RFA FINAL HRER50.pdf

GUIDELINES AND BID INSTRUCTIONS

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Hudson River Estuary Management Program

Round 50 2026 Hudson River Estuary Grants

For Tributary Restoration and Resiliency

NYS Grants Management Bid Event ID:

HRE50-2026

Apply through the SFS Vendor Portal

Webinar Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 10:00-11:30 AM https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/rc1316ce407c2435fe7db03f903b1e5f4

Bid Due Date: (3:00 P.M. EST, DATE December 17, 2026) https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/psc/fscm/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL?& https://meetny-gov.webex.com/weblink/register/rc1316ce407c2435fe7db03f903b1e5f4

1 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m., EST

Table of Contents Contents Table of Contents

Introduction

Timetable of Key Events

Bidder Eligibility

Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

1. Funding

2. Proposed Project Timeframes

3. Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts

4. Bid Limit/Award limit

5. Eligible Project Locations

6. Match Requirement and Expenditures

7. New for this Grant Round

8. Inquiries & Designated Contact Information:

9. Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight

10. Bid Submission:

Grant Bid Requirements and Conditions

1. Project Objectives

2. Definitions

3. Minimum Eligibility (Pass/Fail criteria)

4. Project Types

5. Bid Application Form

6. Action Agenda Measures of Success

7. Project Timeline

8. Initial Reconnaissance

9. Bidder Partners

10. Permit Requirements

11. Flood Resiliency Requirements

12. Required Permissions

13. Local Support & Implementation Commitment

14. Outreach & Engagement

15. Engagement of Program Staff

2 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m., EST

16. Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Qualifications)

17. Project Cost Effectiveness

18. Statewide Priority

19. Expenditure Based Budget

20. Work Plan

21. Quality Assurance

22. Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification

23. Executive Order 16

24. Attachment G: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

25. Smart Growth Infrastructure Policy Act

26. Historic Preservation Review Requirements (if applicable to your project)

27. Coastal Consistency Requirements

28. Secular Purpose

Bid Evaluation, Scoring and Selection

Grant Program Payment

Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures Eligible Project Expenditures

Ineligible Project Expenditures

Match Requirement and Expenditures Eligible Forms of Match

Ineligible Forms of Match

Grant Program Reporting

What to Expect If You Receive an Award

1. Notification of Award

2. State of New York Contract for Grants

Appendix I: Map of Eligible Project Locations

Appendix II: Budget, Work Plan, and Permit Requirement Guidance

Appendix III: Bid Evaluation and Scoring Criteria

Appendix IV: Reporting on Measures of Success

Appendix V: ELAP AND QAPP Requirement Worksheet

Appendix VI: Documentation of initial reconnaissance of dam removal

Appendix VII: Sediment Sampling

Appendix VIII: Credit Sign Requirements

Appendix IX: Certification for Sexual Harassment Prevention

3 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m., EST

Appendix X: Executive Order 16 Certification

Appendix XI: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

Appendix XII: Bid Checklist

Appendix XIII: Bid Application Form (for reference, template is posted in SFS for download) ... 55

4 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

Introduction The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is pleased to announce funding for projects that implement priorities of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda to conserve, restore and revitalize the estuary and its ecosystem.

Applications, now known as Bids must be submitted through the State Financial System (SFS) Grants Management System (https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/). Paper bids will NOT be accepted. Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit their bid prior to the bid deadline. Late bids will not be accepted.

Grant bid information is also available on the Department’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities.

Timetable of Key Events

Event: Date:

Bid Period Begins September 23, 2026 Webinar October 8, 2026; 10:00 a.m. ET Question & Answer Period Ends December 10, 2026 Bid Due December 17, 2026; 3:00 p.m. ET Award(s) Announced By (anticipated) Approximately June 2027

Bidder Eligibility

For the purposes of this grant program, the following entities are considered eligible bidders:

501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations, Governmental Entities, Municipalities, and Quasi-Governmental Entities, including but not limited to Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, or any combination thereof, Public Benefit Corporations, Public Authorities, Municipal Corporations, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, School Districts, and Universities and Colleges whose projects are located within the eligible geographic boundaries defined in this RFA.

For this grant opportunity, a “Not-For-Profit Corporation” (NFP) is subject to New York State’s Not-For- Profit Corporation Law and is qualified for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, has filed a Certificate of Incorporation to be incorporated in New York State and is current in their charities reporting requirements with the Office of the Attorney General.

Individuals and unincorporated groups are not eligible for this grant opportunity. However, an eligible bidder may apply on behalf of an individual or unincorporated group as a fiscal sponsor. The fiscal sponsor accepts responsibility of the grant and serves as a fiscal conduit for a DEC-funded project, receiving and disbursing funds related to the grant, and administering the requirements throughout the DEC grant process, including final reporting of grant activity.

For Multi-Partner and Inter-Municipal Projects: If a proposed project involves a cooperative agreement or partners, only one eligible, designated lead bidder must submit the bid for grant funding. The lead bidder must assume the responsibility for the project bid, performance of work consistent with this RFA, and the New York State Contract for Grants. Letters substantiating the collaboration from each partner are required.

https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/ https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/grants-funding-opportunities https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions

5 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

Grant Opportunity General Information and Conditions

1. Funding Approximately $400,000 is available from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.

2. Proposed Project Timeframes All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a three-year contract period/term of September 1, 2027 through August 31, 2030. Bidders should not begin their projects or incur costs until a New York State Contract for Grants has been fully approved by DEC, and if applicable approved by the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. Time extensions beyond the contract term end date will be determined by the DEC based upon written justification from the Grantee. Bidders should not submit a Bid if they do not anticipate their project can be completed within the specified contract term.

3. Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts The minimum grant amount is $10,500. The maximum grant amount is $200,000.

4. Bid Limit/Award limit Bidders may submit up to two (2) Bids. Multiple bids may not be for the same project or project location.

5. Eligible Project Locations Eligible projects for grant funding must be located within defined geographic boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary watershed (see map in Appendix I). “Hudson River Estuary” refers to the legislatively designated Hudson River Estuarine District established in Environmental Conservation Law §11-0306, which extends from the Troy dam to the Verrazano Narrows and includes Upper New York Bay to Kill Van Kull and the East River to Hell Gate, focused on the tributaries that flow into any of these waters.

The map of eligible boundaries may also be viewed at https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/hregrantmap.pdf. To find out if a potential project is located within these boundaries, please type the location of the project into the Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Interactive Boundary Map on the NYS GIS Clearinghouse at https://data.gis.ny.gov/maps/385d9cc6311946ac84425734327f6f6a. The Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Boundaries are also available on the interactive Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper at https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/.

6. Match Requirement and Expenditures Match is the portion of project expenditures not paid for with grant funds. Match can be from local and/or in-kind contributions. Local sources can include funding from other non-state and/or non-federal grant sources or from project partners. In-Kind contributions are non-cash donations provided by non-state and/or non-federal third parties, which can include equipment, supplies, services, and other expendable property. Matching share contributions must support the objectives outlined in the work plan.

For this grant opportunity, Bidders must match at least 10% of the grant funding amount. Bidders providing 15% match or more will receive additional points in the scoring.

Eligible sources of match funds cannot come from other New York State or federal funding sources.

Bidders will be required to provide the sources of all matching funds using the Match Worksheet in SFS Grants Management.

7. New for this Grant Round

• Minimum required match has been updated to 10% of the grant funding amount. Bidders providing 15% match or more will receive additional points in the scoring.

https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/standard-terms-and-conditions https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/hregrantmap.pdf https://data.gis.ny.gov/maps/385d9cc6311946ac84425734327f6f6a https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/

6 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

• Revisions were made to the eligible project types. Review descriptions of project types carefully.

• A Bid Application Form was developed to help address formatting challenges and simplify writing the Bid. Some questions that were previously published directly in the electronic SFS Application Form are now asked in the Bid Application Form. The Bid Application Form template is available in SFS to download and complete, and is also published in this RFA for reference as Appendix XIII.

• Revisions were made to scoring. Review Appendix III to understand how bids will be evaluated.

• Appendix IV: Reporting on Measures of Success is updated to reflect the Hudson River Estuary

Action Agenda 2026-2030.

8. Inquiries & Designated Contact Information:

For general information on completing this bid and for clarification of bid requirements, contractual terms and procedures, contact: Susan Pepe, Hudson River Estuary Program Grants Coordinator;

HREPgrants@dec.ny.gov.

For technical information regarding the Grants Management Bid Event, direct questions to: NYS SFS Grants Management, helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov or 518-457-7737; 877-737-4185 (toll-free).

Include 2026 Round 50 Tributary RFA in the subject line of the email. Questions regarding this grant opportunity will be accepted by the DEC until C.O.B. December 10, 2026. All questions, and answers, will be uploaded in the Grants Management System Bid Event for all Bidders to view.

9. Department of Environmental Conservation Oversight The Department of Environmental Conservation reserves the right to:

• Award additional and available funding for scored and ranked projects consistent with this grant opportunity;

• Partially fund a bid if the partially-funded portion can be demonstrated to meet the criteria for this RFA;

• Award an agreement for any or all parts of the RFA in accordance with the method of award or withdrawal of the RFA at any time at the Department’s sole discretion.

• Reject any or all bids in response to the RFA at the agency’s sole discretion.

• Reduce an award from the amount requested in the bid, so long as the reduced funding does not jeopardize the viability of the project to proceed at the reduced funding level.

• Limit all or some funding for a project in the final scored ranked list if the same activities have been awarded funding by another funding source.

• Reduce an award from the amount requested in the bid, should the project budget contain costs considered ineligible under this grant program.

• Refuse to fund projects that are determined to be inconsistent with NYS’s Smart Growth Public

Infrastructure Policy Act.

• Refuse to fund projects that are determined to be inconsistent with the Climate Change

Leadership and Community Protection Act or its’ implementing regulations.

• Award an agreement for any or all parts of the RFA in accordance with the method of award, or withdraw the RFA at any time, at DEC’s sole discretion.

• Award to the next highest scoring bid in the event a grantee fails to execute a grant contract with DEC within 60 days of a grant award.

• Deny a change in workplan tasks from the application project description because of fairness to competitive process.

• Monitor the progress of all grant awards and withdraw grant funding, if the grantee fails to make significant and timely progress on the project or fails to receive the necessary permissions and permits for the project.

mailto:HREPgrants@dec.ny.gov mailto:helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov

7 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

10. Bid Submission:

Bids must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. Using Google Chrome to access the SFS Grants Management System (GM) is recommended. Using other browsers may cause errors.

If you do not have access to the SFS Vendor Portal and if your organization is already established within the SFS Vendor portal, an SFS Delegated Administrator has been authorized within your organization to provision user login credentials, unlock accounts, or reset passwords. Please reach out to your SFS Delegated Administrator directly. Also, if you do not have a login and if you are new to the SFS Vendor portal, and would like to establish an account for the purposes of doing business with the State of New York, contact the SFS Help Desk at 518-457-7717, 855-233-8363 or HelpDesk@sfs.ny.gov for more information.

Paper bids will NOT be accepted. Bidders are strongly encouraged to submit their bids prior to the bid deadline. Late bids will not be accepted. Please note staff with a Bid Response Initiator role can begin a bid, but only staff with the Bid Response Submitter role can submit the bid response.

All Bidders must be Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. Please visit https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS to register.

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY IN BEGINNING AND COMPLETING THE PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS.

PLEASE VISIT THE GRANTS MANAGEMENT Prequalification Page TO GET STARTED.

THE STATE RESERVES 5 DAYS TO REVIEW SUBMITTED PREQUALIFICATION BIDS.

PREQUALIFICATION BIDS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FOR REVIEW LESS THAN 5 DAYS PRIOR

TO THIS BID DUE DATE MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED.

BIDDERS SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THEIR PREQUALIFICATION INFORMATION WILL BE

REVIEWED IF THEY DO NOT ADHERE TO THIS TIMEFRAME.

a) Bidder Prequalification Pursuant to the New York State Division of Budget Bulletin H-1032 Revised, effective July 16, 2014, New York State instituted key reform initiatives to the grant contract. Information on these initiatives can be found on the Grants Management Website.

All Bidders must be Prequalified in the SFS Grants Management System at the time and date that the bid is due. Bids from non-prequalified entities will be rejected. The system will not allow you to submit your bid.

The SFS Handbook: SFS Training for Vendors guide is available on SFS Coach and includes guidance for prequalification. Additional training is available on SFS Coach.

https://esupplier.sfs.ny.gov/psc/fscm/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL?&lp=ERP.SUPPLIER.NY_SUP_PUB_HOMEPG_FL mailto:HelpDesk@sfs.ny.gov https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/get-prequalified

8 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

Grant Bid Requirements and Conditions

1. Project Objectives This Hudson River Estuary Program RFA for Tributary Restoration and Resiliency seeks to assist Hudson Valley municipalities and organizations to become partners in implementing the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2026-2030 goal for “Healthy Tributaries,” and to help achieve the measures of success related to restoring aquatic connectivity and free-flowing tributaries:

• HT2: Ten municipalities or watersheds will have new or updated road-stream crossing management plans, riparian assessment plans, or dam removal reconnaissance and feasibility plans that include priority actions.

• HT4: Twenty miles of stream will be restored through at least 10 projects that reconnect habitat and improve stream integrity through dam removal and culvert replacement.

Projects that restore habitat for river herring or American eel are a priority. Visit (https://www.dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/action-agenda) for an overview of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda and Measures of Success. Action Agenda Measures of Success, by goal, can be found in Appendix IV of this RFA.

2. Definitions

• An “artificial barrier” is a dam, road-stream crossing (culvert or bridge), or instream structure (e.g., exposed sewer line or other legacy hydrologic modification) that impedes the movement or migration of fish or other aquatic organisms. A naturally occurring waterfall is not considered to be an artificial barrier, although a dam on top of a natural barrier might still be worthy of removal to meet goals of this RFA.

• “Dam removal” means complete removal/elimination of a dam, or other similar artificial barrier (e.g., utility or sewer crossing), removing from the top of the structure down to the original stream bottom. Although full removal is preferred, partial removal is acceptable, as long as the resulting configuration has the same conveyance as the natural stream channel and reconnects upstream and downstream stream habitat.

3. Minimum Eligibility (Pass/Fail criteria)

• The Bidder must be eligible, as shown on page 4 of this RFA. A not-for-profit organization must also be prequalified in SFS Grants Management by the bid due date to be determined eligible under this grant opportunity.

• Location: The project must be located within the defined geographic boundaries of this RFA (see maps in Appendix I). The bidder must provide GPS coordinates of the subject barrier(s), and a map and photos of the current location and condition of the site, uploaded to SFS Grants Management.

• Floodplain projects: If the project is wholly or partially in a 0.2% (500 year) or 1% (100 year) annual chance of occurrence floodplain, attach the applicable floodplain map with the location of the project indicated. Instructions for floodplain location determination:

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/floodplainmapinstructions.pdf and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZne-tThzYI

• Projects must implement one of the eligible project types identified in this RFA.

• Projects must include consultation with Estuary Program Staff for project management purposes as step one in the timeline (e.g. a project kick-off meeting). Additionally, Bidders are strongly encouraged, but are not required, to invite Estuary Program staff to attend partner or community engagement meetings and to provide technical assistance in the planning process.

• The uploaded project timeline indicates completion on or before August 31, 2030.

• The project must be located on a perennial stream.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5104.html http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5104.html http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5104.html https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/floodplainmapinstructions.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZne-tThzYI

9 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

• Crossing replacement projects must be designed to pass, at a minimum, a 1% annual chance storm (100-year flood).

• All project funding sources are eligible as defined in this RFA and at least 10% in eligible match is identified.

• If applicable, letters of collaboration are provided from all Bidder partners, which must include “Lead” Bidder designation.

• Proof of property ownership or landowner permission must be provided as an upload to the Bid, as outlined in “Required Permissions” (see page 15).

• The Bidder must provide the required certification for sexual harassment prevention (“Attachment S”), as required by State Finance Law §139-l.

• The Bidder must provide the required EO 16 Certification.

• The Bidder must provide the required Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification

(“Attachment G”) as required by State Finance Law §139-m.

• Bid completeness: Bidders must complete the electronic bid and upload any required documentation. See the checklist in this RFA as a reference.

4. Project Types Funding must be used to implement one of the following project types to meet the above Project Objectives. Bidders must identify which Project Type for which they are applying.

For all project types, preference is given to projects that benefit river herring or American eel, as well as projects that are in closest sequential proximity to tidal waters (see scoring criteria in Appendix III). For example, higher priority will be given to the first dam or barrier upstream from tidal waters than one involving the fourth dam or barrier. This same logic is applied to stream crossings, where mitigating one closer to the tidal portion of the stream is more beneficial than mitigating one farther upstream. Similarly, the quality of the habitat improvement is considered in the scoring. For example, a second barrier that is upstream of a very large, virtually impassable first barrier offers lower habitat quality improvement than one that is upstream of a dam that eel can more easily ascend. Education, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach about the benefits of this type of habitat restoration and flood mitigation may be included in each project type and is encouraged as a factor in the scoring.

The following resources may be useful in understanding river herring and American eel occurrence and habitat in streams as a proposal is developed:

• Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper: https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/

• Atlas of Inland Fishes of New York:

https://nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/atlasofinlandfishes.pdf

NOTES FOR PROJECT SUPPORT:

For all project types: Bids that demonstrate support from neighboring, upstream and downstream stakeholders and/or local officials has been secured will receive more points (see #13, Local Support & Implementation Commitment on page 16). The highest level of points for local support is available for Bids that include letters demonstrating support from the top elected official in the community (e.g.

mayor or town supervisor,) and/or adjoining landowners (landowner letters must clearly identify the applicable property through an address and/or coordinates). Also see related scoring on pages 37-38.

Support from highway supervisors and/or other key community stakeholders are also considered in the scoring.

Planning and reconnaissance Bids that clearly outline how the proposed plans will transition to implementation (i.e., actual dam removal or stream crossing replacement) will receive higher scores.

https://nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/atlasofinlandfishes.pdf

10 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

Project Type 1, Dam Removal Construction: A shovel-ready project removing a dam to improve habitat and/or water quality on tributaries within the geographic areas of this RFA. This project type may also include removal or mitigation of multiple barriers, and may include, in addition to dam removal, mitigation/right-sizing of one or more crossing that is a barrier to fish movement as assessed through NAACC road-stream crossing protocols (rated moderate, significant, severe), or is a priority of a management plan/study, or improves water quality or local flood resiliency. To be eligible for multi-barrier consideration, the barriers included in the Bid must be sequential or consecutive and must directly impact each other (otherwise, they must be submitted as separate Bids under this RFA).

All Bids for this project type must:

• include landowner agreements (if property not owned by applicant);

• include documentation of initial reconnaissance to substantiate feasibility of the project;

• demonstrate that the hydraulic impacts of dam removal on upstream and downstream properties have been adequately considered for the size, uses and condition of the affected area downstream and upstream of the dam.

• ensure that engineering plans submitted through this RFA are prepared, stamped, and signed by a NYS licensed Professional Engineer.

Bids should consider the potential need for post-construction riparian or floodplain restoration, depending on site conditions (e.g., floodplain slope and geomorphology) that includes native shrub and plantings. If post-construction riparian restoration is proposed and fits within the project timeline, one season of upstream post-construction maintenance and monitoring of plant material survival should be included in the project timeline and budget. If riparian restoration is done through the project, replacement of any planted material that has not survived should be included in the scope of services and the budget. Although pre/post stream monitoring is not required, it is recommended, and Bids that include monitoring will be eligible for additional points in the scoring. Maintenance and monitoring may not exceed 10% of the total grant request.

Project Type 2, Dam Removal Engineering and Design: A project that proposes engineering/design to remove a dam affecting fish movement, other aquatic organisms, riparian-dependent wildlife, and/or improve water quality conditions on tributaries within the geographic boundaries of this RFA. This project type may include planning for removal or mitigation of multiple barriers in a sequence, and may also include, in addition to dam removal, mitigation/right-sizing of one or more crossings that are barriers to fish movement as assessed through NAACC road-stream crossing protocols (rated moderate, significant, severe), or is a priority of a management plan/study, or improves water quality/local flood resiliency. Such projects may include landscape design and visualization of the site as it would look after dam removal. Projects that also improve the water quality and/or flood resiliency in the vicinity of the project are encouraged.

To be eligible for multi-barrier planning consideration, the barriers included in the Bid must be sequential (e.g. the first and second barrier or the second and third barrier to fish movement).

Otherwise, they must be submitted as separate Bids under this RFA.

All Bids for this project type must:

• include some level of documentation of initial reconnaissance and/or risk assessment to substantiate feasibility and project complexity;

• address how upstream and downstream hydraulics will be adequately assessed for the size, uses and condition of the affected area downstream and upstream of the dam (artistic renderings may be included as part of this analysis).

• ensure that engineering plans created through this RFA are prepared, stamped, and signed by a NYS licensed Professional Engineer;

http://streamcontinuity.org/naacc/toolkit/assessing-stream-crossings-vulnerability

11 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

• ensure that the proposed deliverables create a shovel-ready project, including preparation of all materials to secure any necessary permit approvals;

• include in the timeline a preapplication meeting with NYSDEC Division of Environmental Permits;

• include a plan for upstream and downstream stakeholder outreach and engagement to ensure successful implementation; and

• plan for future streamside/riparian and/or former impoundment revegetation and restoration, if needed.

Projects planning for removal of a Class C (high) or Class B (intermediate) hazard dam should include an engineering report following the DEC’s Dam Safety Engineering Design Report Outline (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/npg23dam.pdf) in order to meet eligibility requirements for Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) implementation grants.

Project Type 3, Dam Removal Initial Reconnaissance and Risk Assessment: A project to conduct initial reconnaissance and risk assessment to assess the scope, complexity, and challenges of a dam removal may be proposed to determine feasibility of removing a dam or dams. Issues impeding a dam removal may not be fully apparent when proposing a project. Conducting a thorough investigation of the dam’s history, site conditions (including sediment quality and quantity), historic and current watershed use, background, and neighborhood/adjacent landowner sentiment prior to an engineering and planning stage may be crucial to ensuring future success. Bids for this project type will conduct a thorough evaluation of the subject dam(s), identifying issues that may arise and obstacles to overcome, if dam removal proceeds. Such projects may include visualization of the site as it would look after dam removal.

Activities that can be proposed as part of initial reconnaissance include investigating the dam’s purpose/use and existing issues, historical significance, identity of the dam owner(s), surveys/deeds of land ownership around the impoundment (tax parcels), evaluating ecological factors such as habitat, native and/or invasive species, and sediment quantity and quality, investigating potential risk to infrastructure, and communicating with and engaging stakeholders and the community about the benefits of dam removal (please refer to Appendies V and VI).

Project Type 4, Stream Crossing Replacement: Mitigation/right-sizing of a single stream crossing (culvert or bridge) that is assessed through NAACC road-stream crossing protocols (rated moderate, significant, severe), or is a priority of a management plan/study, or improves water quality and/or local flood resiliency.

All Bids for this project type must:

• include NAACC assessment results;

• include landowner agreements (if property not owned by applicant);

• address how the hydraulic impacts of crossing mitigation on upstream and downstream properties will be adequately considered for the size, uses and condition of the affected area downstream and upstream of the crossing;

• ensure that the replacement crossing is fully passable to fish;

• be designed, at a minimum, to meet New York State Department of Transportation’s Highway

Design Manual Chapter 8:

https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-8.

• The priority replacement option for an undersized, perched culvert is a bridge or bottomless arch. Refer to DEC’s Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Road https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/npg23dam.pdf https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/npg23dam.pdf https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-8

12 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

Stream Crossings: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines;

• be designed to meet the minimum Protection of Waters permit requirements:

https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program; and

• be designed to pass, at a minimum, a 1% annual chance storm (100-year flood).

Projects that involve substantial disturbance to stream channels or adjacent riparian areas should consider including a task for site restoration, including riparian tree and shrub plantings and bio-stabilization of streambanks.

Use the web map at https://naacc.org/naacc_data_center_home.cfm for detailed information on assessed crossings in the Hudson River estuary watershed, and contact DEC staff (jim.katz@dec.ny.gov) for help locating NAACC assessment results.

Project Type 5, Stream Crossing Design: Design plans for mitigation/right-sizing of a single stream crossing (culvert or bridge) or multiple crossings within the same municipality/county that are assessed through NAACC road-stream crossing protocols (rated moderate, significant, severe), or are priority of a management plan/study, or improves water quality and/or local flood resiliency. Such projects may include visualization of the site as it would look after crossing right-sizing.

All Bids for this project type must:

• include NAACC assessment results;

• ensure that the proposed deliverables can lead to a shovel-ready project, including preparation of all materials to secure any necessary permit approvals;

• address how the hydraulic impacts of crossing mitigation on upstream and downstream properties will be adequately considered for the size, uses and condition of the affected area downstream and upstream of the crossing. A project that occurs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated regulatory floodway may require a hydrological and hydraulic (H&H) analysis conducted by a professional engineer demonstrating the proposed project will have 0.00 feet of rise in the base flood elevation when comparing pre- and post-project conditions. If the rise cannot be mitigated, a FEMA Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) would be required;

• ensure that the replacement crossing is fully passable to fish;

• be designed, at a minimum, to meet New York State Department of Transportation’s Highway

Design Manual Chapter 8:

https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-8.

• The priority replacement option for an undersized, perched culvert is a bridge or bottomless arch. Refer to DEC’s Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Road Stream Crossings: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines

• be designed to meet the minimum Protection of Waters permit requirements:

https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program

• be designed to pass, at a minimum, a 1% annual chance storm (100-year flood).

Where feasible, Bidders are encouraged to design new structures to safely pass a 100-year flood plus a 20% climate change flow multiplier per the New York State Flood Risk Management Guidance (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf).

https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program https://naacc.org/naacc_data_center_home.cfm mailto:jim.katz@dec.ny.gov http://streamcontinuity.org/naacc/toolkit/assessing-stream-crossings-vulnerability https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-8 https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf

13 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

Projects that involve substantial disturbance to stream channels or adjacent riparian areas should consider including a task for site restoration, including riparian tree and shrub plantings and bio-stabilization of streambanks.

Use the web map at https://naacc.org/naacc_data_center_home.cfm for detailed information on assessed crossings in the Hudson River estuary watershed, and contact DEC staff (jim.katz@dec.ny.gov) for help locating NAACC assessment results.

Project Type 6, Stream Crossing Design & Replacement: Design plans and implement replacement for mitigation/right-sizing of a single stream crossing (culvert or bridge) within the same municipality/county assessed through NAACC road-stream crossing protocols (rated moderate, significant, severe), or are priority of a management plan/study, or improves water quality/local flood resiliency. Such projects may include visualization of the site as it would look after crossing right-sizing.

All Bids for this project type must:

• include NAACC assessment results;

• ensure that the proposed deliverables can lead to successful completion of a crossing replacement, including preparation of all materials to secure any necessary permit approvals;

• address how the hydraulic impacts of crossing mitigation on upstream and downstream properties will be adequately considered for the size, uses and condition of the affected area downstream and upstream of the crossing. A project that occurs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated regulatory floodway may require a hydrological and hydraulic (H&H) analysis conducted by a professional engineer demonstrating the proposed project will have 0.00 feet of rise in the base flood elevation when comparing pre- and post-project conditions. If the rise cannot be mitigated, a FEMA Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) would be required;

• ensure that the replacement crossing is fully passable to fish;

• be designed, at a minimum, to meet New York State Department of Transportation’s Highway

Design Manual Chapter 8:

https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-8.

• The priority replacement option for an undersized, perched culvert is a bridge or bottomless arch. Refer to DEC’s Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Road Stream Crossings: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines

• be designed to meet the minimum Protection of Waters permit requirements:

https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program;

• be designed to pass, at a minimum, a 1% annual chance storm (100-year flood).

Where feasible, Bidders are encouraged to design new structures to safely pass a 100-year flood plus a 20% climate change flow multiplier per the New York State Flood Risk Management Guidance (https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf).

Projects that involve substantial disturbance to stream channels or adjacent riparian areas should consider including a task for site restoration, including riparian tree and shrub plantings and bio-stabilization of streambanks.

Use the web map at https://naacc.org/naacc_data_center_home.cfm for detailed information on assessed crossings in the Hudson River estuary watershed, and contact DEC staff (jim.katz@dec.ny.gov) for help locating NAACC assessment results.

https://naacc.org/naacc_data_center_home.cfm mailto:jim.katz@dec.ny.gov http://streamcontinuity.org/naacc/toolkit/assessing-stream-crossings-vulnerability https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/design/dqab/hdm/chapter-8 https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/crrafloodriskmgmtgdnc.pdf https://naacc.org/naacc_data_center_home.cfm mailto:jim.katz@dec.ny.gov

14 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

RESOURCES:

• Instructions for floodplain location and regulatory floodway determination:

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/floodplainmapinstructions.pdf and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZne-tThzYI

• Guidance for projects to upgrade and replace road stream crossing structures to a larger size and appropriate design to increase ecological connectivity and hydrologic capacity:

https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines

• DEC Stream Crossing Guidelines Brochure:

https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_pdf/streamcrossing.pdf

• North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Project (NAACC): https://streamcontinuity.org/naacc

• Assessed Road-Stream Crossings in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed:

https://wri.cals.cornell.edu/hudson-river-estuary/watershed-management/aquatic-connectivity-and-barrier-removal-culvert-dams

• Floodplain Management Guidance: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/dam-safety-coastal-flood-protection/floodplain-management

• Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper: https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/hvnrm/

• Atlas of Inland Fishes of New York:

https://nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/atlasofinlandfishes.pdf

5. Bid Application Form A Bid Application Form (Word Document template available for download in SFS) was developed to help streamline the application process. Several questions that were previously published directly in the electronic SFS Application Form are now asked in the Bid Application Form. The intention of the Bid Application Form is to help reduce some of the cumbersome aspects of the electronic SFS Application Form. Bid questions are now addressed in the Bid Application Form, with the electronic SFS Application Form acting primarily as a repository for document uploads.

6. Action Agenda Measures of Success Describe how the project will help achieve one or more Measures of Success as outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2026-2030. Action Agenda Measures of Success, by goal, can be found in Appendix IV of this RFA. As noted in Appendix IV, reporting for grants arising under this RFA will require updates on how the project is achieving specific Measure(s) of Success.

7. Project Timeline Bidders MUST provide a timeline for meeting project objectives and identified tasks between September 1, 2027 and August 31, 2030. Project expenditures prior to the New York State Contract for Grants start date and after the end date are not eligible for reimbursement or match.

All project timelines must include consultation with Program staff for project management purposes as step one in the timeline.

8. Initial Reconnaissance Bids for planning for dam removal (Project Type 1) should provide documentation of initial reconnaissance completed, as well as any pre-work that may remain to be completed as part of the project (see Appendix VI for suggested format). Initial reconnaissance does not apply to any other Project Type, and Appendix VI is not required for these other project types.

9. Bidder Partners https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/floodplainmapinstructions.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZne-tThzYI https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program/stream-crossings#Guidelines https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_pdf/streamcrossing.pdf https://streamcontinuity.org/naacc https://wri.cals.cornell.edu/hudson-river-estuary/watershed-management/aquatic-connectivity-and-barrier-removal-culvert-dams https://wri.cals.cornell.edu/hudson-river-estuary/watershed-management/aquatic-connectivity-and-barrier-removal-culvert-dams https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/dam-safety-coastal-flood-protection/floodplain-management https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/dam-safety-coastal-flood-protection/floodplain-management https://nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/atlasofinlandfishes.pdf

15 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET

The Bidder Partner is a collaborator who has a significant role in the project and is fundamentally a co- Bidder for the grant regardless of whether or not the partner is included in the budget. Projects involving a Bidder Partner (i.e. multi-partner and inter-municipal projects, page 4) require letters substantiating the commitment to collaborate that include the designation of a “Lead” Bidder from each Partner. A single PDF file of all letters should be uploaded to meet this requirement, if applicable for your project.

10. Permit Requirements If applicable, the Bidder agrees to obtain all required permits including, but not limited to local, state, and federal permits prior to the commencement of any project-related work. The Bidder agrees that all work performed in relation to the project by the bidder or its agents, representatives, or sub-contractors will comply with all relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations and standards, zoning and building codes, ordinances, operating certificates for facilities, or licenses for an activity.

See Appendix II of this RFA for more information on potential permit requirements. It is strongly encouraged for Bidders to request a NYSDEC jurisdictional review from the applicable regional permit administrator (https://dec.ny.gov/about/contact-us/permit-administrators) to confirm what permit needs may apply. Preparing permit application materials is considered to be an appropriate work activity covered by the grant. If applicable, Bidders should include a NYSDEC jurisdictional review meeting and/or preparation of permit materials as an activity in the Work Plan and project timeline.

For projects requiring a permit, engineering designs must meet the minimum requirements of applicable local, state, or federal permit requirements, as applicable, including but not limited to:

• Protection of Waters Program: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program#Application_Checklist

• Tidal Wetland Permit Program: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/tidal-wetlands-permit-program

• Freshwater Wetland Permits: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/freshwater-wetlands

• NYS’s Coastal Consistency requirements: https://dos.ny.gov/coastal-consistency-review

11. Flood Resiliency Requirements Any projects within a 0.2% (500-year) or 1% (100-year) FEMA floodplain must include the following in the planning and design of the project, if applicable:

• A site plan with the contours indicating the Special Flood Hazard Area (1% floodplain), Coastal High Hazard Area, or 0.2% floodplain

• Location of and elevation of non-critical and critical equipment

• Certification of floodproofing

• A floodway analysis with a no-rise certificate, if the project is within a regulated floodway.

• Projects that occur in the regulatory floodway may require a hydrological and hydraulic (H&H) analysis conducted by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer demonstrating the proposed project will have 0.00 feet of rise in the base flood elevation when comparing pre- and post-project conditions.6 If the rise cannot be mitigated, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) would be required.

Floodplain and floodway maps are available from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center:

https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home. Additional guidance and information for meeting this requirement is available at: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/wqip-program.

12. Required Permissions The Bidder must own the property, or obtain an applicable access agreement, for the proposed project https://dec.ny.gov/about/contact-us/permit-administrators https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program#Application_Checklist https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/protection-of-waters-program#Application_Checklist https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/tidal-wetlands-permit-program https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/tidal-wetlands-permit-program https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/freshwater-wetlands https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/waterways-coastlines-wetlands/freshwater-wetlands https://dos.ny.gov/coastal-consistency-review https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/grant-applications/wqip-program

16 HREMP Round 50 Bid Due Date: December 17, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET site. Proof of ownership or permission for work to be conducted on the property is required for ALL projects.