2026 Catawba Expanded Service Area (ESA) Warm Stream and Riparian Wetland Full Delivery Projects

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Mitigation Services, is requesting proposals for full-delivery compensatory mitigation projects within the Catawba Expanded Service Area of the Catawba River Basin under RFP 16-2216963235, with proposals due February 23, 2027. The projects require delivery of 30,000 warm stream mitigation credits and 10 riparian wetland mitigation credits within the 03050101 Cataloguing Unit, with preservation credits not to exceed 50% of total credits.

All mitigation must comply with the 2003 USACE Stream Mitigation Guidelines and the Wilmington District Stream and Wetland Compensatory Mitigation Update. Proposals must address specified watershed needs within finalized DMS-identified watershed planning areas; such alignment receives additional evaluation points. Vendors must establish conservation easements held by the State of North Carolina; the State will not accept fee simple title. Financial assurance must be provided through performance bonding at 55% of contract value, letters of credit, or casualty insurance, with bonds remaining in effect until completion of the baseline monitoring report.

Contract value and pricing structure are project-specific and milestone-based. Payment occurs in stages: environmental screening (5%), recorded conservation easement (20%), mitigation plan and financial assurance (15%), earthwork completion (15%), planting and monitoring device installation (10%), baseline monitoring report and as-built drawings (10%), and seven annual monitoring reports (15% combined). The initial contract term is ten years from final execution, with the State holding the option to renew for up to two additional one-year terms. No portion of work may be subcontracted without prior written State consent. Awarded vendors must register with the North Carolina Secretary of State within ten business days of award notification or face disqualification.

A mandatory virtual pre-proposal conference and site visit is scheduled for July 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET via Microsoft Teams. Written questions are due July 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Proposals will be opened publicly via Microsoft Teams on February 23, 2027, at 2:00 PM EST.