Warm Stream and Riparian Wetland Mitigation within Unit 03050101 of the Catawba River Basin

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is requesting proposals for warm stream and riparian wetland mitigation full delivery projects within Unit 03050101 of the Catawba River Basin, with proposals due February 23, 2027, and a pre-proposal conference on July 8, 2026. A 10% HUB participation goal applies to utilization of diverse firms.

The scope requires vendors to deliver 5,000 warm stream credits and 6 riparian wetland credits, with preservation credits not to exceed 50% of total credits. Projects must combine stream and wetland components. Vendors must secure long-term protection through a conservation easement held by the State of North Carolina; the State will not accept fee simple title. Vendors must provide financial assurance via performance bonds (55% of contract value), letters of credit, or casualty insurance to guarantee credit delivery and must hold North Carolina Secretary of State registration prior to award. Vendor qualifications must include documented experience, references, background clearance, and financial stability certification.

Payment is milestone-based, ranging from 5% upon regulatory site visit and environmental screening to 10% upon final monitoring report and project closeout, with intermediate payments for conservation easement recordation (20%), mitigation plan completion (15%), earthwork completion (15%), planting and monitoring device installation (10%), baseline monitoring and as-built drawings (10%), and annual monitoring reports (2–5% each). The adjusted credit cost—calculated as total bid cost divided by technical proposal score—determines ranking and site selection alongside available State funds and mitigation priorities at selection time.

The contract runs ten years from final execution, with the State holding the option to renew for up to two additional one-year terms at its sole discretion. Written questions are due July 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Pricing must be submitted on the sealed Attachment A form and constitutes the total cost for complete performance.