Wetland Mitigation Credit Availability & Cost for Counties

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has issued Request for Proposal #25RFP16078 seeking wetland mitigation credits for transportation infrastructure projects in Deuel, Hamlin, and Clark Counties. The procurement specifically targets approximately 39.631 wetland credits required to satisfy Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting requirements, with 20.386 credits needed for PCN 04HM and 19.245 credits for PCN 04EW. SDDOT is soliciting proposals from United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) authorized commercial mitigation banks or In-Lieu Fee (ILF) programs with available credits in the Upper and Lower Big Sioux Geographic Service Areas. Evaluation criteria will include specialized expertise, past performance, credit availability, cost per credit, and the offeror's ability to meet project requirements. The proposal submission deadline is August 22nd, 2025 at 12:00 PM CDT, with an anticipated award and contract negotiation date of August 28th, 2025. Potential vendors may email inquiries to Chad Babcock at chad.babcock@state.sd.us, with all questions and responses to be posted on the state's e-procurement system.

The RFP indicates that SDDOT anticipates purchasing credits from multiple providers to fulfill mitigation needs and will consider proposals that meet some, but not necessarily all, of the required credits. While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types are explicitly mentioned, the procurement appears open to qualified commercial mitigation banks and In-Lieu Fee programs with USACE authorization. The solicitation shows a preference for bank and released ILF credits in the Upper Big Sioux Geographical Service Area. Although specific budget ranges are not detailed, the procurement involves wetland mitigation credits across multiple county transportation projects within the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Potential vendors should be prepared to provide detailed information about their credit availability, pricing structure, and geographical service capabilities. The complexity of the procurement suggests that respondents will need significant environmental and regulatory expertise in wetland mitigation banking.