Vehicle-Wildlife Collision Mitigation Planner RFQ

Chaffee County, Colorado is soliciting qualifications for a Vehicle-Wildlife Collision (VWC) Mitigation Planner through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) as part of their Safety Action Plan (SAP) under the Federal Highway Administration's Safe Streets for All (SS4A) initiative. The county seeks a consultant with extensive experience in planning and implementing strategies to mitigate vehicle-wildlife collisions, which currently represent over 25% of the county's traffic incidents. The selected contractor will work collaboratively with the overall SAP consultant to develop specific VWC mitigation components of the plan. Key deliverables will include comprehensive planning, public engagement strategies, and drafting processes focused on reducing wildlife-related traffic safety concerns. Contractors must demonstrate expertise in road ecology, wildlife connectivity, and VWC mitigation, and provide examples of similar completed work. Qualifications must be submitted by July 9, 2025, at 12:00 pm MDT, with work expected to commence by August 5, 2025. Evaluation criteria will likely include demonstrated experience, proposed approach, and understanding of local VWC challenges.

The RFQ indicates the contract will be structured as an independent contractor arrangement, with the selected vendor responsible for their own expenses, insurance, and taxes. While specific budget details are not explicitly stated, contractors are required to submit an estimated cost and fee schedule, including a budget outline for the VWC mitigation portion of the SAP. The contract will run through the duration of the SS4A SAP project, with potential for automatic renewal for up to five years. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types were mentioned in the provided documentation. The contract appears open to various qualified consulting firms or individual professionals with appropriate expertise in transportation planning, wildlife mitigation, and safety planning. The procurement approach suggests the county is seeking the most qualified contractor based on technical capabilities and strategic approach rather than imposing strict limitations on respondent types.