rfql-des-2025-09.pdf

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Northwood Lake Watershed Association Inc

Request for Qualifications

For Technical Services in Development of the Northwood Lake Watershed Management Plan

Contact Information: Brian Lobao, brianlobao@northwoodlake.org, 978-853-6471 mailto:brianlobao@northwoodlake.org tel:+19788536471

Northwood lake watershed Association Inc Request For Qualifications for Technical Services in development of the Northwood Lake watershed Management Plan March 17, 2025

Introduction

The Northwood Lake Watershed Association Inc (NLWA) was awarded a $39,000 604(b) Water Quality Planning Grant from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). The Grant Agreement between NLWA and NHDES was approved on 12/18/2024.

The NLWA, a 501 (C) (3) non-profit, was founded in 1992 to address Aquatic Invasive Species. Mitigation and treatment, as part of the long-term plan, has brought the non-native aquatic plant, milfoil, under control. In the last several years, Northwood Lake has experienced Cyanobacteria blooms resulting in closing the lake for periods of time.

With this grant funding, NLWA will develop a watershed management plan for the Northwood Lake watershed that will incorporate the nine key elements (a – i) for watershed-based plans as required by the USEPA and NHDES (Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters).

Northwood Lake is a 610-acre mesotrophic lake in the towns of Northwood, Deerfield & Epsom, NH. It is listed by the NHDES in the 2020/2022 assessment as Category 4A-M due to a marginal impairment to Aquatic Life Integrity and Primary Contact Recreation because of non-native aquatic plant infestations and elevated concentrations of Escherichia coli bacteria. The development of the Northwood Lake Watershed-based Management Plan will include assessment and quantification of phosphorus and other pollutant sources to Northwood Lake. A water quality goal will be set to maximize water quality in the lake to ensure safe conditions for recreational uses and environmental integrity. The plan will recommend actions to implement to meet this water quality goal over ten years.

The NLWA is soliciting proposals from Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs) with proven expertise performing watershed planning to provide guidance for selected tasks related to the development of the watershed management plan for Northwood Lake. The NLWA has formed a Watershed Planning Committee, WPC, to lead this project. It is comprised of a diverse group, with a wide range of relevant background. The NLWA Watershed Planning Committee includes representatives from the towns that boarder the lake as well as representation from landowners and business that are impacted by the health of Northwood Lake. NLWA recognizes that completion of watershed analyses and planning tasks require services of a qualified QEP.

The NLWA has a modest amount of funding to hire a QEP to assist with selected project tasks and deliverables. The QEP will work under the direction of the WPC and will work to provide technical advice or services to complete the project tasks (See Appendix A: Table 1 for anticipated tasks, descriptions, and deliverables).

RFQ Timeline March 17, 2025, Request for Qualifications release March 24, 2025, Deadline for submittal of questions on this RFQ (5:00 p.m).

March 31, 2025, Deadline for receipt of qualification packages responsive to this RFQ (5:00 p.m.)

April 14, 2025, Anticipated final selection of QEP and notification to all firms. NLWA reserves the right to conduct interviews with selected teams. The decision to conduct interviews may affect the specified timeline.

Workplan The NLWA’s Watershed Management Workplan follows as Appendix A for more detail.

Qualification Content https://www.epa.gov/nps/handbook-developing-watershed-plans-restore-and-protect-our-waters

Northwood Lake watershed Management Plan March 17, 2025

Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) are to be presented in a clear and concise manner. Proposers shall ensure that all information required herein shall be submitted with the RFQ. Additional useful information pertaining to the project scope of work is appreciated and should be included. However, the Association reserves the right to negotiate any portion of the RFQ determined to be unclear or to appropriately address the needs of the NLWA. All RFQ responsive submittals shall remain firm for sixty (60) calendar days after receipt of the proposals.

RFQ Submissions Qualification packages shall include the following components:

1. A cover letter expressing the QEP’s interest in working with the NLWA on this project.

2. The name, address, brief history, and description of the firm,

a. Include identification and qualifications of members of the firm (including project manager/principal staff) and any subcontractors who will be working directly with the NLWA.

b. Include a description of projects this firm has done similar in nature to this one.

c. Present verifiable qualifications, experience, and knowledge regarding all aspects of watershed management planning and technical services (See Appendix A: Table 1).

d. Provide three (3) references from current customers receiving the same or similar service(s). Include name, contact information, and a brief project description for each reference.

3. List any experience with Cyanobacteria blooms in New Hampshire waterbodies.

4. Description of the firm’s approach to performing the tasks detailed in the Scope of Work, including a timeline and discussion of the relative effort anticipated to be expended on each task and expected deliverable.

5. A list of any additional services, tools, or resources not included in this RFQ that you recommend the NLWA consider.

6. Do NOT submit a cost estimate, fee schedule, and price proposal at this time.

Submissions are due March 31, 2025. Complete submittals should be sent by email in digital format (PDF or Microsoft Word) to info@northwoodlake.org with subject line: Northwood Lake Watershed RFQ. A complete and timely submittal as described in this RFQ is required to be considered.

Selection Process The NLWA will be responsible for screening proposals, conducting interviews of selected firms, and the selection of a QEP to hire.

Selection Criteria Selection will be based on the assessment of the qualifications package to meet the following criteria.

• Specialized Experience of the Project Team (35%) o Overall experience directly related to the successful completion of similar watershed planning projects that include incorporation of EPA’s Nine Elements (“a – i”), data analysis, monitoring, outreach, and working with diverse stakeholders to achieve project goals.

o Understanding of and demonstrated experience with lake loading models for nutrients and sediment.

o Demonstrated ability to identify structural and non-structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and generate pollutant load analyses for BMPs.

o Demonstrated ability to complete work within the available budgets and schedules.

• Project Personnel (30%) o Roles, participation levels, availability, qualifications, and experience of principal team members.

• Project Approach (35%)

Northwood Lake watershed Management Plan o Demonstrated strong understanding of the scope of work, project schedule, and expected deliverables outlined in the RFQ.

After the qualifications-based ranking and selection process is complete, the NLWA will request from the highest-ranked QEP a task-based cost proposal. NLWA will proceed with contract negotiations with that QEP. If the parties cannot come to terms, NLWA will request from the second-ranked QEP a task-based cost proposal and follow the same procedure, working with each of the next-ranked qualified candidate(s) in order of their scores, until a contract has been successfully negotiated.

Contact For Further Information Any questions about this RFQ raised by an individual/firm will be answered in a summary digest. The summary digest will be provided to those who contact NLWA and request to be put on an email list to receive the digest. The cut-off date for questions and requests to be put on the email list to receive the summary of questions and answers is March 24, 2025.

Please email Brian Lobao, brianlobao@northwoodlake.org, to ask a question or to be put on the email list to receive responses. The summary digest will be provided via email on March 24, 2025, to all parties on the response list.

Disclaimer No contract will be awarded except to a responsible QEP Proposer capable of performing the work presented in the workplan. Proposers must comply with all state, federal, and local (municipal) laws. Prior to the award of any contract, the Proposer may be required to demonstrate that they have the required experience, ability, resources, and facilities to perform the work outlined within the workplan. Proposal shall also describe the Proposers relevant insurance coverages, i.e., worker compensation, employers’ liability, bodily injury, property damage, including insurer names and respective liability limits.

This RFQ does not commit NLWA to award a contract or pay any costs incurred during the preparation of any submittal.

NLWA reserves the right to reject any or all the submittals while adhering to applicable laws. To participate in the project and receive payment, the selected firm will be required to enter a contract which stipulates that the QEP is eligible to receive Federal funding and certifies compliance with State and Federal rules related to grant-funded projects.

Rejection The NLWA reserves the right to reject all proposals received and to waive any informality, technical defect, or clerical error in any proposal as the interest of the NLWA may require. Rejection of any proposal shall be construed as meaning that the NLWA does not deem the proposal acceptable or that another proposal is deemed to be more advantageous to the Association for the proposed services.

Equal Opportunity Equal opportunity consideration will be taken throughout the QEP selection process without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. The NLWA, as a grant recipient through NHDES and EPA, will exercise appropriate measures to ensure good faith efforts are made during QEP selection.

Northwood Lake watershed Management Plan

Appendix A: NLWA Northwood Lake Watershed Management Plan - Project Workplan

Project Description The outcome of this project is the development of a watershed plan that incorporates the nine, key elements (a – i) for watershed-based plans as required by the USEPA and NHDES (Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters). It is expected that the plan will contain a broad range of feasible approaches, stakeholder commitments, and identified funding sources to implement phosphorus and other pollutant reduction management and/or restoration measures.

The plan will identify and quantify specific sources contributing to the lake’s water quality impairments. It will then use this analysis to develop an annual budget, recommend reduction goals, and outline options for reducing total Phosphorus (TP) and other pollutants. NLWA/WPC will select, refine, and prioritize measures to address water-quality impairments.

The watershed management plan will include a summary of recommended management approaches for reducing TP and other pollutants including a description of the recommended actions; expected pollutant load reductions; estimated project costs; potential local, state, and federal funding sources; and the parties responsible for the specified actions to achieve the desired results.

The primary purposes of the Northwood Lake Watershed planning project are to:

• assess and quantify phosphorus and other pollutant sources to Northwood Lake; and

• recommend actions for the NLWA/WPC to implement measures to achieve this water quality goal over ten years.

Background The desired environmental outcome is to optimize the water quality in Northwood Lake. Success will be measured through on-going water quality testing and monitoring of Northwood Lake.

To address these issues, NLWA/WPC will develop a watershed-based management plan that will specifically address causes of pollutants to Northwood Lake and the surrounding watershed. The overall purpose of the plan will be to identify, quantify, and assess the extent and effect of pollutants, and to identify the most cost effective and impactful best management practices (BMPs) to address the issues to protect and restore water quality within the lake and surrounding watershed. The plan will also serve to inform any restoration and/or mitigation efforts from the NLWA and the Towns of Northwood, Deerfield and Epsom. Our goal is that the Watershed Management Plan will be accepted as the source document for future projects. This would include the implementation of expanded community education and outreach activities.

Scope Of Work The NLWA/WPC seeks a qualified, experienced watershed planning expert to provide guidance for tasks related to the development of a watershed management plan for the Northwood Lake Watershed.

The NLWA has a limited amount of funding available to hire an environmental QEP to assist with selected project tasks and sub-tasks. The QEP will work collaboratively with NLWA/WPC to provide technical advice or services to complete the selected tasks (Table 1).

Northwood Lake watershed Management Plan March 17, 2025

Table 1. Anticipated tasks

Task Task Details

EPA

Planning Element

Lead

1 Participate in project kick-off meeting plus three project steering committee meetings over life of project e Lead: NLWA

2 Develop and obtain NHDES approval for a Site-Specific Project Plan (SSPP) quality assurance document to guide project activities NA Lead: Consultant

Co-Leads: NLWA, NHDES

Conduct a water quality analysis and determine assimilative capacity for each water quality parameter associated with designated use attainment within Northwood Lake; conduct GIS mapping to characterize watershed b Lead: Consultant Co-Lead: NLWA

4 Develop a water quality monitoring program for Northwood Lake i Lead: Consultant Co-Lead: NLWA

5 Conduct a buildout analysis for the watershed that will provide information sufficient to be used with watershed modeling scenarios. b Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NLWA

Run watershed loading models for estimated total phosphorus (TP) load to the lake and in-lake TP concentration, chlorophyll-a, Secchi disk transparency, and algal bloom probability b Lead: Consultant Co-Lead: NLWA

7 Develop survey forms and parcel-based GIS map of watershed to assess watershed and shorelines. a Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NLWA

8 Complete watershed & shoreline surveys and compile survey results in a written summary memo b Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NLWA

9 Determine approach to evaluating agricultural sources of pollution within the watershed b Lead: Consultant

Co-Leads: NLWA, NHDES

10 Establish the water quality goal for phosphorus in Northwood Lake and make recommendations for TP reduction b Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NHDES, NLWA

Complete a municipal ordinance review and provide recommendations to the appropriate boards in the towns of Northwood, Deerfield & Epsom, NH c Lead: Consultant Co-Lead: NLWA

12 Create watershed action plan and implementation schedule for structural and non-structural management measures c & d & f Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NLWA

13 Develop milestones and success indicators for watershed plan implementation g & h Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NLWA

14 Develop draft Northwood Lake Watershed Management Plan and conduct draft review – public forum, etc. to collect feedback e Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NLWA

15 Incorporate feedback into final watershed management plan and present final watershed plan to NLWA/WPC e Lead: Consultant

Co-Lead: NLWA

16 Participate in project outreach activities: Lake-Friendly Living Workshop and Community Education c Lead: NLWA

Co-Lead: Consultant

17 Provide information to NLWA for project reporting and tracking e Lead: Consultant Co-Lead: NLWA

Northwood Lake watershed Management Plan March 17, 2025

Project Schedule It is expected that the QEP’s share of work on this project will begin in April or May 2025 and continue until August 2026 (Table 2). It is understood that final scheduling may depend upon completion of many tasks by NLWA/WPC.

Table 2. Anticipated schedule for selected tasks

2025 2026

TASK A M J J A S D J F M A M J J A

Kick-off and review information Identify sources of loading Estimate load reductions/goals Identify management actions Success indicators/milestones Develop monitoring plan Develop watershed plan Finalize products and submit Two outreach workshops Provide final documents