ITN for Ark Tools

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources is issuing an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN PEAA 2026_0007) for development of two spreadsheet-based tools to support water administration in the Arkansas River Basin, with responses due July 31, 2026 at 12:00 PM MDT. Respondents may bid on one or both tools. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) and resident bidders may receive preference consideration under Colorado law.

The first tool is the Mainstem Water Admin Spreadsheet, which consolidates current water supply data, water rights priority information, stream location data, and historical information to support water commissioner daily decision-making. The second is the Water Operations and Exchanges Approval Tool, a spreadsheet consolidating stream conditions, exchange potential, calls, water quality, volumetric limits, and decree requirements to support DWR staff review of water operations requests. All work products, including spreadsheets, reports, studies, data, and related intellectual property, become sole property of the State of Colorado. Accessibility compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level AA standards is required.

The estimated budget is $100,000 for the Mainstem Water Admin Spreadsheet with a March 31, 2027 completion date, and $87,000 for the Water Operations and Exchanges Approval Tool with a December 31, 2027 completion date. The State reserves the right to award to a single respondent or multiple respondents and may add services considered natural extensions during the contract term.

Evaluation criteria are qualifications and experience of project staff, clarity and completeness of the project solution and approach, feasibility of the proposed schedule, and overall value presented by pricing. Questions are due July 10, 2026. Public response opening is scheduled July 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM MDT. Evaluation is expected August 3–14, 2026, followed by negotiations August 19 through September 18, 2026. Notice of Award Decision is anticipated September 30, 2026, with project start October 1, 2026. Responses must be submitted via the Colorado Vendor Self-Service (VSS) system or email to Agency Buyer Klay Tolleson.