Certified Water Rights Examiner

The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) has issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) for a Certified Water Rights Examiner to complete Claim of Beneficial Use (COBU) filings for 24 state-owned reservoirs located in Malheur and Harney Counties. The primary objective is to file permit assignments for four reservoirs, reinstate a permit for one reservoir, and submit COBU filings with final proof maps for all 24 reservoirs to the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) by December 31, 2026. The contractor must be a Certified Water Rights Examiner, with prior experience working with governmental agencies preferred. Quotes are due by April 7th, 2025, at 2:00 PM PST through OregonBuys, with pricing to be held firm for 30 days. The reservoirs, inherited through land exchanges with the Bureau of Land Management, are critical to leased grazing operations and wildlife habitat. The project involves three reservoir groups with distinct filing requirements: Group 1 includes reservoirs needing permit assignments and reinstatement, Group 2 covers reservoirs on the Stockade Block, and Group 3 encompasses reservoirs on the Wagontire Block. DSL will provide reservoir access, coordinate site visits, and handle landowner signatures and OWRD filing fees.

The RFQ does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. While the document does not mention incumbent vendors, it indicates that the reservoirs are part of existing land management infrastructure related to grazing and wildlife operations. The procurement appears to be a specialized professional services contract focused on water rights documentation. No specific budget range or award value is explicitly stated in the available documentation. The contract's scope suggests a targeted, technical engagement requiring specialized expertise in water rights examination and governmental filing processes. Interested contractors will need to demonstrate precise technical capabilities in water rights documentation, with an understanding of governmental land management procedures and the specific geographic context of Malheur and Harney Counties. The project's ultimate goal is to finalize and perfect water right permits and ensure the continued ability to impound water in these state-owned reservoirs.