RFP 202603039 Q

This is a Questions and Answers summary document for RFP 202603039, issued by the State of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Forest Service, Forest Protection Division, in conjunction with six jurisdictions in Washington County (Dennysville, Whiting, Cathance, Marian, Edmunds, and Trescott). The RFP seeks environmental consulting services to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan addressing documented wildfire threats in the region. The questions deadline is April 15, 2026, with proposals due by 4:00 p.m. local time on April 28, 2026, through the Vendor Self Service system. Key clarifications from the Q&A address scope flexibility, budget constraints, and meeting attendance requirements. While the fixed budget will not increase, flexibility exists regarding the number of community meetings attended and the extent of documented windshield surveys. The consultant must complete all tasks listed in the RFP and conduct approximately two days of field work per town or unorganized township to verify and ground-truth wildfire risk areas in Wildland Urban Interface zones near homes, with documentation including photos and routes traveled. Community meetings may be held as hybrid in-person and virtual events, with the winning bidder required to attend at least one meeting in person.

The budget for this contract is fixed and will not be increased. Pricing terms and specific award value ranges are not detailed in this Q&A document. The RFP documentation does not specify set-aside designations, restrictions on respondent types, disadvantaged enterprise requirements, or incumbent vendor information. Evaluation will be based on scoring weights outlined in the RFP documentation. Prospective bidders must comply with all standard state contract provisions governing the relationship between the State of Maine and the awarded bidder, with contract terms and specific award details available in the RFP appendices. Inquiries regarding clarifications should be directed to RFP coordinator Kent Nelson prior to the April 15, 2026 questions deadline.