Request For Qualifications for Technical Services Squam Lakes Watershed Management Plan Implementation, Stormwater Management for Ice House Creamery

The state of New Hampshire, specifically Grafton County and the Squam Lakes Association (SLA) in cooperation with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for engineering contractors to implement Phase II of the 2024 Squam Lakes Watershed Management Plan. The procurement focuses on stormwater management services for the Ice House Creamery site on Little Squam Lake in Holderness, NH, with key objectives including site design, permitting, construction oversight, and developing maintenance plans for bioretention systems to manage stormwater runoff from a 40-acre watershed area. Contractors must submit qualification packages limited to 15 pages by March 21, 2025, with key selection criteria emphasizing specialized experience in watershed restoration projects, stormwater BMP design and installation, and demonstrated ability to complete work within budget and schedule. The project requires six major deliverables: final site design plan, wetland/shoreland permits, Site-Specific Project Plan (SSPP), BMP construction oversight, operations and maintenance plans, and final pollutant control reports. Important dates include RFQ release on February 28, 2025, questions due March 14, 2025, and final contractor selection by March 28, 2025, with anticipated construction commencement in fall 2025.

The procurement is funded through a Watershed Assistance Grant from NHDES FY2024 competition, and while no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned, the RFQ suggests a competitive selection process focused on technical expertise and project capabilities. The project involves implementing stormwater best management practices at a specific site, with no indication of incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure requirements. Construction is expected to occur on a 40-acre watershed area currently experiencing unfiltered runoff into Little Squam Lake, suggesting the project has significant environmental restoration goals. While the RFQ does not specify a precise budget range, it is part of a broader watershed management initiative supported by state environmental services funding. Interested engineering contractors should carefully review the full RFQ document to understand the comprehensive technical requirements and demonstrate their qualifications for this specialized environmental restoration project.