Post Channel Island Reef Construction Saginaw Bay, Lk Huron

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is seeking a contractor to conduct a comprehensive two-year post-restoration assessment of the Channel Island Reef in inner Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. The primary objective is to evaluate habitat quality and reproductive usage of fish species following reef restoration, with specific focus on walleye, lake whitefish, lake trout, and burbot. Proposed research methodologies include water quality monitoring using dissolved oxygen data loggers, underwater video surveys, gillnetting for spawners and egg predators, and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. The project will involve sampling during spring and fall spawning periods, beginning in spring 2026, with specific requirements such as deploying dissolved oxygen loggers from November through May and conducting underwater video assessments at the study's outset, midpoint, and conclusion. The RFP was issued on August 8, 2025, with proposals due by August 28, 2025, and an anticipated contract start date of January 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria will be equally weighted (25% each) across product quality, service capabilities, delivery capabilities, and responses to vendor questions. The contractor will be required to submit quarterly written reports and adhere to a detailed pricing structure with a 10% cap on indirect cost rates.

While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations were explicitly mentioned in the documents, the RFP indicates a preference for vendors capable of conducting sophisticated ecological research with advanced scientific methodologies. The State reserves the right to not accept the lowest-priced proposal and will consider factors such as Michigan economic impact and overall value. The project will utilize a reef constructed of limestone cobble, covering approximately 0.81 hectares, with a control site located approximately 1 km from the reef. Though a specific budget range was not detailed, the pricing structure includes comprehensive categories such as salary and fringe, contract services, supplies, materials, indirect costs, equipment, other direct costs, and travel expenses. The research builds upon previous studies, including a pre-construction assessment by Purdue University, and aims to document gains in habitat restoration and reproductive resiliency for native fish species in Saginaw Bay. Walleye eggs can be provided by the MDNR's Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery or collected by the vendor with a scientific collector's permit.