The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) sought a qualified contractor to assist with collecting water quality data in 56 streams/rivers and 1 lake, located in northwest and north central Minnesota.
Responder will be working with two established surface water monitoring programs:
- Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network (WPLMN)
- Intensive Watershed Monitoring (IWM)
WPLMN is a partnership including state and federal agencies, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, state universities, and local partners who all collect data on water quality and flow in Minnesota. Since 2007, the network of the MPCA and partners has collected information in approximately 200 rivers and streams. The goal of the program is to measure and compare pollutant load data from Minnesota’s rivers and streams and track water quality trends. The WPLMN data will be used to assist with: assessing impaired waters, watershed modeling, determining pollutant source contributions, developing watershed and water quality reports, and measuring the effectiveness of water quality restoration efforts.
The goal of the Intensive Watershed Monitoring approach is to collect chemistry and bacteriological data and observations to determine the condition of lakes and streams in Minnesota. This data is used to assess and identify lakes and streams that are in need of either restoration or protection strategies.
Questions and answers
Prospective responders who have any questions regarding this RFP must email Christina Sundgaard, Lead Contract Specialist, at contracts.pca@state.mn.us, with the subject line “Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network/Intensive Watershed Monitoring RFP”, no later than March 5, 2024. Answers to questions will be posted in the SWIFT Supplier Portal. MPCA employees cannot answer questions about this RFP; direct contact regarding this RFP with any MPCA personnel may result in disqualification.
How to apply
The request for proposal (RFP) and application materials can only be viewed through the online SWIFT portal. The RFP is termed an “Event” within the SWIFT system.
- Go to the online SWIFT portal.
- Click on "Bidding opportunities".
- Find the event by name (Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network/Intensive Watershed Monitoring) or ID (2000015342).
- Click "View Bid Package" to see the RFP and forms. (There’s no need to log in to see the documents.)
Proposals are only accepted through the SWIFT portal.
- Register as a bidder in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, (Bidding = "applying")
- Choose "Register for an Account" and then "Register as a Bidder".
If you are already registered in the SWIFT system as a supplier (previously known as a vendor), use your supplier ID. Visit the SWIFT Supplier Portal under “Informational Tips” and “Supplier Portal Help” for more information. For questions about applying through SWIFT, please contact the Vendor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, option 1.