Request for Information for the “Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Optical Model Spectral Validation and Water Clarity Reporting Tool Refinement Project”

The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Estuary Program. This cooperative program was established by Congress in 1987 under the Clean Water Act with the goal of recognizing estuaries of “national significance” by bringing partners with diverse interests and concerns together to protect these estuaries. There are 28 National Estuary Programs within this program. The CHNEP was established in 1995. The local host of the CHNEP is the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.

OBJECTIVE: The CHNEP is seeking information on how interested contractors could provide a spectrally-explicit optical model that can be used with ambient water quality data and the CHNEP Water Clarity Reporting Tool to assess and convey progress towards achieving CHNEP water clarity and seagrass protection and restoration goals. This is not a Request for Proposal. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. Information gathered through this RFI process will be used by CHNEP to determine the most appropriate steps needed to develop a project Scope of Work, select the proper vendor, and enter into contractual arrangements with the vendor. The project is CHNEP FY 12 Workplan project and implements the goals of the Program’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).

INVITATION TO APPLY: The CHNEP must receive the Request for Information Responses by 5:00 p.m. (Local Time), Friday, September 30, 2011. The CHNEP reserves the right to reject any or all responses. The Program hereby solicits Requests for Information for the CHNEP Optical Model Spectral Validation and Water Clarity Reporting Tool Refinement Project. Any resident, organization, business, government agency, school, college or university may submit a Request for Information Response. More than one response may be submitted for each entity but each response must be submitted separately and must follow the instructions and requirements.

HOW TO APPLY: Detailed instructions and background information is found in the “Request for Information for the CHNEP Optical Model Spectral Validation and Water Clarity Reporting Tool Refinement Project” document available on the website at www.CHNEP.org. Direct all inquiries regarding this Request for Information to: Ms. Judy Ott, CHNEP Program Scientist, jott@swfpc.org, (239)338-2556, ext. 230, Toll-free: 1(866)835-5785, ext. 230, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, 1926 Victoria Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901-3414.