DEP-BWR- RFQ-2027-BIO-DEVEP-DIATOMS PHASE lll -PRF77-CAT F

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is requesting proposals from qualified environmental consulting firms under RFQ DEP-BWR-RFQ-2027-BIO-DEVEP-DIATOMS PHASE III to complete Phase III of biocriteria development in streams using diatom communities, with proposals due August 5, 2026 and written questions due by July 16, 2026. The procurement is restricted to firms pre-qualified on the Operational Services Division (OSD) PRF77 Statewide Contract, Category F — Environmental Strategy Services. A Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) preference applies; if an SBPP-registered participant meets best value criteria, they shall receive the award.

The scope comprises eleven interconnected tasks: preparing a sampling analysis plan, assembling and refining diatom data, identifying disturbance categories, establishing site classifications, assigning taxa traits, calculating and testing metrics, formulating multimetric indices, creating R code for index calculation, generating technical reports, and creating harmonized project data. All final deliverables are due by June 30, 2027. Bidders must demonstrate relevant qualifications in water quality assessment, periphyton communities, DNA metabarcoding, biocriteria development, multimetric index formulation, R programming, and technical writing. Proposals are limited to six pages plus attachments and must include a problem statement, scope with milestone schedule, project team description, detailed cost tables with hourly rates and line-item budgets, and three professional references.

The estimated total contract value is $200,000 under a fixed-price, fee-for-service model. The contract runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with one optional one-year renewal through June 30, 2028, contingent upon legislative appropriation and funding availability. The contract is restricted to use by MassDEP only. Official answers to questions will be published by July 27, 2026. MassDEP reserves the right to award additional contracts if deemed in the Commonwealth's best interest. All deliverables become exclusive property of the Commonwealth with unrestricted access and use rights.