RFP No. 24ISD003 California Shrubland Carbon Sampling Framework

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP No. 24ISD003) seeking qualified contractors to quantify biomass carbon for shrubland ecosystem plots across California. The primary objective is to develop a comprehensive carbon sampling framework through field inventories and remote sensing metrics, with the goal of updating the State's Natural and Working Lands (NWL) Inventory methodology and supporting carbon stock change modeling related to nature-based solutions and climate change. Key deliverables include a comprehensive literature review, statewide sampling framework development, allometric equation development, field data collection, and LANDFIRE-C updates. The RFP requires contractors to create sampling plots representing California's diverse shrubland ecosystems across various climate, edaphic conditions, and disturbance regimes. Proposal evaluation will be based on a 100-point scoring system, with points allocated across areas such as clarity and organization (10 points), management plan (5 points), methodology (15 points), work plan and schedule (20 points), personnel/experience (20 points), and cost (30 points). The proposal submission deadline is February 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM, with work expected to commence on March 31, 2025, and a contract term of twenty-seven months with a possible twelve-month extension.

The RFP includes several set-aside and preference programs to support diverse business participation, specifically targeting Small Business (5% preference), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (1-5% preference based on participation level), and the Target Area Contract Preference Act (5% preference). To be considered responsive, proposals must score a minimum of 70 points out of 100 and cannot exceed the total contract budget of $900,000. Proposals above this amount will be deemed non-responsive and ineligible for award. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly mentioned, the project requires contractors with strong expertise in ecological sampling, remote sensing, carbon biomass quantification, and comprehensive data collection methodologies across California's varied shrubland ecosystems. Potential bidders should demonstrate significant technical capabilities in field inventory techniques, geospatial analysis, and the ability to integrate complex environmental data sets. The contract represents a significant opportunity for organizations with advanced ecological research and carbon measurement capabilities to contribute to California's climate change and natural lands carbon assessment initiatives.