Department of the Navy is offering this Request for Information (RFI) to identify providers for compensatory mitigation of aquatic resources in the Puget Sound area.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest is conducting market research to determine the interests and capabilities of entities who possess the capabilities and expertise to fulfill the requirements of upcoming compensatory mitigation for impacts to aquatic resources in the Puget Sound Area. The program will establish a compensatory mitigation vehicle such as an in-lieu fee program or a mitigation bank. Compensatory mitigation may be required for both fresh-water riparian wetlands and nearshore aquatic habitat. The mitigation program will be established to improve existing aquatic resources, repair a damaged existing aquatic system or naturalize an area that was once an aquatic system, create a brand new aquatic resource system where one never existed, or protect an existing aquatic resource permanently through an appropriate real estate or other legal instrument.

The program will address watershed needs and how locations and types of compensatory mitigation projects address those needs. The determination of compensatory mitigation will be based on the attributes of the impacted site, its type, size, function, and regional characteristics, and the relative benefit-to-cost ratio of the instrument under consideration. Other items for consideration include, but are not limited to: landscape scale, historic and potential aquatic resource conditions, and terrestrial connections between aquatic resources.

The Navy may require assistance with a Compensatory Mitigation program and/or project(s) in the Hood Canal including work in Kitsap, Jefferson, and Mason County. Compensatory mitigation programs may also be implemented in Island and Snohomish Counties.

Entities interested in participating in this work should submit a statement of qualification describing capabilities and experience designing, permitting, or managing an In-Lieu Fee Program or mitigation bank and/or experience with wetlands mitigation or restoration projects and any direct experience or knowledge of compensatory mitigation vehicles including in-lieu fee programs and mitigation bank projects. The statement of qualifications should not exceed 10 pages, excluding the attached questionnaire. If the entity does not currently have an existing In-Lieu Fee program, please state when you intend to submit your draft Prospectus to the Interagency Review Team and when you anticipate approval of your In-Lieu Fee program.

This announcement is not a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, funding opportunity announcement (FOA), contract award, or cooperative agreement nor will it reimburse the respondent any costs associated with preparation or submitting a response to this notice. This RFI does not constitute a request for proposal. The Government reserves the right to reject in whole or in part any industry input as a result of this announcement. All submittals received will be reviewed for informational purposes. A link to the full RFI and associated questionnaire can be found by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Interested sources must submit their statement of qualifications and questionnaire via e-mail to Ian Robinson, Contract Specialist, NAVFAC NW, e-mail ian.robinson1@navy.mil, phone (360) 476-6748 and Eleanor Drake, Contract Officer/Cooperative Agreement Administrative Officer, NAVFAC NW, e-mail eleanor.drake@navy.mil, phone (360) 396-6707, no later than 30 December 2010.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest is conducting market research to determine the interests and capabilities of entities who possess the capabilities and expertise to fulfill the requirements of upcoming compensatory mitigation for impacts to aquatic resources in the Puget Sound Area. The program will establish a compensatory mitigation vehicle such as an in-lieu fee program or a mitigation bank. Compensatory mitigation may be required for both fresh-water riparian wetlands and nearshore aquatic habitat. The mitigation program will be established to improve existing aquatic resources, repair a damaged existing aquatic system or naturalize an area that was once an aquatic system, create a brand new aquatic resource system where one never existed, or protect an existing aquatic resource permanently through an appropriate real estate or other legal instrument.

The program will address watershed needs and how locations and types of compensatory mitigation projects address those needs. The determination of compensatory mitigation will be based on the attributes of the impacted site, its type, size, function, and regional characteristics, and the relative benefit-to-cost ratio of the instrument under consideration. Other items for consideration include, but are not limited to: landscape scale, historic and potential aquatic resource conditions, and terrestrial connections between aquatic resources.

The Navy may require assistance with a Compensatory Mitigation program and/or project(s) in the Hood Canal including work in Kitsap, Jefferson, and Mason County. Compensatory mitigation programs may also be implemented in Island and Snohomish Counties.

Entities interested in participating in this work should submit a statement of qualification describing capabilities and experience designing, permitting, or managing an In-Lieu Fee Program or mitigation bank and/or experience with wetlands mitigation or restoration projects and any direct experience or knowledge of compensatory mitigation vehicles including in-lieu fee programs and mitigation bank projects. The statement of qualifications should not exceed 10 pages, excluding the attached questionnaire. If the entity does not currently have an existing In-Lieu Fee program, please state when you intend to submit your draft Prospectus to the Interagency Review Team and when you anticipate approval of your In-Lieu Fee program.

This announcement is not a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation, funding opportunity announcement (FOA), contract award, or cooperative agreement nor will it reimburse the respondent any costs associated with preparation or submitting a response to this notice. This RFI does not constitute a request for proposal. The Government reserves the right to reject in whole or in part any industry input as a result of this announcement. All submittals received will be reviewed for informational purposes. A link to the full RFI and associated questionnaire can be found by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Interested sources must submit their statement of qualifications and questionnaire via e-mail to Ian Robinson, Contract Specialist, NAVFAC NW, e-mail ian.robinson1@navy.mil, phone (360) 476-6748 and Eleanor Drake, Contract Officer/Cooperative Agreement Administrative Officer, NAVFAC NW, e-mail eleanor.drake@navy.mil, phone (360) 396-6707, no later than 30 December 2010.