Biological monitoring services

The City of Fort Collins is seeking proposals for RFP 10114 Biological Monitoring Services, specifically targeting comprehensive environmental assessment within the Cache la Poudre Watershed. The procurement focuses on annual biological monitoring of macroinvertebrate and fish communities, including their physical habitat across multiple collaborative programs: the Upper Cache la Poudre (UCLP) Watershed Collaborative Monitoring Program, the Lower Poudre River Monitoring Alliance (LPRMA), and the State of the Poudre River Health Assessment and Report Card. Service providers must have a minimum of three years of experience in biological monitoring and assessment, with specific requirements including fish monitoring, macroinvertebrate sampling, and pebble count studies. The evaluation criteria will weight firm capability and experience at 45%, cost and work hours at 30%, project approach at 20%, and sustainability methodology at 5%. Proposals are due by 3:00 PM Mountain Time on March 31st, 2025, with an initial one-year contract term and potential extensions for up to two additional one-year periods. Specific sampling requirements include macroinvertebrate monitoring for the North Fork Poudre River in September, UCLP in September, LPRMA in April and August, and fish sampling during the first week of November.

The RFP does not explicitly outline set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. While no specific budget was disclosed, the contract will involve comprehensive data collection and analysis across multiple watershed sites, with vendors expected to follow CDPHE Policy 98-1 for sampling protocols. Insurance requirements are substantial, including workers' compensation, general liability, automobile liability, errors and omissions, and cybersecurity coverage. Preferred qualifications include taxonomists with SFS certification, and vendors should be prepared to utilize standard sampling equipment such as a backpack electroshocking unit. The project supports broader environmental health assessments, permit compliance, and water supply project planning in the Cache la Poudre Watershed region. Bidders must acknowledge receipt of the addendum with a written statement enclosed with their RFP response, and can direct questions to Moutaz Badawi, Buyer II, at abadawi@fcgov.com. The contract aims to provide critical environmental monitoring data for ongoing watershed management and ecological research.