Assessing Soil and Water ConservationBid Documents

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and Division of Soil Conservation (DSC) are seeking a consultant to conduct a comprehensive Capacity Development Needs Assessment for Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) across Indiana. The procurement is a request for proposal (RFP 25-83926) designed to identify and address operational challenges faced by SWCD board members and employees through an extensive research and assessment process. Key deliverables include monthly workgroup meetings, draft and final assessment methodologies, comprehensive reports, and up to three presentations or webinars for stakeholders. The project's primary objectives are to build local district capacity, enhance collaboration with agricultural and conservation partners, and empower communities to improve soil health, water quality, and water use efficiency. The evaluation criteria include 50 points for management assessment/quality, 30 points for cost, and additional points for diversity initiatives, with a total of 103 possible points. Proposals are due on August 18, 2025, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time, with an initial contract term of one year and potential for a one-year renewal, totaling two years.

The procurement includes significant set-aside designations for minority-owned businesses, with specific goals of 8% for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), 11% for Women Business Enterprises (WBE), and 3% for Indiana Veteran Owned Small Businesses (IVOSB). Respondents must be registered with the Indiana Secretary of State and the state procurement division, and must provide detailed financial documentation, including Dunn & Bradstreet reports or audited financial statements. The project has a total budget of $250,000 and requires vendors to demonstrate expertise in conducting comprehensive organizational assessments, with a focus on social and organizational capacities including grant management, technical assistance, community outreach, and board development. The state will use a normalized scoring method for cost proposals, with the lowest cost proposal receiving 35 points. Contractors will be expected to provide robust data collection and analysis capabilities, with a requirement to store assessment data and provide direct access to raw data to the ISDA. The procurement emphasizes not just identifying challenges but developing a strategic implementation roadmap with performance metrics and potential recommendations for district operations.