REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Issued by the New Hampshire Coastal Program for Consulting Services for Building Capacity for Efficient and Effective Stream Crossing Replacement in NH’s Coastal Watersheds

The New Hampshire Coastal Program has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for consulting services focused on building capacity for efficient and effective stream crossing replacement in New Hampshire's coastal watersheds. The procurement targets an interdisciplinary consultant team with expertise in engineering, science, planning, web development, and communications to support a pilot project spanning from March 2025 to December 2027. Key deliverables include developing a stream crossing prioritization framework, creating a comprehensive training program, providing technical assistance, and supporting the development of a new Stream Crossing Grant (SCG) program. The project will concentrate on the New Hampshire portions of the Merrimack River and Piscataqua-Salmon Falls Watersheds, with objectives of preserving critical habitat and enhancing flood resilience. Evaluation criteria are detailed, with 25 points for project understanding, 35 points for project plan strength, 25 points for firm/team experience, and 15 points for personnel qualifications. The proposal submission deadline is July 7, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST, with the consultant expected to collaborate closely with project partners including The Nature Conservancy, University of New Hampshire, and the NH Stream Crossing Initiative.

The RFQ does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types. The project is funded through multiple sources, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's National Coastal Resilience Fund, the NH Charitable Foundation's Great Bay 2030 program, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal Zone Management Capacity funding. While specific budget ranges are not directly stated, the multi-year nature of the project and involvement of multiple funding sources suggests a substantial investment in stream crossing infrastructure and resilience. The procurement appears open to consulting firms with demonstrated multidisciplinary capabilities and a track record of working on environmental and infrastructure projects. No incumbent vendors are mentioned in the documentation, and there are no explicit requirements for integration with existing technologies or infrastructure beyond the project's defined scope of developing a stream crossing prioritization framework and supporting grant program.