Woodchuck Hollow Culvert Replacement - Engineering Services

The state of Vermont, specifically Orleans County, is seeking engineering services for the Woodchuck Hollow Culvert Replacement project located in Washington Town along the East Branch of the Jail Branch of the Winooski River. This procurement aims to replace an existing culvert to improve aquatic organism passage (AOP) and restore stream function for brook trout habitat. The primary deliverables include culvert replacement design and implementation, with key objectives focused on reducing aquatic habitat fragmentation, increasing brook trout habitat and population, and decreasing flood risk. The project, funded through USFWS, builds upon the previous removal of Hands Mill Dam in 2024 and will reconnect the East Branch to the Jail Branch. The contract opportunity (ID: 687a58c7422a4adcc304b274) was posted on July 18, 2025, with proposals due by August 8, 2025. Prospective engineering firms will need to demonstrate expertise in stream restoration, culvert design, and aquatic habitat connectivity.

While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor types were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents, the project appears to be focused on environmental restoration and habitat improvement. The engineering services contract will require integration with existing geospatial data and environmental restoration plans developed by local, state, and federal partners, including the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Although no specific budget range was provided, the project involves complex environmental engineering work with multiple stakeholders, suggesting a potentially significant investment. The project's location coordinates (44.1078234049253, -72.42107054581538) indicate a precise geographical scope, and the work will have co-benefits including local resident education about aquatic habitat connectivity and climate resilience through flood risk mitigation. The successful vendor will need to demonstrate technical capabilities in stream restoration, culvert design, and environmental engineering specific to brook trout habitat preservation.