RFB | Fish &Wildlife, Ichthyoplankton and Zooplankton Sample Processing

Agency:	The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
State:	Washington
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541380 - Testing Laboratories 541620 - Environmental Consulting Services 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Posted Date:	Mar 19, 2026
Due Date:	Apr 2, 2026
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Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
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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.

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.

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.

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

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 µm 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 µm 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,

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

RFB | Fish &Wildlife, Ichthyoplankton and Zooplankton Sample Processing

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