MiCorps Program Administration

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP 250000002293) for comprehensive administration and management of the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) Program, a statewide volunteer water quality monitoring network. The procurement seeks a contractor to manage three integrated programs: the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP), the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program (VSMP), and the Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program (VSCP). Primary deliverables and responsibilities include overall MiCorps program administration; grant administration for VSMP and VSCP grants with minimum annual funding of $75,000 for VSMP and $25,000 for VSCP; website and web-based database maintenance and enhancement; development of promotional and communication materials; restructuring and maintenance of the Web-Based MiCorps Database Exchange (MDE); planning and implementation of an annual MiCorps Conference (minimum one day in length, with the first conference in Fall 2025); and professional development opportunities for staff, including reimbursement for attendance at conferences such as AAPS, NWQMC, and MLSA. The contractor must work in partnership with EGLE's MiCorps Program Lead and the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA) under an updated Memorandum of Understanding. The contract term is five years, from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030, with the possibility of renewal for up to two additional one-year periods at the State's discretion. Proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, with questions required to be submitted by June 11, 2025, and answers posted by June 18, 2025. Pricing must be firm for the entire contract length, though adjustments to option years are permitted based on documented changes in actual contractor costs supported by evidence such as the Consumer Price Index or industry data. Evaluation criteria emphasize 100 percent compliance with timely deliveries of all tasks, with service level agreements imposing credits of $100 for the first five occurrences of non-compliance annually and $500 for subsequent occurrences, and liquidated damages of $5,000 plus $100 per day for late or improper completion of contract activities.

If subcontractors perform more than 20 percent of deliverables, at least 20 percent of subcontracted work must be awarded to Michigan-based Geographically Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (GDBE). The contractor must identify key personnel responsible for day-to-day operations, and any unauthorized removal of key personnel will result in liquidated damages of $25,000 per individual, plus an additional $833.33 per day for failure to provide a 30-day shadowing period for replacement staff. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation; however, the contractor must integrate with existing MiCorps infrastructure, maintain all MiCorps data as State property, and ensure seamless transition of the website, database, and associated documentation to EGLE upon contract termination. The contractor must provide quarterly progress and financial status reports and conduct a full program closeout. Contracts equal to or greater than $250,000 require approval by the State Administrative Board. No specific budget ceiling or floor is established; however, the pricing structure encompasses ten primary tasks with annual budget breakdowns across five years, including personnel costs, benefits, contractual services, supplies and materials, travel, and other indirect costs calculated at 20 percent of salary and fringe.