MPA 489 Open Enrollment Natural Resources Consultant Services

The State of Rhode Island Division of Purchases has issued a Master Price Agreement (MPA 489) for Open Enrollment Natural Resources Consultant Services, targeting environmental firms to provide comprehensive environmental policy and technical support. The solicitation seeks to establish a qualified vendor list for firms capable of delivering National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and state environmental policy support services, field data collection, mapping services, and related tasks. Key deliverables include environmental policy analysis, data collection, mapping, and technical consulting across various environmental domains. The initial contract period will span approximately three years, beginning around February 1, 2022, with potential renewal options for two additional 12-month periods. Vendors were required to submit electronic proposals through the Ocean State Procures system by December 28, 2021, with a vendor Q&A period running from November 30 to December 21, 2021. Proposals will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis, and selected firms will be placed on a qualified vendor list from which state agencies can request project-specific quotes. Evaluation criteria will include vendor expertise, proposed pricing, availability, and ability to meet technical requirements.

The solicitation strongly emphasizes participation from Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), and Veteran Business Enterprises (VBE), with a minimum 10% participation requirement for the total dollar value of procurements. Vendors must be certified in these categories to receive credit toward the participation goal and will be required to submit an MBE Utilization Plan for review. The contract will be applicable statewide, allowing participation from political subdivisions including municipalities, higher education institutions, schools, and quasi-public agencies. Vendors must maintain specific insurance coverage, including $1 million in liability insurance, workers compensation, and automobile liability insurance. A 1% contract administrative fee will be assessed on all purchase orders issued under the Master Price Agreement. While no specific award value or budget range was explicitly stated, the solicitation indicates that inclusion on the qualified vendor list does not guarantee any level of purchasing activity. Agencies will issue mini-bids to qualified vendors for specific projects, with a requirement to obtain at least one quote from a certified MBE/WBE/VBE vendor when possible.