RFP Document - Low Tide Aerial Photography

The State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Assessment is issuing Request for Proposals (RFP 202601003) for low-tide aerial photography acquisition and orthorectification services covering the Downeast Region from Jonesport to Calais. The procurement seeks digital aerial photography of coastal Maine encompassing supratidal, intertidal, and shallow subtidal zones extending to approximately -20 feet Mean Lower Low Water, with imagery acquisition required during the June 1 through August 31 window. The deliverables must include orthorectified seamless mosaics in GeoTIFF or agreed-upon lossless compressed format with a Ground Sample Distance of 0.30 meters or less, horizontal positional accuracy of 0.62 meters or less Root Mean Square Error, and at least four spectral bands including RGB and NIR coverage. The selected Bidder must provide all survey equipment including aircraft, GPS equipment, Inertial Measurement Unit or Digital Elevation Model technology, and coordinate directly with the DEP Aerial Survey Coordinator. Questions from prospective bidders must be submitted by January 26, 2026, with proposal submissions due February 11, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time; a bidders' conference is scheduled as part of the RFP process. The evaluation criteria and specific scoring methodology are referenced in the full RFP documentation.

The RFP does not specify set-aside requirements, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent contractor information in the available documentation. No incumbent vendor or current contractor details were provided in the contract opportunity summary. The Department anticipates making one award for an initial contract period from May 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, with potential renewal for four additional annual periods through December 31, 2030, contingent upon satisfactory performance and available funding. The specific budget or award value is not disclosed in the RFP excerpt provided. All proposals must remain valid and binding for 180 days from bid opening, and the Department reserves the right to negotiate with the selected Bidder and may waive minor informalities at its discretion. Following award announcement, all submissions become public records under the Maine Freedom of Information Act, though Bidders may claim confidentiality for specific information with supporting legal authority.