Engineering Services to Improve Fish Passage at the Winnicut River Fishway in Greenland, NH

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Inland Fisheries Division is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for engineering services to improve fish passage at the Winnicut River Fishway in Greenland, NH, in coordination with a Technical Advisory Committee comprising representatives from the NH Department of Environmental Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Fish and Wildlife Service, NH Department of Transportation, and the Town of Greenland. The procurement seeks qualified engineering consultants or teams to develop comprehensive design and permitting solutions addressing technical deficiencies in the existing pool and chute fishway, including inadequate pool dimensions, excessive velocities, and design parameters that do not meet industry standards for river herring passage. The 13 major project activities include: technical advisory committee coordination through five meetings; survey and mapping of topographical and geospatial information; hydrology analysis and 3D/CFD hydraulic modeling; infrastructure constraint coordination with NHDOT; alternatives analysis evaluating 5-7 modification options; conceptual design of two selected alternatives; preliminary and final design phases; permitting procurement for state and federal approvals; preparation of technical specifications and bid documents; bid services for contractor selection; and stakeholder engagement through two public forums and participation in a Route 33 Design Charette. Desired qualifications emphasize demonstrated experience with fish passage and fishway modification projects for river herring (alewife and blueback herring) and other diadromous species, proven ability to deliver engineering projects on time and within budget, expertise in hydraulic and hydrologic analyses accounting for current and future flow and sea-level rise conditions, experience managing complex multi-agency projects, and familiarity with New Hampshire's regulatory environment. Qualifications packages are limited to 15 pages (excluding CVs) and must be submitted electronically by 4:00 PM EST on April 9, 2026; questions are due by March 5, 2026 with responses published by March 12, 2026; interviews are estimated for the week of April 23, 2026; consultant notification is estimated by April 30, 2026; cost proposals are due by May 14, 2026; contract finalization is estimated by May 28, 2026; and project start is anticipated for the end of June 2026 with a project end date of December 30, 2027. Selection will be based on four weighted evaluation criteria: Understanding of the Project (20 points), Strength of the Project Plan (25 points), Qualifications and Experience of the Firm/Team (30 points), and Qualifications and Experience of Personnel (25 points).

The RFQ documentation does not identify any set-aside designations, restrictions on organizational types, disadvantaged enterprise requirements, incumbent vendors, or current contractors. No infrastructure or technology integration requirements are specified in the available procurement materials. The RFQ does not include pricing information or estimated budget ranges from the agency, as cost proposals will be negotiated following selection of the highest-ranked consultant based on qualifications. The project is funded through the NH Charitable Foundation Great Bay 2030 program, which supports environmental initiatives in the Great Bay estuary region.