the following criteria, and be marked as an SBPP-registered business in COMMBUYS

Non-profit firms also must be registered as a non-profit or charitable organization with the MA Attorney General’s Office and be up to date with all filings required by that office and be tax exempt under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

SBPP Compliance Requirements It is the responsibility of the Bidder to ensure that their SBPP status is current at the time of submitting a response and throughout the life of any resulting contract. Misrepresentation of SBPP status will result in disqualification from consideration, and may result in debarment, contract termination, and other actions. To learn more about the SBPP, including how to apply, visit mass.gov/sbpp.

Program Resources and Assistance Bidders and Contractors seeking assistance regarding SBPP may visit the SBPP webpage, http://www.mass.gov/sbpp, or contact the SBPP Help Desk at sbpp@mass.gov.

11. Environmentally Preferable Products

Products and services purchased by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order 515, issued October 27, 2009. Under this Executive Order, Executive Departments are required to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring environmentally preferable products and https://www.mass.gov/sbpp https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-599-reaffirming-programs-to-ensure-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-diverse-and-small-massachusetts-businesses-in-state-procurement-and-contracting https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-599-reaffirming-programs-to-ensure-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-diverse-and-small-massachusetts-businesses-in-state-procurement-and-contracting https://www.commbuys.com/bso/ https://www.mass.gov/sbpp http://www.mass.gov/sbpp mailto:sbpp@mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-515-establishing-an-environmental-purchasing-policy?_ga=2.237660352.1741219494.1633353146-758386467.1632336759 services (EPPs) whenever such products and services perform to satisfactory standards and represent best value, consistent with 801 CMR 21.00. In line with this directive, all Contracts, whether departmental or statewide, must comply with the specifications and guidelines established by OSD and the EPP Program. EPPs are products and services that help to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products. Bid responses must identify how a contractor meets these goals.

12. Evaluation Criteria

Contractors must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFR. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Criteria are based on costs per hour and acre Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes.

Proposals will be evaluated based on best value to the Commonwealth with the following specific requirements:

Mandatory Requirements

• Project management costs per hour per permit type including a projected permitting schedule.

• Estimated project costs per acre for final design for trio plans that are 95% complete.

• Must have over 5 years of current experience permitting nature-based trio restoration projects in

Massachusetts, which includes experience implementing the MA Department of Environmental Protection trio guidelines, or similar.

• Must have over 3 years of current experience applying the 4-Tiered Restoration Methodology (Appendix D: 4-Tiered Restoration Methodology).

Desirable Specifications

• Special consideration will be given for past/present coordination with Great Marsh SMARTeam

Review/Design scientists.

• Special consideration will be given for multiple years of experience with Saltmarsh Sparrows.

• Excellent report writing and GIS mapping skills.

A vendor bid proposal shall contain the following information, at a minimum, to evaluate bid responses:

• Bidders shall provide detailed descriptions of how the evaluation criteria listed above will be met.

• Proposal must include a description of proposed costs/pricing including an all-inclusive max obligation amount to complete the work specified on the 3,278 acres defined, plus estimated costs to add additional preliminary designed acres.

• Bidders shall submit a detailed description of their experience permitting nature-based trio restoration projects.

• Bidders shall provide a list of experts expected to assist in the production of permitting documents, designs and maps, along with their qualifications.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidance-for-salt-marsh-restoration-techniques-including-ditch-remediation-runnels-and-marsh-habitat-mounds/download https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidance-for-salt-marsh-restoration-techniques-including-ditch-remediation-runnels-and-marsh-habitat-mounds/download

• Bidders shall provide the pathway expected to be employed to achieve final designs that is cost efficient and follows the MA Department of Environmental Protection trio guidelines.

• Bidders shall provide information about their experience with Saltmarsh Sparrows.

Bidders may provide additional information at their discretion.

See Required Forms (Section 15) for additional bid submission requirements.

13. Instructions for Submission of Responses

Only electronic quotes submitted via COMMBUYS will be accepted in response to this RFR. Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix B.

Any submission that fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFR may be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and may be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

MassWildlife reserves the right to contact bidders for clarification.

Refer to the Evaluation Criteria (page 7) and Required Forms (page 9) when submitting your bid proposal.

14. Estimated Procurement Calendar

Procurement Activity Date Time

Bid Release Date April 15, 2026

Deadline for Submission of Questions through COMMBUYS “Bid Q&A

April 22, 2026 11:00 a.m. EST

Official Answers for Bid Q&A published (Estimated) April 23, 2026

Bid Amendment Deadline, bid documents will not be amended after this date.

April 23, 2026 2:00 p.m. EST

Deadline for Responses (“bid opening date” in

COMMBUYS)

April 30, 2026 2:00 p.m. EST

Estimated Contract Start Date Contingent on grant funding. Estimated to be May of 2026.

Bidders are required to monitor COMMBUYS for changes to the procurement calendar for this Bid.

a. Online Questions (Bid Q&A) https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidance-for-salt-marsh-restoration-techniques-including-ditch-remediation-runnels-and-marsh-habitat-mounds/download

Written Questions must be entered using the “Bid Q&A” tab for the Bid in COMMBUYS no later than the “Online Questions Due” date and time indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above). The issuing department reserves the right to not respond to questions submitted after this date. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to verify receipt of questions.

It is the responsibility of the prospective Bidder and awarded Contractor to maintain an active registration in COMMBUYS and to keep current the email address of the Bidder’s contact person and prospective contract manager, if awarded a contract, and to monitor that email inbox for communications from the Purchasing Department, including requests for clarification. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth assume no responsibility if a prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s designated email address is not current, or if technical problems, including those with the prospective Bidder’s/awarded Contractor’s computer, network, or internet service provider (ISP) cause email communications sent to/from the prospective Bidder/Awarded contractor and the Purchasing Department to be lost or rejected by any means including email or spam filtering.

Written Responses to Questions will be released on or about the “Responses to Questions Posted Online” date indicated in the Estimated Procurement Calendar (above).

(Written questions and responses will be posted on the Bid Q&A Tab for this Bid in COMMBUYS.)

b. Bid Amendment Deadline

The Purchasing Department reserves the right to make amendments to the Bid after initial publication. It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for amendments, addenda, or modifications to this Bid, and any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid. The Purchasing Department and the Commonwealth accept no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

c. Quotes (Bid Responses) Deadline (Bid Opening Date/Time)

Bid Responses are due by the “bid opening date/time” in COMMBUYS.

d. Estimated Contract Start Date

This is the approximate start date. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

15. Required Forms

Responses to this RFR must contain the following documents:

• Bid proposal detailing bidder’s experience, qualifications, skills, staff/experts, and other factors for consideration (see Evaluation Criteria).

• Completed Mandatory Bid Response Form (Appendix F: Mandatory Bid Response Form).

o Bidders must provide an all-inclusive, maximum "not-to-exceed" price to complete the scope of work for the base 3,278 acres. To account for potential expansion, bidders may provide a separate unit price (cost per acre) for any supplemental acreage exceeding the 3,278-acre minimum. MassWildlife reserves the right to use these unit prices in determining the Best Value offer.

• Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing (CASL) form (see attachments in COMMBUYS)

The awarded vendor will be required to complete the following forms prior to the Notice to Proceed being issued:

• Request for Taxpayer Identification Number & Certification

• Prompt Payment Discount (PPD) Form

• Standard Contract Form

• *Authorization for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT form)

*An EFT form will only be required if the awarded vendor does not have an active vendor account in the state’s accounting system, Mosaic, or wishes to change their EFT enrollment.

These forms have been included as a zipped file with the bid in COMMBUYS for reference only.

16. RFR Attachments

Appendix A: Required Specifications https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services

Appendix B: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Appendix C: RFR – Other Specifications Effective June 15, 2021, for all 1) CTR forms, including the Standard Contract Form, W-9s, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) forms, ISAs, and other CTR-issued documents and forms, or 2) documents related to state finance and within the statutory area of authority or control of CTR (i.e. contracts, payrolls, and related supporting documentation), CTR will accept signatures executed by an authorized signatory in any of the following ways: 1. Traditional “wet signature” (ink on paper); 2. Electronic signature that is either: a. Hand drawn using a mouse or finger if working from a touch screen device; or Page 2 b. An uploaded picture of the signatory’s hand drawn signature 3. Electronic signatures affixed using a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign. If using an electronic signature, the signature must be visible, include the signatory’s name and title, and must be accompanied by a signature date. Please be advised that typed text of a name not generated by a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, even in computer-generated cursive script, or an electronic symbol, are not acceptable forms of electronic signature.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/rfr-required-specifications-of-commodities-and-services https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Appendix D: 4-Tiered Restoration Methodology

SMARTeams 4-Tiered Restoration Model – Tier 1

Platform Hydrology

• Halt subsidence trajectories

• Stabilize marsh platform

• Preserve 1,500 to 4,000 -year-old blue carbon stores

• Provide base for vertical accretion

SMARTeams 4-Tiered Restoration Model – Tier 2

Surface Hydrology

• Increase primary production

• Increase below ground biomass

• Increase accretion rates

• Increase carbon sequestration rates

• Increase marsh resiliency

SMARTeams 4-Tiered Restoration Model – Tier 3

Wildlife Management Considerations

• Structured micro-topography for saltmarsh sparrows

• Keep saltmarsh sparrows in the landscape for 60-80 years

• Provide time for vertical accretion to restore elevation across marsh platform

SMARTeams 4-Tiered Restoration Model – Tier 4

Long-Term Management Considerations

• Monitoring to ensure success

• Adaptive management strategies

• Vertical accretion to restore elevation across marsh platform

• Managed marsh migration

Appendix E: Site maps

Appendix F: Mandatory Bid Response Form

Mandatory Bid Response Form Salt Marsh Restoration Project

Final Design and Permitting

Instructions to bidders Complete and submit this form with your bid response. A copy is available in the attachments section of the bid in COMMBUYS.

Bidder’s information Bidder’s Name/Company:

Mailing Address:

Contact Person’s Name and Title:

Direct Phone Number(s):

Email Address:

Bid amount Services Acres Max Obligation Amount

Salt Marsh Restoration Project Final Design and Permitting 3,278 acres $

The minimum bid requirement is for the 3,278 acres defined in this RFR.

Section 2: Supplemental Unit Pricing (Optional) In the event that additional funding becomes available, MassWildlife may elect to expand the project scope.

Bidders may provide a supplemental per-acre rate below to be applied to any acreage awarded beyond the initial 3,278-acre requirement.

Price per acre Comments from Bidder

Note: MassWildlife provides no guarantee that additional funding or acreage will be authorized under this contract.

Award and Reimbursable Costs:

MassWildlife reserves the right to award the base contract (minimum acreage) or any combination of the base bid and supplemental options. Only costs expressly defined and approved within this cost proposal and awarded contract will be reimbursable. No additional fees or expenses shall be paid under the resulting contract without prior written authorization from the MassWildlife Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a formal contract amendment.