MIDNR Real Estate-Case #20250031-Lyme Great Lakes Easement

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources issued Request for Proposal 26-1347 on March 4, 2026, soliciting title work services for a conservation easement acquisition spanning approximately 151,962 acres across Alger, Marquette, Menominee, and Delta Counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The primary deliverables include obtaining owner's title insurance commitment and copies of relevant historical documents for the Lyme Great Lakes Basin Conservation Easement, with an estimated property purchase price of $46 million. Qualified contractors must submit firm pricing for all deliverables through Schedule B, including title work fees for each of the four counties and estimated copy fees, with all activities to be completed within 90 business days from receipt of order. The proposal deadline is March 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with written questions due by March 10, 2026, and answers posted by March 13, 2026. Evaluation will be based on technical criteria worth 100 points, with proposals scoring 80 or more points advancing to pricing evaluation; the State reserves consideration of fair market value, qualified disabled/service-disabled veteran-owned business status, prior performance, economic impact to Michigan, and total cost of ownership. The anticipated contract start date is March 20, 2026, with a one-year term, and the contractor may be retained for future commitment updates and closing facilitation. Contractors must demonstrate active SAM.gov registration, appropriate insurance coverage, and compliance with prevailing wage requirements and all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The RFP does not specify formal set-aside restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises; however, the State indicates it will consider qualified disabled veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned business status during award evaluation. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is identified in the procurement documents. The solicitation makes no reference to specific existing infrastructure or technology requiring integration beyond standard title work and documentation delivery. The estimated contract value is not explicitly stated in the available documentation, though the estimated property purchase price of $46 million provides context for the scope and magnitude of the title work required.