RFP No. 24ISD010 California Soil and Wetland Carbon Analysis in Pecan

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 24ISD010 to solicit competitive proposals for expanding the Predictive Ecosystem Analyzer (PEcAn) with three additional soil carbon modeling components: the Rothamsted Carbon Model (RothC), the Cohort Marsh Equilibrium Model (CMEM), and the Peatland Ecosystem Photosynthesis Respiration and Methane Transport (PEPRMT) model. The primary objective is to support CARB's Natural and Working Lands Carbon Inventory by developing open-source carbon assessment tools for analyzing soil carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes in California. Qualified contractors will be responsible for integrating these specified models into PEcAn, developing comprehensive training materials, and providing functionality to implement management actions. Proposers must demonstrate proven experience in ecosystem modeling, soil carbon projects, tool development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The evaluation will utilize a 100-point scoring system, with 70 points allocated to technical merits and 30 points to cost, requiring a minimum score of 75 points for award consideration. Electronic proposals must be submitted by May 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PST, with a maximum file size of 50 MB, and the initial contract duration is set for 24 months, with a potential 12-month extension option.

The RFP does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The total budget for this project is $200,000, and proposals exceeding this amount may be deemed non-responsive and ineligible. The contract aims to enhance existing open-source ecosystem modeling infrastructure by expanding the PEcAn platform's capabilities in soil carbon analysis. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the project requires integration with the existing PEcAn framework and the three specified modeling components. The successful contractor will need to demonstrate technical expertise in ecosystem modeling, carbon assessment, and the ability to develop sophisticated computational tools that can support California's climate and environmental research objectives. The contract represents an opportunity for organizations with advanced technical capabilities in environmental modeling, carbon assessment, and interdisciplinary research to contribute to California's climate change mitigation efforts.