vendor questions rfp#202511155 - rev 2.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 11 KB Posted
- Attached to
- LDTS Range - Biological Assessment
- Solicitation number
- RFP - 15A - 202511155
- Issued by
- Penobscot County, Maine
About this file
This file is a vendor questions and answers document for RFP #202511155 related to a Biological Assessment for the Lola Dana Training Site (LDTS), involving the State of Maine Department of Defense, Veterans & Emergency Management (DVEM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MEDEP), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR). The RFP seeks a qualified contractor to develop a comprehensive Biological Assessment for the approximately 3,830-acre state-owned training site in Penobscot County, including analysis of existing land use, topography, soil, groundwater, stormwater drainage, and biological and hydrogeochemical studies. The project encompasses four primary tasks: coordinating a kick-off meeting and site visit, conducting data analysis and USFWS coordination meetings, developing and finalizing a draft Biological Assessment document, and supporting public meetings. The original proposal submission deadline was extended to January 2, 2026, with questions due by December 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. local time. The contract is anticipated to be awarded in February or March 2026, with a contract term extending from February 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
Key considerations for bidders include cumulative impacts analysis with an existing demolition range that is also anticipated to increase in use, long-term monitoring requirements for stream macroinvertebrates and surface and groundwater chemistry as mandated by MEDEP, and adaptive management protocols triggered by trend analysis. USFWS consultation conducted from 2023 through 2025, with a 2025 on-site meeting deemed the Initiation of Consultation, established that the agency intends to pursue an Informal Consultation pathway based on comprehensive mitigation measures enforceable through MEDEP's State Lands Over-Order of Conditions (SLODA), MEDEP's Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification, and USACE's CWA Section 404 permitting. The evaluation will be based on a 100-point scale with 50 points for organization qualifications and experience, 10 points for approach and service layout, and 40 points for cost proposal, with the lowest submitted cost receiving maximum points. Bidders must provide current Dun & Bradstreet Business Information Reports, ACORD insurance certificates, and complete all required appendices, with personnel required to pass federal background checks within two weeks of award.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment 2 - rfp202511155 - rev 1.docx | DOCX document | |
| RFP#15A202511155 Award Notification Letter_Final.pdf | ||
| Amendment 1 - RFP202511155 rev 1.docx | DOCX document | |
| RFP# 202511155 LDTS Range_Final.docx | DOCX document | |
| RFP#15A202511155 Master Scoresheet_Final.pdf | ||
| RFP#15A202511155 Selection Package_Final.pdf | ||
| Amendment 1 - RFP202511155 rev 1.docx | DOCX document | |
| RFP# 202511155 LDTS Range_Final.docx | DOCX document | |
| RFP# 202511155 LDTS Range_Final.docx | DOCX document |
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Sheet1
| Question | Answer |
| This question is in reference to Part II, Existing Data Sources: |
| Could we be provided meetings notes, emails/letters, memos etc. from any pre-filing consultations with relevant agencies (USFWS, DEP, USACE, etc)? | MEARNG met with USFWS, MEDEP and USACE staff in 2023 – 2025 as part of NEPA Scoping and pre-filing consultation. A 2025 on-site meeting with USFWS was deemed the Initiation of Consultation. Key MEARNG takeaways from these informal discussions include: 1. | USFWS staff anticipates relying on the expertise of MEARNG’s Consultants and MEDEP subject matter experts to provide insight and analysis of the complex interactions between munitions constituents, the physical environment, and biologic impacts. |
| 2. | Given the complexity of the munition issue, MEDEP intends to require long term monitoring of stream macroinvertebrates and surface and ground water chemistry. These monitoring results would be subject to trend analysis that would trigger adaptive management responses by MEARNG if concentration approached regulatory thresholds or if changes in the biologic community were observed. | |
| 3. | USFWS staff concur with MEDEP’s adaptive management approach to the munitions issue, and see a feasible/preferred path to Informal Consultation based on: |
(a) The totality of mitigation measures built into (and enforceable through) the MEDEP SLODA, MEDEP CWA 401 water quality certification, and USACE CWA 404 permitting.
(b) The requirement to proactively manage military lands per the Sikes Act, as documented in a USFWS-approved Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan.
(c) Confidence in MEARNG’s staffing levels, internal management controls, and future funding to fully execute all proposed/required mitigation measures.
This question is in reference to the Public Notice part of the RFP:
| Could the proposal submission deadline be extended to January 2, 2026? | Yes | ||
| The existing demolition range already has a BA, can we confirm that we should assume cumulative impacts for this BA, since the demolition range is also likely to increase in use with this project? | Yes, absolutely | ||
| Is there any form of documentation of previous consultation with USFWS for this project (since 2019) that could be provided to bidders? | MEARNG met with USFWS, MEDEP and USACE staff in 2023 – 2025 as part of NEPA Scoping and pre-filing consultation. A 2025 on-site meeting with USFWS was deemed the Initiation of Consultation. Key MEARNG takeaways from these informal discussions include: 1. | USFWS staff anticipates relying on the expertise of MEARNG’s Consultants and MEDEP subject matter experts to provide insight and analysis of the complex interactions between munitions constituents, the physical environment, and biologic impacts. | |
| 2. | Given the complexity of the munition issue, MEDEP intends to require long term monitoring of stream macroinvertebrates and surface and ground water chemistry. These monitoring results would be subject to trend analysis that would trigger adaptive management responses by MEARNG if concentration approached regulatory thresholds or if changes in the biologic community were observed. | ||
| 3. | USFWS staff concur with MEDEP’s adaptive management approach to the munitions issue, and see a feasible/preferred path to Informal Consultation based on: |
(a) The totality of mitigation measures built into (and enforceable through) the MEDEP SLODA, MEDEP CWA 401 water quality certification, and USACE CWA 404 permitting.
(b) The requirement to proactively manage military lands per the Sikes Act, as documented in a USFWS-approved Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan.
(c) Confidence in MEARNG’s staffing levels, internal management controls, and future funding to fully execute all proposed/required mitigation measures.
| The 2018 Atlantic salmon eDNA survey was sampled in August/September. Does MEARING anticipate any concern from USFWS and MDMR that spring sampling for smolts wasn't completed within Trout Brook and East Branch of Trout Brook? | No concerns anticipated. |
| At the site, it was stated that incidental take of an individual lynx couldn't be ruled out during operations. An incidental take statement is a component of a biological opinion and formal consultation, how does DVEM assume this is only informal? | This will need to be part of the discussion with USFWS expected as part of this BA. Initial meetings with USFWS staff included discussion of mitigation measures to encourage lynx to leave the range area before initiating live weapons fire training. |
| Part 1 of 2: USACE has recently stated that impacts to salmon could result from an action that is very far away. Is DVEM relying on the 2018 salmon eDNA survey to argue for a NLAA determination? | Yes |
| Part 2 of 2: Can consultation with MDMR be provided to bidders for their stance on potential for Atlantic salmon within the Action Area? Where do they view the limits of the Action Area? | Yes, consultation with MDMR is provided in the Section 7 consultation dated 9-MAR-2020. The action area considered at the time was the extent of Trout Brook, East Branch Trout Brook and Medunkeunk Stream. |
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