Forest Carbon Markets RFI

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is seeking market intelligence on forest carbon projects and methodologies through an RFI, Forest Carbon Markets (Project # FY27RES0001, BID # BD-27-1042-ENV-ENV01-134205), to inform potential future procurement under its Forests as Climate Solutions initiatives. Responses were due October 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. via COMMBUYS. The RFI sets no set-aside, preference, or eligibility restriction. Participation is voluntary, responding confers no advantage or disadvantage in future competitive procurements, and the RFI does not obligate a subsequent solicitation.

Respondents address methodologies, developer experience, project feasibility, revenue potential, procurement structure, integrity and risk management, credit attributes, buyer preferences, risk allocation, ecosystem co-benefit stacking, and market outlook in voluntary and compliance carbon markets. Addendum 1, dated October 22, 2026, clarifies that scenario-based responses with credit volume ranges and stated assumptions are acceptable. It requests estimates of credit volume, development and verification costs, timing, sale price, and net revenue for state and private lands. All Massachusetts forests are in scope, including lands under conservation easements and reserve designations. Massachusetts seeks information on approximately 2.9 million acres of state and private forest. State ownership, about 18 percent of forested land, is split among the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (143,000 acres), the Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of State Parks & Recreation (280,000 acres), and the Division of Water Supply Protection (93,677 acres). The Commonwealth prioritizes conservation finance, with external sales and retirement toward its 2050 Net Zero commitment also considered, and it aims to protect 30 percent of Commonwealth lands by 2030.

Vendor questions were due October 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., with responses posted by October 20, 2026. No bidders' conference or site visit is specified. No funding amount, pricing structure, contract term, or award date is established.