REQUEST. July estuary, invasive. toss protocols. were. community in. Hudson PRISM. I. Overview. II. Project Goal.

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1 NEIWPCC and the Hudson River Estuary Program ( NYSDEC) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Hydrilla verticillataa monitoring in Croton River/Bay and nearby waters July 2015 The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commissionn (NEIWPCC), in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation s Hudson Riverr Estuary Program and the Invasive Species Coordination Unit and its partners, is inviting proposals by ecological consultants to conduct a survey of the aquatic macrophyte Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), also known as water thyme, in the tidal Hudson River estuary, its tributaries and upland ponds in the vicinity of the Croton Riverr and Bay, New York. Hydrilla is a highly invasive submersed aquatic plant that can result in significant negative ecological, recreational and economic impacts. The survey will include both submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)) surveillance methods using standardized rake toss protocols and assessment of plant tubers in the soil at Hydrilla beds identified during the survey. The purpose of this project is to characterize the SAV community within Croton Bay, identify the extent of Hydrilla at selected locations from Croton Bay to Troy, and gather information about plant condition that may be utilized in formulation of future management strategies. The results of the project will be a final report identifying the SAV community in Croton Bay and priority sites upstream, locations where established Hydrilla communities were found and results of a tuber bank analysis for each positive Hydrilla waterbody. This work is intended to compliment previous work conducted within the Croton River and Bay during 2014 and work by the Lower Hudson PRISM to be conducted in 2015 at priority waters within 10 miles of Croton Bay. All field work is to be conducted between August 15 and October 15, This request for proposals (RFP) includes informationn on: I. Overview II. Project Goal III. Scope of Work IV. General Guidelines for Applicants V. Proposal Requirements VI. Submission Process VII. Proposal Evaluation Process Page 1 of 16

2 VIII. Notification of Awards IX. Contacts Appendix A. Title Page Format Appendix B. Overall Budget Table Format Appendix C. Task Based Budget Format Appendix D. Project Evaluation and Scoring Criteria I. Overview NEIWPCC NEIWPCC is a not for profit interstate organization, established by Congress in 1947 to serve and assist its member states individually and collectively by providing coordination, research, public education, training, and leadership in the management and protection of water quality in the New England states and New York. NEIWPCC strives to coordinate activities and forums that encourage cooperation among the states, educate the public about key water quality issues, support research projects, train environmental professionals, and provide overall leadership in the management and protection of water quality. Through a partnership with NYS DEC, NEIWPCC supports the Hudson River Estuary Program by providing technical assistance and program support. The Hudson River Estuary Program The Hudson River Estuary Program protects and improves the natural and scenic Hudson River watershed for all its residents. The program was created in 1987and focuses on the tidal Hudson and its adjacent watershed from the federal dam at Troy to upper New York harbor. Its core mission is to ensure clean water; protect and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats; adapt to climate change; and conserve the world famous scenery. The program is guided by New York State s Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda a forward looking plan, developed through significant community participation up and down the river. The Hudson River Estuary Program achieves real progress through extensive outreach, coordination with state and federal agencies and public private partnerships. In recent years, the Estuary Program has put increasing staff effort and program resources into helping communities adapt to climate change while also improving the long term resiliency of the ecosystem. The project to be implemented through this RFP carries out portions of Goals #2, #4 of the Estuary Action Agenda. Goal #2 strives to conserve, protect and enhance river and shoreline habitats to assure that life cycles of key species are supported for human enjoyment and to sustain a healthy ecosystem and Goal #4 seeks to protect and restore the streams, their corridors and the watersheds that replenish the estuary and nourish its web of life and sustain water resources that are critical to the health and well being of Hudson Valley residents and the ecosystem. For specifics on the Estuary Program and its Action Agenda see: Background In late October 2013, a New York Botanical Garden project survey team discovered Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrilla) in the Croton River system while conducting a rare species inventory. Hydrilla is a relatively new invader to New York, with known populations on Long Island (8 10 sites), in a small pond in Orange County, NY, and several small private ponds in Broome County. Extensive infestations have been documented in the Cayuga Lake Inlet (Tompkins County) and the Erie Canal/ Tonawanda Creek (Tonawanda, Erie and Niagara Counties). Following a June 2014 site visit, Allied Biological, Inc. conducted a detailed aquatic macrophyte inventory of the Croton River System, located in the Village of Croton on Hudson (Westchester County). During the survey, 354 Page 2 of 16

3 GPS referenced locations, divided into nine sections, were sampled for the presence of aquatic macrophytes. The study found that Hydrilla is well established throughout the entire length of the Croton River. Overall, it occurred at 150, or 42.3%, of the total sites surveyed. Twenty different submersed macrophytes were collected during the survey. Further information on the Croton River/ Bay and Cayuga Lake Inlet Hydrilla infestation and monitoring efforts are provided in the following reports: Allied Biological Delineation of Hydrilla and Other Submersed Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in the Croton River System. Racine Johnson Aquatic Ecologists Monitoring Report of the Cayuga Inlet and Southern Cayuga Lake Monoecious Hydrilla Eradication Project. II. Project Goal The goal of the project is to survey for the presence of Hydrilla and assess Hydrilla tuber bank status within Croton Bay/River and priority areas upstream of Croton Bay identified by the NYSDEC. Areas include tidal waters of the Hudson River, tributaries and upland waters from approximately West Point to Troy. Areas to be surveyed under this RFP are identified in the Table 1 below. The selected contractor will produce a final report containing a summary of all information and data gathered and an assessment and evaluation of the current SAV community and state of Hydrilla within the study area with geo referenced information identifying location and extent of Hydrilla found during the survey along with results of the tuber bank analysis. III. Scope of Work Scope of Work: 1. Prior to beginning surveys, the sub contractor will attend a Kick Off meeting with NYSDEC to discuss survey protocols, data collection details, report formats, deadlines, schedules and lines of communication for the project. 2. The selected contractor will produce a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to be reviewed and approved by NEIWPCC and NYSDEC project managers. Field data collection must not begin until a final QAPP for the project is approved. See section under Deliverables for more information about QAPP requirements. 3. Survey for presence of Hydrilla, using scientifically accepted methods (i.e. at least 1 sample site per 200x200m grid overlay, or other agreed upon technique, with a minimum of 6 sample locations per waterbody, using rake toss method with a minimum of two rake tosses per sample site) in locations identified in Table 1 Priority Hydrilla Sampling Locations in the Hudson River, its tributaries and ponds upstream of the Croton River and Bay, between August 15 and October Assess Hydrilla tuber bank status at select Hydrilla beds (minimum of 6 sites split between Croton River and Bay with minimum of 6 sediment core samples per site, along with any positive detections in surrounding priority waters), using scientifically acceptable methods as described in Racine Johnson Aquatic Ecologists 2014, to determine emergence time frame and germination rates for Hydrilla in Croton River/ Bay and the priority areas identified in Table Produce a final report containing a summary of all information data gathered and assessment and evaluation of the current state of SAV community and Hydrilla within the study area with georeferenced information identifying location and extent of Hydrilla found during the survey along with results of the tuber bank analysis. Requirements The selected contractor should expect to provide his/her own reliable transportation to and from the work sites. Page 3 of 16

4 The contractor should expect to provide his/her own tools and instruments to accomplish the work including but not limited to, GPS units, digital camera, and vegetation sampling equipment. All applicable permissions and permits will be obtained by the contractor. For all positive detections for Hydrilla in new waters, specimens will be collected (tuber, leaves, turions) and submitted to NYSDEC for verification. The contractor will submit weekly field data summaries and produce a draft final report summarizing survey findings by November 20, 2015 and a finalized report along with 5 copies, by December 15, The selected contractor will be expected to coordinate closely with NYSDEC during all phases of the project. NEIWPCC requires its contractors to maintain workers compensation and liability insurance. More details will be provided to applicants selected for funding. Page 4 of 16

5 Table 1 Hydrilla Sampling Locations: Priority Work Method Candidate Sites West Shore Croton Bay and River High Survey SAV community in Croton Bay for Hydrilla using standardized scientific protocols and assess Hydrilla tuber bank within Croton River and Bay using a standardized sampling technique. Survey for Hydrilla at likely sites within ~ river miles upstream from Croton Bay; include upstream sites in tribs; include ponded waters within 2 (?) miles of River (Bear Mtn to Newburgh) Rake toss, 2 tosses per sample, sample frequency 1 sample per 200x200m grid overlay, or other agreed upon procedure. Hydrilla tuber bank sample (min. 6 sites in both Bay and River with 6 core samples per site) Visual survey (look for SAV bed) Rake toss, 2 tosses per sample Sample frequency 1 per acre or other acceptable procedure (min 6 samples per waterbody) West Point: Lusk Reservoir Delafield Pond New Windsor: Moodna Creek (2 3 sites) Kowawese/Sloop Hill BLS Newburgh: BLS Front St Marina East Shore Cold Spring: Foundry Cove Constitution Marsh Beacon: Fishkill Creek (2 3 sites) Denning Point Bay Riverfront Park Medium Low Lowest Survey for Hydrilla at likely sites ~ river miles of Croton Bay; River and embayments only (Newburgh to Poughkeepsie) Survey for Hydrilla at likely sites Poughkeepsie to Kingston; River only Survey for Hydrilla at likely sites Kingston to Visual survey (look for SAV bed) Rake toss, 2 tosses per sample Sample frequency 1 per acre or other acceptable procedure (min 6 samples per waterbody) Visual survey (look for SAV bed) Rake toss, 2 tosses per sample Sample frequency 1 per acre or other acceptable procedure (min 6 samples per waterbody) Visual survey (look for SAV bed) Marlboro Yacht Club Highland: Shepard Landing Park or Mariner s on Hudson Esopus: Black Cr Preserve Kingston: Sleightsburg Park BLS C. Ryder Park BLS TBD New Hamburg: Wappingers Cr. Wappinger Falls: Chelsea BLS Poughkeepsie: Waryas Park Poughkeepsie Yacht Club Norrie Pt State Park TBD Page 5 of 16

6 Troy; River only Rake toss, 2 tosses per sample Sample frequency 1 per acre or other acceptable procedure (min 6 samples per waterbody) Note: The scope of the sampling identified in the table above is meant to compliment work being conducted by the Lower Hudson PRISM focused on VH priority sites within 10 miles of Croton Bay. Page 6 of 16

7 Project Tasks 1. Prior to beginning surveys, the sub contractor will attend a project Kick Off meeting with NYSDEC to discuss survey protocols, data collection details, report formats, deadlines, schedules and lines of communication for the project. Information generated by this meeting will be utilized in developing the QAPP 2. Develop a draft Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for review by NYSDEC and NEIWPCC project managers, revise and obtain final approval. A final signed QAPP is required before collection of environmental data can begin. 3. Survey SAV community for presence of Hydrilla, using scientifically accepted methods (i.e. 1 sample location per 200x200m grid overlay, or other agreed upon technique, with a minimum of 6 sample locations per waterbody, using rake toss method with a minimum of 2 tosses per site) in locations identified in Table 1 Priority Hydrilla Sampling Locations in the Hudson River, its tributaries and ponds upstream of the Croton River and Bay, between August 15 and October Assess Hydrilla tuber bank status at select Hydrilla beds (minimum of 6 sites split between Croton River and Bay and other priority sites with positive Hydrilla detections, with minimum of 6 sediment core samples per site), using scientifically acceptable methods as described in Racine Johnson Aquatic Ecologists 2014, to determine emergence time frame and germination rates for Hydrilla in the priority areas. 5. Produce a final report containing a summary of all information data gathered and assessment and evaluation of the SAV community in Croton Bay and other priority waters as identified in Table 1, the current state of Hydrilla within the study area with geo referenced information identifying location and extent of Hydrilla found during the survey, along with results of all tuber bank analysis conducted. Anticipated Project Meetings Meeting Type Purpose Potential Participants Project Kick Off Identify sampling procedures, locations and coordination Selected Contractor, NYSDEC Invasive Species Unit, HREP and NEIWPCC project managers. Results Review Draft final report presentation and discussion of results Page 7 of 16 Selected Contractor, NYSDEC Invasive Species Unit, HREP and NEIWPCC project managers Desired Outcome A final report assessing the SAV community in Croton Bay and identifying the status of Hydrilla distribution (location and condition) in priority waterbodies upstream of Croton Bay. The report will compliment a parallel study of VH priority waterbodies being conducted within 10 miles of the Croton River/Bay system by the LH PRISM. IV. General Guidelines for Applicants Eligibility Applicants that are eligible to submit proposals in response to this RFP include private non profit organizations and institutions, for profit organizations, and educational institutions. Partnerships are allowed.

8 Schedule The project must be completed by December 31, 2015, with all final reports and paperwork received by December 15, However, it is desirable for projects to be completed earlier. The schedule* for this RFP is as follows: Proposals Due to NEIWPCC July 10, :00 PM EST (noon) Applicants Notified of Funding Decisions Week of July 23, 2015 Project Kick Off Meeting Week of July 31, 2015 Approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Due August 14, 2015 Sampling Start Date August 15, 2015 Sampling Finish Date October 15, 2015 Draft Final Report Due November 20, 2015 Final Report Due December 15, 2015 Project End Date December 31, 2015 *Schedule is subject to change. Funding $50,000 will be available to support this project. Depending on the quality of proposals received, NEIWPCC reserves the right to fund projects for more or less than the advertised amount. Requested funds may be used for expenses directly related to the proposed project, including wages and consultant fees. Deliverables The primary deliverables for this project will be the following: 1. Approved Quality Assurance Project Plan See section below for additional information about this deliverable. Plan must be approved prior to collection of environmental data 2. Weekly Summaries of field activities and data submitted to NEIWPCC project managers (Dan Miller and Mike Jennings). 3. Draft Final Report in Microsoft Word format by November 20, 2015, as described in project Task 5 (page 6). 4. Final Report in Adobe portable document format (.pdf) along with 5 printed copies, summarizing survey findings by December 15, ArcGis Compatible Shapefiles of all sample locations and indication of presence/absence of Hydrilla and accompanying meta data. See Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Requirements below. All deliverables are to be submitted in draft form in Microsoft Word format for review by project partners and approval by the project manager (See Contact Information in Section IX). All final reports are to be delivered in Adobe.pdf format upon approval by the project manager. Quality Assurance & Quality Control Requirements The NEIWPCC Quality Management Plan requires that Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) are developed and approved for all projects involving environmental data operations (i.e., collection, analysis, and/or manipulation of environmental data). For projects that involve environmental data operations, the contractor will be responsible for developing the project QAPP and submitting it to NYS DEC and NEIWPCC staff for review Page 8 of 16

9 after the start of the contract period. NEIWPCC will provide guidelines for QAPP development. The QAPP must be approved by NYS DEC, the NEIWPCC Project Manager, and the NEIWPCC Quality Assurance Program Manager prior to any data collection or analysis. If your proposed project will include environmental data operations, development of the QAPP can be completed as a task under this project and should be included in the proposal narrative, timeline, and budget. While preparing your proposal, please account for the additional time and resources necessary for QAPP development. It is appropriate for an applicant to utilize or build upon an existing, relevant, approved QAPP if one exists. For more information about QAPPs, see and Questions regarding the QAPP process or the necessity of a QAPP for a proposed project should be directed to the NEIWPCC Project Manager (see contact information in Section IX). Deliverables, Ownership, and Credit Due All materials, software, maps, studies, reports, and other products or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, produced as a result of this solicitation and funded, in whole or in part, under an agreement with NEIWPCC shall be made available to NEIWPCC and NYSDEC in the formats in which it is stored or maintained. NEIWPCC and NYSDEC shall have an unrestricted right to use any materials, software, maps, studies, reports, and other products or data generated using assistance funds or specified to be delivered. The contractor shall not obtain, attempt to obtain, or file for a patent, copyright, trademark or any other interest in any such materials, software, maps, reports, and other products or data without the express, written consent of NEIWPCC and subject to any other approvals required by state or federal law. Reports and other deliverables will credit NEIWPCC and NYSDEC for any work completed under the grant award. Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Requirements GIS data produced under this project must adhere to the requirements of EPA s National Geospatial Data Policy (see Specifically, the selected contractor must provide documentation for all produced data, including source information for each digital data layer (i.e., scale and accuracy, map projection, coordinate system, etc.), and specific information about the data layer itself (i.e., method used, geographic extent of data layer, file format, date of creation, staff contact, description and definition of data fields and their contents, related files, if any, and description of data quality and quality assurance methods used). The EPA Metadata Editor (EME) was developed to simplify and standardize metadata development and is a recommended tool for streamlining production of required metadata. The EME and related training materials can be downloaded from Specific technical guidance on geospatial deliverables and acceptable formats can be found at GIS data produced under this project will be submitted to NEIWPCC as a deliverable. V. Proposal Requirements Proposals must include a (1) cover letter, (2) title page with abstract, (3) narrative with citations, (4) timeline, (5) budgets (both overall and task based budget formats), (6) budget justification, (7) description of qualifications, and (8) letters of commitment or support. Page limits for each of these components are provided in the individual descriptions below. Proposals that do not contain all of the information requested and/or do not meet the format requirements will be eliminated from consideration. Pages that exceed the maximum number specified for each section will not be reviewed. Cover Letter Page 9 of 16

10 Please include a one page cover letter, printed on official letterhead and signed by an authorized representative of the lead agency, firm, or institution, with each proposal. The cover letter must state that: You are applying for funds under this program. You acknowledge that funding is provided on a reimbursement basis. Title Page For your convenience, an electronic version of the title page is available as a Microsoft Word document at The title page must adhere to the format provided in Appendix A and include all of the following information, using a maximum of one single spaced, one sided, typed 8.5" x 11" page with 11 point font and 1 inch margins: Project Name: Use the exact project name as it appears throughout the proposal. Primary Investigator Name and Contact Information: Provide the name, title, and affiliation of the primary investigator, as well as mailing address, phone number, and address. Financial Contact Name and Contact Information (if applicable): Provide the name, title, and affiliation of the individual responsible for financial/contractual negotiations (if different from primary investigator), as well as mailing address, phone number, and address. Project Partners (if any): Provide the names, titles, affiliations, for each of the additional investigators or support staff who will significantly contribute to the project (if any). Funds Requested: Provide the amount of money you are requesting from NEIWPCC for the project. Federal Tax Identification Number (FID) DUNS Number 1 : A DUNS number is a unique, non indicative 9 digit identifier that verifies the existence of a business entity globally. Contractors must provide NEIWPCC with a DUNS number to comply with an administrative condition of NEIWPCC s EPA grant (individuals are exempt). Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE): Indicate if your organization is a DBE. Abstract: The abstract must accurately describe the project being proposed and include: (1) the objectives of the project, (2) the methodology to be used, and (3) the expected outputs and outcomes of the project and how it addresses this RFP. The abstract must fit within the title page. Proposal Narrative The proposal narrative must not exceed eight consecutively numbered, single spaced, typed 8.5" x 11" pages with 11 point font and 1 inch margins. The narrative must include all of the following information: Project Description: Briefly describe the project. This section can also include brief background or introductory information. Objectives: Outline how the project will achieve the goal of this RFP. Methodology: Outline the project s design and describe the methods and techniques that will be used to meet the project s goal and tasks. Expected outputs and outcomes: Describe the project s expected outputs and outcomes, and list and describe each of the specific deliverables and end products. Roles and Responsibilities: Define the roles and responsibilities of all project participants. Citations: Include references as appropriate within the proposal narrative. Timeline Provide a detailed timeline for meeting tasks identified in the schedule section on page 7 and completing deliverables, with a completion date no later than December 15, Although the project start date is 1 Obtaining a DUNS number is free for all entities doing business with the Federal government. Under normal circumstances the DUNS number is issued within 1 2 business days when using the web form process ( Page 10 of 16

11 anticipated to be on or about July 31, 2015, this date may change based on the time the actual agreement is established. The timeline must be no more than one 8.5 x 11 page with 1 margins and 11 point font. Budget The project budget must be provided in the following two formats: Provide a complete, detailed budget using the format provided in Appendix B. For your convenience, an electronic version of the budget form is available at The budget must be no more than one 8.5 x 11 page with 1 margins and 11 point font. Along with this budget, provide a brief justification (one page maximum) for the proposed costs in terms of meeting project objectives. Include an explanation of how indirect costs are calculated. Justify subcontracts, if any Entities intending to use a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate must provide documentation of their rate. This documentation does not count toward the page limit. Second, prepare a budget that is broken down by project tasks, as shown in Appendix C. For your convenience, an electronic version of the budget form is available at As you develop this budget, keep in mind that contractual payments will be made based on this budget. This budget must be no more than two 8.5 x 11 pages with 1 margins and 11 point font. Matching funds should not be included in the task based budget. Qualifications The applicant chosen for this project should possess the academic and/or professional expertise in the relevant subject areas, and have a strong track record in delivering projects of this nature and facilitating successful working relationships with municipal and state government. Attention to detail in documenting qualifications that meet the scoring requirements is strongly advised. The qualifications section, including resumes, CVs, descriptions of past projects, etc. must not exceed 3 pages. This section should include a summary of experience in conducting aquatic plant surveys generally, with a highlighted focus on experience conducting surveys for monoecious Hydrilla in ponded, flowing, and/or tidal settings. It should also include a summary of how the applicant will distinguish monoecious Hydrilla from other physiologically similar submerged aquatic vegetation species in the field, and a priority order of which botanical and/or habitat traits will be used to determine which collected or observed plants are monoecious Hydrilla, and which subsampled plants need to be archived and submitted for verification. The applicant should also identify, if appropriate, the timetables within the sampling window for collecting tuber and plant samples, respectively. Letters of Support Projects undertaken in partnership with other organizations, particularly where the partner will provide a service or action must include support letters from each partner stating their specific commitments. General letters of support should not be included with the application. Page 11 of 16

12 VI. Submission Process Proposals must be submitted by no later than 12:00 PM EST (noon) on July 10, No late submissions will be considered. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically through the NEIWPCC website. Unless prior approval is given, proposals received through e mail, postal delivery, or any other delivery method will not be accepted. To submit your proposal, go to and follow the instructions provided for uploading your file(s). It is highly preferred that the proposal and all supporting information are submitted as a single PDF document. This requires Adobe Acrobat or similar Adobe product (the free Adobe Reader does not allow the conversion of documents into PDF format), or a scanner. If multiple files are to be submitted, you will need to create an archive file (.zip, or.rar) containing all of the files you wish to submit. The file name should be in the following format: Hudson River Hydrilla_NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION. Once you have clicked the submit button, please allow adequate time for your submission to process and do not hit the back button or close your browser window. The process is not considered complete until you have reached the confirmation page. If submitted successfully, you will receive an from NEIWPCC (mail@neiwpcc.org) with the subject line RFP Submission Confirmation confirming your submission. For questions regarding submission of proposals, contact Michael Jennings, NEIWPCC, mjennings@neiwpcc.org (978) VII. Proposal Evaluation Process NEIWPCC will screen all proposals to ensure that they meet all requirements of this RFP. If a proposal is found to be incomplete, the proposal will be eliminated from the competition and NEIWPCC will notify the applicant. To be considered complete, proposals must include all of components described in Section V. Proposal Requirements. Pages in excess of the limits specified for each component will not be reviewed. Complete and eligible proposals will be reviewed by a panel composed of scientists and managers from the NYSDEC and NEIWPCC. The review team will evaluate the proposals based upon the following criteria found in Appendix D Evaluation and Scoring Criteria VIII. Notification of Awards Award notification to applicants is expected by July 23, Award recipients may be asked to submit a revised work plan, timeline, and budget at this time. Projects cannot start until the contract is signed by both parties. Data collection may not begin until the QAPP is approved. NEIWPCC will not pay for expenses incurred prior to the contract start date. Payment for costs incurred will be on a reimbursement basis per the contract payment schedule and contingent upon completion of quarterly progress reports and project deliverables. IX. Contacts For information regarding the application process or RFP topic, contact Dan Miller, the NEIWPCC Project Manager: Dan Miller Habitat Restoration Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program/NEIWPCC Norrie Point Environmental Center P.O. Box 315 (letters) or 256 Norrie Point Way (packages), Staatsburg, NY P: (845) x110 F: (845) daniel.miller@dec.ny.gov Page 12 of 16

13 Appendix A: Title Page Format Project Name: Organization: Primary Investigator Name and Contact Information: Financial Contact Name and Contact Information (if applicable): Project Partners (if any): Funds Requested: $ Federal Tax Identification Number: DUNS Number: Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE): (Yes or No) Project Abstract The abstract must fit within this title page, using a maximum of one single-spaced, one sided typed 8.5" x 11" page with 11 point font and 1 margins (remove this instructional text when completing page and prior to submitting proposal). Page 13 of 16

14 Appendix B: Overall Budget Form PROJECT BUDGET BUDGET CATEGORY (Add/remove itemizing lines below major categories as necessary, but do NOT delete major categories) MATCH A. PERSONNEL (list individual names and titles below) B. FRINGE BENEFITS % of (e.g., 10% of total personnel costs) TOTAL: C. TRAVEL (estimate number/purpose of trips below) GRANT REQUEST D. EQUIPMENT (itemize below) TOTAL: E. SUPPLIES (itemize below) TOTAL: F. CONTRACTS (identify & itemize below) TOTAL: G. OTHER (identify & itemize below) TOTAL: H. TOTAL DIRECT COSTS (SUM OF A-G) I. INDIRECT COSTS % of (e.g., 10% of total direct costs) TOTAL: J. TOTAL PROJECT COST (SUM OF H+I) Page 14 of 16

15 APPENDIX C: Task-Based Budget Format Cost Task Number Task Name Expected Date of Completion Page 15 of 16

16 Appendix D: Evaluation and Scoring Criteria The review team will evaluate the proposals based upon the following criteria: 1. Completeness of Proposal (0 or 1 point) Is all required information included in the proposal? Are all required forms completed? Is the proposal formatted properly? 2. Goal (0 or 1 point) Does the project meet the goal of this RFP as outlined above? Will implementation of the proposed project result in accurate delineation of Hydrilla at specified locations from Croton Bay to Troy and provide information about plant condition that may be utilized in formulation of future management strategies? 3. Timeline and project schedule: (0 or 1 point) Is completion by the project deadline realistic? 4. Scope and Tasks (0 to 1 point) Does the proposed project adequately satisfy the scope and tasks identified above? 5. Methods Address Goal (0 to 36 points) To what degree will the proposed project s methods, as budgeted, achieve the project goal? Is the description clear and well defined? Are the anticipated project results realistic? 6. Performance Capability (0 to 10 points) How qualified is the applicant to accomplish the proposed project given the applicant s experience, qualifications, facilities, and resources? Does the applicant identify acceptable survey and assessment techniques? 7. Estuarine Experience (0 to 10 points) Does the applicant in general and the assigned individual in particular identify experience and demonstrate understanding of the Hudson River Estuary, its habitats and physical conditions? Does the applicant have experience surveying and assessing submersed macrophyte populations along the Hudson River? 8. Invasive Species Experience (0 to 10 points) Does the applicant in general and the assigned individual in particular demonstrate experience working with invasive species? Does the applicant identify operating and decontamination procedures for minimizing the spread of Hydrilla during field surveys? 9. Appropriate and Cost Effective Budget (0 to 20 points) Is the proposed budget reasonable to accomplish the project goal? Are costs associated with the proposal adequately explained and justified? Does the proposal make cost effective use of existing information? 10. Deliverables (0 to 10 points) Does the applicant identify project specific outputs and outcomes? How well do the proposed endproducts address project objectives? How will project results be communicated effectively to inform the formulation of future management strategies? Page 16 of 16