State of Maine RFP# 202503052 1 Rev. 10/1/2025 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services

JANET T. MILLS

GOVERNOR

Melanie Loyzim

COMMISSIONER

DEPARTMENT OF

Environmental Protection

RFP# 202503052

Pre- Qualified Vendor List for Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

(NRDAR)

1. Purpose Through the subject Request for Proposals (RFP), the Department sought proposals to be considered for inclusion in a Pre-Qualified Vendor List (PQVL) to assist the Department and other State Trustee agencies in Natural Resource Damage Assessments and Restoration (NRDAR).

2. Evaluation Process An evaluation team was composed of three evaluators from the Department of Environment Protection (DEP). The evaluation team determined the eligibility of each Bidder, performed individual evaluations of each eligible proposal and recorded individual notes, then met as a team to apply the consensus method for recording the team notes and assigning scores to each proposal for Qualifications and Experience and the Proposed Services sections. Cost was scored using a mathematical formula.

3. Conditional Awards As a result of the evaluation process, the evaluation team announced its conditional contract awards to the following vendors:

Service/Category Vendor Name A. Wetlands Specialization, B. Injury Determination, C. Restoration Specialization, D. NRDAR Expertise, E. NRDAR Injury Calculations

Biodiversity Research Institute

A. Wetlands Specialization, B. Injury Determination, C. Restoration Specialization, D. NRDAR Expertise, E. NRDAR Injury Calculations

Industrial Economics inc.

A. Wetlands Specialization, B. Injury Determination, C. Restoration Specialization, D. NRDAR Expertise, E. NRDAR Injury Calculations

Verdantas LLC

Below are the key factors that resulted in the award selection(s) made through this evaluation process:

4. Qualifications & Experience

• Previous projects and services for the State of Maine.

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State of Maine RFP# 202503052 2 Rev. 10/1/2025 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services

JANET T. MILLS

GOVERNOR

Melanie Loyzim

COMMISSIONER

DEPARTMENT OF

Environmental Protection

• Well-staffed organizations with offices and subcontractors located within Maine and New England.

• Academic degrees and/or relevant field experience/specializations of staff and subcontractors provided.

• Limited litigation.

5. Proposed Services

• Ability to cover all categories of services.

• Knowledge and assumptions of tasks and services that DEP staff may not have considered.

• Provided documentation of reports to Trustees and other services.

6. Cost Proposal Costs were strictly evaluated using a formula to calculate a pro-rated score based on the lowest proposed cost.

Industrial Economics Inc. submitted a cost of $24,868 and was the lowest cost proposed, Verdantas LLC submitted the second lowest cost of $50,031, and Biodiversity Research Institute submitted the highest cost of $72,272.

7. Conclusion The awarded vendors identified above reflect the evaluation team’s highest rankings. The strengths of awarded proposals outweighed the other proposals through a combination of their qualifications and experience, proposed services, and proposed cost. The evaluation team determined that the proposals submitted by the awarded vendors represent the best value to the State of Maine.

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Name Biodiversity Research Institute

Date of Team Evaluation 11/20/2025

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 1 Revised 10/01/2025 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services

State of Maine

Department of Environmental Protection

(Insert Division/Office Name)

RFP# 202503052

Pre-Qualified Vendor List for Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

TEAM CONSENSUS EVALUATION NOTES

RFP or RFA Coordinator

Name Ben Godfrey Title Oil & Hazmat Specialist II Email Ben.Godfrey@maine.gov

Evaluation Team

Name Butch Bowie Name Ben Godfrey Name Jaimie Hoover

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 2 Revised 10/01/2025 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services

SUMMARY

Points Available Points Awarded File 1 Preliminary Information N/A Pass

File 2 Organization Qualifications and Experience 40 40

File 3 Proposed Services 30 30 File 4 Cost Proposal 30 10.32

Total: 100 Total: 80.32

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 3

File 1 Preliminary Information

Team Notes Appendix A (Proposal Cover Page) Provided all.

Appendix B (Responsible Bidder Certification) Provided and signed.

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 4

File 2 Organization Qualifications and Experience

Points Available Points Awarded 40 40

Section Team Notes Overview of the Organization Well staffed with HQ in Portland. Worked at Maine Mallinckrodt

Mercury NRDAR site 2019-Current.

Subcontractors Provided subcontractors with relevant information.

Organizational Chart Provided org chart.

Litigation Stated no current litigation.

Financial Viability Provided a balance sheet and income statement Licensure/Certification Provided degrees of staff including subcontractors.

Certificate of Insurance Acord certificate provided. Expired May 1st, 2026.

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 5

File 3 Proposed Services

30 30

Proposed Services Wide variety of services with extensive knowledge of NRDA.

Implementation – Work Plan Very detailed and made experienced assumptions in the Cost

Proposal.

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 6

File 4 Cost Proposal

30 10.32

Scoring Formula Lowest Submitted

Cost Proposal / Cost Proposal Being Scored x Score

Weight = Pro-Rated Score

24,868 / 72,272 x 30 = 10.32

Team Notes

1. Included things that we may not have initially considered. Detailed breakdown of costs.

2.

Name Industrial Economics, Inc.

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 1 Revised 10/01/2025 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services

State of Maine

Department of Environmental Protection

Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management

RFP# 202503052

Pre-Qualified Vendor List for Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

TEAM CONSENSUS EVALUATION NOTES

RFP or RFA Coordinator

Name Ben Godfrey Title Oil & Hazmat Specialist II Email Ben.Godfrey@maine.gov

Evaluation Team Name Butch Bowie

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 2

SUMMARY

Points Available Points Awarded File 1 Preliminary Information N/A Pass

File 2 Organization Qualifications and Experience 40 40

File 3 Proposed Services 30 30 File 4 Cost Proposal 30 30 Total: 100 Total: 100

File 1 Preliminary Information

Team Notes Appendix A (Proposal Cover Page) Provided all.

Certification) Signed.

File 2 Organization Qualifications and Experience

40 40

Overview of the Organization NRDAR activities in over 180 sites, including Maine. Maine

Yankee and Julie N Spill. Conducted Cultural Impact Assessments for Tribal Trustees.

Subcontractors Provided good list of subcontractors with relevant qualifications within Maine and New England.

Organizational Chart Included with necessary information.

Litigation Stated no current litigation.

Financial Viability Consider Balance Sheet and Income Statements as “Trade

Secrets”. Included years 2020-2024.

Licensure/Certification Senior staff profiles included degrees and focuses.

Certificate of Insurance Acord certificated included. Expired September 14th, 2026.

File 3 Proposed Services

Proposed Services Good variety of proposed services they offer.

Implementation – Work Plan Cost could be better itemized. Addressed human health risk in detail.

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 6

File 4 Cost Proposal

Scoring Formula Lowest Submitted

Cost Proposal / Cost Proposal Being Scored x Score

Weight = Pro-Rated Score

24,868 / 24,868 x 30 = 30

Team Notes 1.

Name Verdantas LLC

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 1

Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management

RFP# 202503052

TEAM CONSENSUS EVALUATION NOTES

RFP or RFA Coordinator

Name Ben Godfrey

Email Ben.Godfrey@maine.gov

Evaluation Team

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 2

SUMMARY

Points Available Points Awarded File 1 Preliminary Information N/A Pass

File 2 Organization Qualifications and Experience 40 30

File 3 Proposed Services 30 30 File 4 Cost Proposal 30 14.91 Total: 100 Total: 74.91

File 1 Preliminary Information

Team Notes Appendix A (Proposal Cover Page) Provided all.

Certification) Signed.

File 2 Organization Qualifications and Experience

40 30

Overview of the Organization Offices in York, Yarmouth, Freeport, and Saco. No Maine projects. 2,000 employees nationally.

Subcontractors Stated no subcontractors used.

Organizational Chart Org chart included with relevant information. Background information more concise.

Litigation Long list of 13 closed cases and 7 open cases within the past 5 years.

Financial Viability Included years 2023 and 2024.

Licensure/Certification Listed staff’s experience and specializations in org chart.

Certificate of Insurance Acord certificate included. Expired June 30th, 2026.

File 3 Proposed Services

Proposed Services Covered all categories with brief descriptions.

Implementation – Work Plan Concise approach and included an optional cost of water flow bypass and sediment control.

State of Maine RFP# 202503052 pg. 6 Revised 10/01/2025 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services

File 4 Cost Proposal

Points Available Points Awarded 30 14.91

Scoring Formula Lowest Submitted

Cost Proposal / Cost Proposal Being Scored x Score

Weight = Pro-Rated Score

24,868 / 50,031 x 30 = 14.91

Team Notes 1.

Evaluator

Title Environmental Specialist IV Department Environmental Protection

Bidder/Applicant Name Biodiversity Research Institute

Date of Individual Evaluation 11/6/2025

Division of Petroleum Management

RFP #202503052

Pre-Qualified Vendor List for

Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

(NRDAR)

INDIVIDUAL EVALUATION NOTES

File 2 – Organization Qualifications and Experience

Individual Notes Overview of the Organization Large staff with varied expertise. Headquarters in Portland ME.

Many staff formerly with Abt. Extensive NRDA experience.

Recent/ongoing? Work with MEDEP at Holtrachem site. Project with NOAA.

Subcontractors Subcontractors listed and good overview of their qualifications.

Organizational Chart Included org. chart. Not sure why MEDEP was included in it?

Litigation Stated no current litigation

Financial Viability Provided balance sheet and income statement.

Licensure/Certification Certificate of Insurance Provided - Dated 4/30/2025

File 3 – Proposed Services

Proposed Services Wide variety of services. Extensive knowledge of NRDA.

Included examples of projects in Maine. HAZWOPER certified staff.

Implementation – Work Plan Good response to work plan scenario and breakdown of costs.

Team based in Portland, ME. Assumed Maine oil spill contractor would be collecting data on the exposure of biological resources to the spilled diesel (maybe not). Cost estimate $72,272.

Title Oil & Hazmat Specialist II Department Environmental Protection

Name Biodiversity Research Institute

Date of Individual Evaluation 11/17/2025

State of Maine

Department of Environmental Protection

Petroleum Management

RFP #202503052

Date of Individual Evaluation 11/17/2025

Overview of the Organization P – Well staffed with over 100 NRDA cases across 25 US states/territories. Specialize in Oil and Mercury contamination.

Subcontractors P – Several subcontractors with years of experience.

Organizational Chart P – Chart included with all necessary information.

Litigation P – Not currently named in any litigation, nor paid any claimants in the past 5 years.

Financial Viability P – Included years 2024 and 2025.

Licensure/Certification P – Provided degrees of all employees and subcontractors in relevant fields.

Certificate of Insurance P – Acord certificate of liability insurance included.

Date of Individual Evaluation 11/17/2025

Proposed Services P – Covered all categories and detailed subcontractors’ involvement.

I – Provided publicly available reports to trustees.

Implementation – Work Plan P – Experienced assumptions were made in the Cost Proposal.

Name Jamie Hoover Title Environmental Specialist III

Date of Individual Evaluation 11/20/2025

Overview of the Organization

Extensive NRDA experience, 16 years, 100 NRDA cases across the country. Current NRDA MDEP consultant on the Mallinckrodt site (since 2019). Based in Portland ME. 8 former Abt employees. Augmented by 50+ additional staff.

Subcontractors Subcontractors listed with an overview of their qualifications.

Fuss & Oneill, Abt Global, Pinyon Enviro, CW Research, Michael Welsh (Consultant)

Organizational Chart Included org. chart. MDEP included as an example.

Litigation No current litigation has been stated in the last 5 years.

Financial Viability Included balance sheet, income statement, and rate sheet.

Licensure/Certification Provided degrees of all employees and subcontractors in relevant fields.

Certificate of Insurance Included- Expires 5/1/2026

Proposed Services

Data collection, review, and analysis; designing and planning of injury assessments; damage determination; restoration project scaling and evaluation; negotiating with potentially responsible parties (PRPs). Extensive knowledge of NRDA. Included examples of projects in Maine. HAZWOPER certified staff.

Implementation – Work Plan Detailed response to work plan scenario and included a breakdown of costs. Team based in Portland, ME. Cost estimate $72,272.

Bidder/Applicant Name Industrial Economics Inc.

Overview of the Organization Good NRDA experience. Wide variety of expertise. Previous work with Maine at Maine Yankee and Julie N spill. Thorough overview of staff and their background/experience. Listed three projects each with states. Subcontractor FBE located in Portland, Maine office

Subcontractors Provided list of subcontractors and good overview of their qualifications. Locations in Maine and New England.

Organizational Chart Provided

Litigation Stated not involved in any litigation within past 5 years.

Financial Viability Included balance sheet and income statement.

Licensure/Certification Certificate of Insurance Provided – Dated 10/7/2025

Proposed Services Good variety of proposed services. Very thorough.

Implementation – Work Plan Good proposal. Good section on human health risks. Cost estimates $24,868. Costs were somewhat broken down.

Name Industrial Economic, Inc.

Date of Individual Evaluation 11/18/2025

Petroleum Management

Overview of the Organization P – NRDAR activities at over 180 sites, including Maine.

I – Cultural impact assessments for Tribal Trustees.

Subcontractors P – Included relevant information.

Organizational Chart P – Chart included with all necessary information.

Litigation P – Not involved in any litigation within the past 5 years.

Financial Viability I – Consider Balance Sheet & Income Statements trade secrets.

P – Included years 2020-2024.

Licensure/Certification P – Senior staff profiles include degrees and focuses.

Certificate of Insurance P – Acord Certificate of Liability Insurance included.

Proposed Services P – Covered all categories.

Implementation – Work Plan P -

Founded in 1981. NRDA experience with a variety of expertise across the country. NRDA activities at 180 sites. Worked with Maine at Maine Yankee and Julie N spill. Detailed overview of staff and their background/experience. Listed three projects each with states. Headquarters in Cambridge MA. Contractor (FBE) is in Portland ME. “IEc is the leading provider of NRDAR services in the United States.” I liked their NRDAR Project and Qualification Charts.

Subcontractors Provided list of subcontractors and an overview of their qualifications. Locations in Maine and New England. FBE, Bigelow, AIS

Organizational Chart Org chart was included.

Litigation “Not involved in any litigation within past 5 years.”

Financial Viability “We believe that our Balance Sheets and Income (Profit/Loss) Statements meet the definition of a trade secret under the UTSA and therefore, these portions of our proposal (Attachment B) should not be deemed as a Public Record releasable under FOAA.” Included 2020-024.

Licensure/Certification Senior staff profiles include degrees and focuses.

Provided – Expires 9/14/2026

Collecting and reviewing data; designing, planning, and implementing assessments; estimating damages; evaluating restoration proposals; assisting State, Federal, and Tribal Trustees in negotiations with the responsible party; and providing other expert assistance regarding NRDAR. Detailed explanation of each was included.

Implementation – Work Plan Work plan proposal included. Cost estimates $24,868. Costs could be better itemized. Human Health Risk section was detailed.

Bidder/Applicant Name Verdantas, LLC

Overview of the Organization Overview concise but appears to have adequate NRDA experience. Large staff. Offices in York, Yarmouth, Freeport, and Saco. No Maine projects listed.

Subcontractors Verdantas stated no subcontractors would be used. All services can be provided in-house.

Organizational Chart Org. Chart provided with concise description of staff backgrounds.

Litigation Long list. 7 open cases and 13 closed cases within the past 5 years. Will need to check with Procurement Services.

Financial Viability Provided Licensure/Certification Provided two staff certifications Certificate of Insurance Provided – dated 6/27/2025

Proposed Services Appear to be adequate.

Implementation – Work Plan Very concise approach. Estimated $50,031

Date of Individual Evaluation 11/19/2025

Petroleum Management

Overview of the Organization P – Specialize in native habitat restoration.

I – Project two is a model rather than typical remediation project.

Subcontractors N/A - Fully staffed.

Organizational Chart P – Org chart included with relevant information.

Litigation N – Multiple open and closed cases.

Financial Viability P – Included years 2023 and 2024.

Licensure/Certification P – Listed staffs’ experience and specializations in org chart.

Certificate of Insurance P – Acord Certificate of Liability Insurance.

Proposed Services P – Covered all categories.

Implementation – Work Plan P – included costs of optional water flow bypass and sediment control.

Overview is shorter than the other two. Established in 2020.

2,000 employees nationally. Offices in York, Yarmouth, Freeport, and Saco. No Maine projects listed.

Subcontractors Stated that no subcontractors would be used and that all services can be provided in-house.

Organizational Chart Org. Chart provided with a brief description of backgrounds.

Litigation 7 open litigation cases and 13 closed cases within the past 5 years.

Financial Viability Included balance sheets, statements of operations, and rate sheet

Licensure/Certification Provided two staff certifications. Listed staffs experience and specializations in org chart.

Provided – Expires 6/30/2026

NRDA technical assistance, focusing on pre-assessment screenings, injury and damage assessments, and restoration credit calculations. Included a brief explanation of each.

Implementation – Work Plan Abbreviated work plan (shortest of the 3). Included costs of optional water flow bypass and sediment control. Estimated $50,031.

Revised 10/01/2025 – DAFS/Office of State Procurement Services pg. 1

AGREEMENT AND DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I, Butch Bowie ______________________________________ accept the offer to become a member of the Evaluation Team for this solicitation for the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection I do hereby accept the terms set forth in this agreement AND hereby disclose any affiliation or relationship I may have in connection with a bidder who has submitted a proposal to this solicitation.

Neither I nor any member of my immediate family have a personal or financial interest, direct or indirect, in the bidders whose proposals I will be reviewing. “Interest” may include, but is not limited to: current or former ownership in the bidder’s company; current or former Board membership; current or former employment with the bidder; current or former personal contractual relationship with the bidder (example: paid consultant); and/or current or former relationship to a bidder’s official which could reasonably be construed to constitute a conflict of interest (personal relationships may be perceived by the public as a potential conflict of interest).

I have not advised, consulted with or assisted any bidder in the preparation of any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation nor have I submitted a letter of support or similar endorsement.

I understand and agree that the evaluation process is to be conducted in an impartial manner without bias or prejudice. In this regard, I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, there are no circumstances that would reasonably support a good faith charge of bias. I further understand that in the event a good faith charge of bias is made, it will rest with me to decide whether I should be disqualified from participation in the evaluation process.

I agree to hold confidential all information related to the contents of this solicitation presented during the review process until such time as the Department formally releases the award decision notices for public distribution.

11/4/2025 Signature Date

STATE OF MAINE

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION

Janet T. Mills

Governor

Commissioner

RFP #202503052

I, Ben Godfrey________________________________________ accept the offer to become a member of the Evaluation Team for this solicitation for the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection. I do hereby accept the terms set forth in this agreement AND hereby disclose any affiliation or relationship I may have in connection with a bidder who has submitted a proposal to this solicitation.

Neither I nor any member of my immediate family have a personal or financial interest, direct or indirect, in the bidders whose proposals I will be reviewing. “Interest” may include, but is not limited to: current or former ownership in the bidder’s company; current or former Board membership; current or former employment with the bidder; current or former personal contractual relationship with the bidder (example: paid consultant); and/or current or former relationship to a bidder’s official which could reasonably be construed to constitute a conflict of interest (personal relationships may be perceived by the public as a potential conflict of interest).

I have not advised, consulted with or assisted any bidder in the preparation of any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation nor have I submitted a letter of support or similar endorsement.

I understand and agree that the evaluation process is to be conducted in an impartial manner without bias or prejudice. In this regard, I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, there are no circumstances that would reasonably support a good faith charge of bias. I further understand that in the event a good faith charge of bias is made, it will rest with me to decide whether I should be disqualified from participation in the evaluation process.

I agree to hold confidential all information related to the contents of this solicitation presented during the review process until such time as the Department formally releases the award decision notices for public distribution.

___________________________________________11/03/2025________________ Signature Date

STATE OF MAINE

DEPARTMENT OF Environmental

Protection

Janet T. Mills Governor

I, ______Jamie Hoover______________________________ accept the offer to become a member of the Evaluation Team for this solicitation for the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection I do hereby accept the terms set forth in this agreement AND hereby disclose any affiliation or relationship I may have in connection with a bidder who has submitted a proposal to this solicitation.

Neither I nor any member of my immediate family have a personal or financial interest, direct or indirect, in the bidders whose proposals I will be reviewing. “Interest” may include, but is not limited to: current or former ownership in the bidder’s company; current or former Board membership; current or former employment with the bidder; current or former personal contractual relationship with the bidder (example: paid consultant); and/or current or former relationship to a bidder’s official which could reasonably be construed to constitute a conflict of interest (personal relationships may be perceived by the public as a potential conflict of interest).

I have not advised, consulted with or assisted any bidder in the preparation of any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation nor have I submitted a letter of support or similar endorsement.

I understand and agree that the evaluation process is to be conducted in an impartial manner without bias or prejudice. In this regard, I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, there are no circumstances that would reasonably support a good faith charge of bias. I further understand that in the event a good faith charge of bias is made, it will rest with me to decide whether I should be disqualified from participation in the evaluation process.

I agree to hold confidential all information related to the contents of this solicitation presented during the review process until such time as the Department formally releases the award decision notices for public distribution.

11/20/2025 Signature Date

STATE OF MAINE

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION

Janet T. Mills Governor