RFB | Fish &Wildlife, Ichthyoplankton and Zooplankton Sample Processing

Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation
P.O. Box 150, Nespelem, WA 99155 (509) 634-2277
Request For Proposals: Ichthyoplankton and Zooplankton Sample
Processing
SECTION 1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.01 Significant Dates
Posted Date: March 4, 2026
Deadline for Questions: March 20, 2026
Answers Posted: March 23, 2026
Closing Time and Date: 04:00 PM PT April 3, 2026
1.02 Description of Proposals Sought:
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR) is seeking proposals from qualified
firms to establish a contract for taxonomic identification, enumeration, and measurement of
ichthyoplankton captured in Bongo net tow samples and taxonomic identification, enumeration,
measurement, and calculations of biomass of zooplankton captured in vertical zooplankton net
tow samples collected in Lake Roosevelt (Upper Columbia River, WA).
Background
Lake Roosevelt is a 245 km long Columbia River reservoir extending upstream from Grand
Coulee Dam (rkm 960; operational 1943) in Washington State, United States (US) to the US-
Canada border (rkm 1,204). The co-managers of Lake Roosevelt (CTCR, Spokane Tribe of
Indians [STI], and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife [WDFW]) have a goal to
conserve and enhance the Burbot population in Lake Roosevelt to provide harvest opportunities
for Tribal members and recreational anglers. The CTCR implements the Lake Roosevelt Burbot
Project, which has the goal of informing population management by conducting stock
assessment and evaluating limiting factors.
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The CTCR has been monitoring the catch of pelagic burbot larvae and zooplankton since 2019
with the long-term objective of developing a recruitment index and determining the factors
influencing recruitment rates. More information on the CTCR Lake Roosevelt Burbot Project is
available at https://www.cbfish.org/Project.mvc/ProjectDocuments/2008-115-00.
1.03 About the Colville Tribes:
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR) is a Sovereign Nation. Presidential
Executive Order established the Colville Indian Reservation in 1872, with a land base of 1.4
million acres, located in North Central Washington State. The Tribes' Indian Country now
includes various off-reservation trust land holdings. The Tribes' administrative headquarters are
located at the Colville Indian Agency Campus, approximately 2 miles south of Nespelem, WA
with offices located throughout our reservation. Tribal business hours are Monday through
Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. excluding Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Tribal and Federal
holidays.
1.04 Response Format:
Proposals should be prepared simply, providing a straightforward and concise delineation of the
Contractor's approach and capabilities necessary to satisfy the criteria listed in Section 3. The
proposal may not be longer than 15 pages, single-spaced with no less than 12-point font.
Emphasis in the proposals should be on completeness, clarity of content, and adherence to the
presentation structure required by this RFP. Contractors that deviate from the required format
may be deemed non-responsive.
1.05 Completeness of Proposal
The Contractor must submit a completed Proposal signed by a Contractor representative
authorized to bind the proposing Contractor contractually. The Contractor must identify on the
form any exceptions the Contractor takes to the Tribes RFP or declare that there are no
exceptions taken.
1.06 Response Date and Location
Proposals must be received on or before 4:00 p.m., PT, April 3, 2026. Proposals must be
provided in portable document format (PDF). All proposals and accompanying documentation
will become the property of the Tribes and will not be returned. Contractors accept all risk of late
delivery of emailed proposal regardless of fault. Submittals shall be sent via e-mail to
jason.mclellan@colvilletribes.com.
Include "Ichthyoplankton Sample Processing" in the PDF file name and the submission e-mail
subject line. A response will be sent to verify successful transmission of the message and
associated submittal.
1.07 Contractor's Cost to Develop Proposals
Costs for developing proposals in response to the RFP are entirely the obligation of the
Contractor and are not chargeable in any manner to the Tribes-no exceptions.
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1.08 Site Visitations
A site visit is not required. By submitting his/her proposal, the Contractor acknowledges that
he/she has satisfied him/herself as to the nature of the work requested.
SECTION 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
2.01 Questions Regarding the RFP
Requests for interpretation/clarification of this RFP must be emailed to Jason McLellan
jason.mclellan@colvilletribes.com. Unauthorized contact with other tribal employees regarding
this RFP may result in disqualification. All oral communications will be considered unofficial
and non-binding on the Tribes.
All questions must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m., PT, March 20, 2026. All responses will
be posted on the Tribes' web site at: https://www.colvilletribes.com/rfp no later than 4:00 p.m.
PDT on the next business day after receipt of the question.
2.02 RFP Amendments
The Tribes reserves the right to request any respondent clarify its proposal or to supply any
additional material deemed necessary to assist in the evaluation of the proposal.
The Tribes reserves the right to change the RFP schedule or issue amendments to the RFP at any
time. The Tribes also reserves the right to cancel or reissue the RFP. All such addenda will
become part of the RFP. It is the Contractor's responsibility to check the Tribes' website for the
issuance of any amendments prior to submitting a proposal response.
2.03 Withdrawal of Proposal
Provided notification is received in writing to the address provided in Section 1.05, proposals
may be withdrawn at any time prior to the proposal response due date and time specified.
Proposals cannot be changed or withdrawn after the time designated for receipt.
2.04 Rejection of Proposals
The Tribes reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any minor informalities or
irregularities contained in any proposal, and to accept any proposal deemed to be in the best
interest of the Tribes.
2.05 Proposal Validity Period
Submission of a proposal will signify the Contractor's agreement that its proposal and the
content thereof are valid for 60 days following the proposal response deadline unless otherwise
agreed to in writing by both parties. The proposal may become part of the Contract negotiated
between the Colville Tribes and the successful Contractor.
2.06 Proposal Signatures
An authorized representative of the Contractor must sign proposals, with the Contractor's
address and telephone information provided. Unsigned proposals will not be considered.
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2.07 Insurance Requirements
The selected Offeror shall procure and maintain for the duration of its Contract awarded pursuant
to this RFP insurance against claims for injuries or damages to property, which may arise from
or in connection with the performance of the work by the Offeror, his agents, representatives,
employees or subcontractors. The Offeror shall pay the cost of such insurance.
2.08 Ownership of Documents
Any reports, studies, conclusions, summaries, other documents, data, analysis results, computer
code/script, and databases prepared by the Contractor shall become the property of the Tribes.
The Tribes may provide the Contractor with a limited license to use such material.
2.09 Hold Harmless
The Contractor shall hold harmless, defend, and indemnify the Tribes and the Tribes' officers,
agents, and employees against any liability that may be imposed upon them by reason of the
Contractor's failure to provide worker's compensation coverage or liability coverage.
2.10 Limitations on Costs and Expenses
The Contractor's cost proposal may not include: any costs that can be described as overhead,
including secretarial, clerical, or file management work; on-line research services charges (in-
house photocopying; unnecessary express mail/overnight courier mailings); or for developing
invoices for the Tribes.
2.11 Dispute Resolution and Venue
The Tribes will require the selected Contractor to expressly consent to the jurisdiction of the
Colville Tribal Court for any and all disputes that may arise from the Tribes engagement of the
Contractor's services, including the application of tribal law.
2.12 Appropriated Funds
Any contract awarded pursuant to this RFP is subject the Tribes' appropriation and budgetary
process, which operates on a fiscal year from October 1 to September 30. Any required payments
under the contract are contingent on the availability of funds in the tribal treasury. As funds are
appropriated yearly any contract awarded would be for the remainder of the fiscal year, at which
time it would be renewable on a yearly basis.
2.13 Indian Preference
Indian preference applies to any award of contract pursuant to this RFP and the Contractor shall
comply with all applicable Indian preference requirements set forth in Chapter 10-1, the Colville
Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO), and Chapter 10-3, Indian Preference in
Contracting. The tribal code is available at https://www.cct-cbc.com/current-code/.
2.14 Debarment
Selected Contractor must sign a Certification Regarding Debarment and Suspension (See
Attachment B).
2.15 Contract
The selected Offeror will be required to enter into the Colville Tribes' standard form contract
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which will include a "no assignment" provision indicating that the Contract may not be assigned
without written consent of the Tribes. Any increase in contract price following execution of the
contract requires a written modification to the term to continue.
SECTION 3. REQUESTED SERVICES
3.01 Duration of Services
The Tribes anticipates the service period for this work to be for three years; however, the scope
of work and associated budget will be reviewed on an annual basis.
3.02 Scope of Work
Task 1 - Process Bongo Net Tow Samples
Process the catch in samples from ichthyoplankton tows made in Lake Roosevelt (Columbia
River, Washington) using Bongo nets (0.6 m dia. mouth and either 333 or 500 m mesh) each
year to:
* Identify each fish to the lowest taxonomic level practical (species for most);
* Enumerate each taxa;
* Measure each individual fish for total length; and
* Preserve each fish individually.
Expect as many as 325 samples per year for three consecutive years. All samples will be
preserved in 95% ethanol.
Each year's samples will be delivered by July 1 of the sample year.
To provide an indication of the level of effort required; in 2025 there were 309 samples collected
and a total of 3,843 ichthyplankton observed. The distribution of the catch by sample is provided
in Figure 1.
Task 2 - Process Vertical Zooplankton Net Tow Samples
Process the catch in 30 m vertical zooplankton tows (0.5 m dia mouth; 50 m mesh) made in
Lake Roosevelt (Columbia River, Washington) to:
* Identify each zooplankter, including rotifers, to the lowest taxonomic level practical;
* Enumerate each taxon (see below for sample splitting);
* Measure for length (see below for subsampling); and
* Estimate biomass for each taxon.
Expect as many as 65 samples per year for three consecutive years. All samples will be
preserved in 95% ethanol.
Each year's samples will be delivered by July 1 of the sample year.
Enumerating all of the zooplankton may not be practical for most, if not all, samples. As such,
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describe the criteria that will be used for sample splitting, along with the proposed method for
splitting and justification for the selection of that method.
Similarly, measuring all zooplankton will not be practical for most, if not all, samples. As such,
provide proposed sample sizes for zooplankton length measurements. Identify zooplankton
species specific length measurements to be completed. Describe the method to be used to
estimate the biomass of each taxon.
Coordination
Organize and conduct a project kick-off meeting and one progress meeting per year with CTCR
project staff. The meetings can be virtual.
Reporting
The contractor will provide a draft data set of sample processing results for each sample year to
the CTCR project lead for review. The data set will be supplied electronically in a pre-approved
format that includes metadata consisting of, but not limited to, investigator name(s), methods used,
data field name definitions with units of measure, and a description of quality control measures.
The CTCR will provide review comments within 30 days of receiving the draft data set. The
contractor will submit a final version of the data set incorporating the review comments to the
CTCR project lead within 30 days of receiving them.
All materials produced in the completion of this project, such as but not limited to documents,
data, analysis results, computer code/script, and databases, will be property of the CTCR and
provided to the CTCR at the time of project completion.
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Number of Ichthyoplankton
Figure 1. Histogram showing the number ichthyoplankton per sample jar from 2025 Bongo
netting.
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3.03 Required Information
The Contractor's Proposal must include the following:
A. Title Page. Include name of Contractor, address, telephone and fax numbers, name and email
address of contact person and date of submission. (See Attachment A.)
B. Cover Letter. A one-page letter of introduction signed by a person authorized by your firm to
obligate your firm to perform the commitments contained in this RFP.
C. Technical Approach. Provide a succinct, but comprehensive, description of the proposed
approach to accomplish the scope of work described in this RFP.
D. Firm qualifications. Provide brief information on your firm's background and qualifications,
including resumes of key project personnel. List any subcontractors and include brief
information on their background and qualifications.
E. Itemized Budget. Provide an itemized budget by task.
F. Schedule. A prospective schedule for completion of the scope of work described in this RFP
(Section 3.02).
G. Debarment/Suspension Certification. Submit a completed Debarment/Suspension
Certification form. (See Attachment B).
H. References. Contact information for three relevant references. (See Attachment C).
I. sam.gov registration number. Contractors must be registered through www.sam.gov.
SECTION 4. PROPOSAL EVALUATION
4.01 Evaluation Procedures
A Selection Committee will evaluate proposals. The selection will consider how well the
Contractor's proposal meets the needs of the Tribes as described in the Contractor's response to
each requirement listed in Section 3.03. In evaluating the proposals, the Tribes will use a criteria
evaluation process. Evaluations will be based on criteria as outlined in Section 4.02. All
proposals will be evaluated using the same criteria and weighting. Any proposal that does not
contain each element described in this RFP, fully completed, as appropriate, may be judged to be
incomplete and may not be considered further.
4.02 Scoring and Evaluation Factors
The evaluation factors reflect a wide range of considerations. While cost is important, other
factors are also significant. Consequently, the Tribes may select a contract other than the one
providing the lowest cost solution. The objective is to choose the entity capable of providing
reliable and effective services within a reasonable budget.
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An award will be made to a responsible Indian Offeror if its proposed price is within 10% of the
lowest non-Indian Offeror's Proposal Price and the Indian Offeror provides documentation of
having the expertise and experience necessary to satisfactorily complete the work required.
Evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
* Technical Approach (25 points)
* Firm and Sub-consultants Qualifications (30 points)
* Fee Proposal (30 points)
* Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (15 points)
Maximum Points = 100
4.03 In-Person Discussion Sessions
One or more Offerors who have scored well on the evaluation may be invited by the Tribes,
without cost to the Tribes, to a discussion with the Colville Business Council (CBC), the
managers of relevant tribal programs, and others invited to the Session to provide the Offeror the
opportunity to demonstrate its services, to discuss its approach/methodologies, implementation
process, schedule, staffing and other applicable professional services. The Discussion Session
will be informal, as the Tribes is not interested in a sales presentation by Offeror but rather an
interactive discussion with the CBC; it is important that those key personnel identified by the
Offeror to be assigned to the project will fully participate in the presentation and discuss.
4.04 Final Selection
The Selection Committee will formulate their recommendation for award of the Contract, which
will be forwarded to the Colville Business Council for formal acceptance.
4.05 Contract Award and Execution
The Tribes reserves the right to make an award without further discussion of the proposals
submitted. Therefore, proposals should be initially submitted on the most favorable terms the
Contractor can offer. This should not be interpreted to prohibit either party from proposing
additional contract terms and conditions during negotiations of the final document.
The RFP document and the successful Contractor's/Offeror's proposal response, as amended by
agreement between the Tribes and the Contractor/Offeror, including e-mail or written
correspondence relative to the RFP, may become part of the Contract between the Tribes and the
successful Contractor/Offeror. Additionally, the Colville Tribes may verify the
Contractor's/Offeror's representations appearing in the proposal. Failure of the
Contractor/Offeror to perform as represented may result in elimination of the Contractor/Offeror
from competition or in Contract cancellation or termination.
The successful Contractor/Offeror will be expected to enter into a contract with the Tribes. If a
contract is not executed within a reasonable amount of time after the proposal is selected, the
Tribes may elect to cancel the award or award the Contract to the next highest ranked Offeror.
The Tribes shall not be bound or in any way obligated until both parties have executed a
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contract. No party may incur any chargeable costs prior to the execution of a final contract.
After opening and ranking, an award may be made on the basis of the proposals initially
submitted, without discussion, clarification or modification, or, the Tribes may discuss with the
selected Contractor offers for cost reduction and other elements of the Contractor's proposal. If
the Tribes determines that it is unable to reach a contract satisfactory to the Tribes with the
selected Contractor, then the Tribes will terminate discussions with the selected Contractor and
proceed to the next Contractor in order of selection ranking until a contract is reached or the
Tribe has rejected all proposals. The Tribes will not disclose any information derived from the
proposals submitted from competing offers in conducting such discussions.
The Tribes reserves the right to award a contract for all or any portion of the requirements
proposed by reason of this request, award multiple Contracts, or to reject any and all proposals if
deemed to be in the best interests of the Tribes and to re-solicit for proposals, or to reject any and
all proposals if deemed to be in the best interests of the Tribes and to temporarily or permanently
abandon the procurement.
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ATTACHMENT A:
PROPOSAL COVER PAGE
Burbot Project Statistical Support
Company Name_________________________________________ Date______________
Address__________________________________________________________________
Contact Person and Title:_____________________________________________________
Telephone Number_________________________ Fax Number_____________________
Email address________________________________________
Length of time in business_______________________________________
Gross revenue for the prior fiscal year (in US dollars). ______________________________
Total number of similar clients served in similar capacity____________________________
TOTAL ESTIMATED PRICE OF SERVICES (Attach detailed budget if necessary)
Cost of Services (Anticipated Total Hours x Rate) __________________
Overhead costs (describe) ___________________
Necessary travel ___________________
TERO Fees ___________________
Other (describe) ___________________
Total Price $ _________________
Authorized Offeror Signature____________________________________________
Telephone_______________________________
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