Phase 1 Habitat Assessment Northern Long-Eared Bat

The New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, is seeking qualified consultants to conduct a Phase 1 Habitat Assessment for the Northern Long-Eared Bat at Franconia Notch State Park's Cannon Mountain Tramway. The procurement is a Request for Bid (RFB) for a comprehensive habitat study associated with a planned tramway replacement project. Contractors must possess a natural resource degree or equivalent work experience demonstrating expertise in ecoregions, landscapes, habitats, and ecosystems. The project requires a detailed Phase 1 report including assessor qualifications, project location mapping with precise coordinates, a comprehensive project description, documentation of known bat habitats, assessment methodology, findings with a completed Bat Summer Habitat Assessment Datasheet, and initial assessments of potential hibernacula and structures. If the project may impact the Northern Long-Eared Bat, the contractor must also prepare a draft Phase 2 study plan for acoustic or netting surveys, including survey type justification, site maps, surveyor details, and proposed survey schedules. Bids are due by January 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., and must be submitted to Johanna.Lyons@dncr.nh.gov.

The solicitation does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract will be contingent upon fund availability and will follow the State of New Hampshire P-37 Contract Agreement. All work products, data, and information developed during contract performance will become the property of the State and must be returned upon demand or contract termination. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the procurement requires a not-to-exceed bid for the outlined work. Contractors must comply with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "Range-Wide Indiana Bat & Northern Long-Eared Bat Survey Guidelines" from March 2023. The State reserves the right to offset liquidated amounts required by law from payments otherwise due to the contractor. Each proposal must include a cover letter signed by the submitting person, summarizing bid terms and committing to providing well-documented invoices in a timely manner.